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July 12, 1973

Introduction

This almanac page for Thursday, July 12, 1973, pulls together various records created by the federal government and links to additional resources which can provide context about the events of the day.

Previous Date: Wednesday, July 11, 1973

Next Date: Friday, July 13, 1973

Schedule and Public Documents

Archival Holdings

Any selection of archival documents will necessarily be partial. You should use the documents and folders identified below as a starting place, but consult the linked collection finding aids and folder title lists and the collections themselves for context. Many documents to be found this way do not lend themselves to association with specific dates, but are essential to a complete understanding of the material.

  • Selective document listing

    President's Office Files

    The President's Office Files consists of materials drawn together by the Special Files Unit from several administrative subdivisions within the White House Office. It is the handwriting and sensitive papers sent to the Staff Secretary that now comprise much of the President's Office Files. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

  • The National Archives Catalog is the online portal to the records held at the National Archives, and information about those records. It is the main way of describing our holdings and also provides access to electronic records and digitized versions of our holdings. 

    The Catalog searches across multiple National Archives resources at once, including archival descriptions, digitized and electronic records, authority records, and web pages from Archives.gov and the Presidential Libraries. The Catalog also allows users to contribute to digitized historical records through tagging and transcription.

    Nixon Library Holdings

    All National Archives Units

National Security Documents

  • The President's Daily Brief is the primary vehicle for summarizing the day-to-day sensitive intelligence and analysis, as well as late-breaking reports, for the White House on current and future national security issues. Read "The President's Daily Brief: Delivering Intelligence to Nixon and Ford" to learn more.

  • The Foreign Relations of the United States series presents the official documentary historical record of major U.S. foreign policy decisions and significant diplomatic activity. Visit the State Department website for more information.

    Vol. XXXIX, European Security

    Opening Negotiations, December 1972-July 1973

    • 170. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, July 12, 1973, 9:45 a.m.

      Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 139, Geopolitical File, Europe, Year of Europe, Memoranda of Conversation. Secret. Drafted by Stoessel. The conversation took place in Kissinger’s office. Scheel visited Washington July 11–12 to discuss the European security conference and MBFR with administration officials.

    Vol. E-3, Documents on Global Issues, 1973-1976

    Space and Telecommunications

    • 82. Action Memorandum From the Director of International Scientific and Technological Affairs, Department of State (Pollack) to the Acting Secretary of State (Rush), Washington, July 12, 1973

      Rush approved Pollack’s recommendation to negotiate an agreement with interested Western European nations for cooperative development and utilization of Spacelab and the Space Shuttle.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, SP 10 US. Unclassified. Drafted on June 14 by Bastedo; and concurred in by NASA, DOD/ISA, PM/AE, H, EUR/RPE, L/SCI and L/T. Rush initialed his approval on July 13. Attached but not published at Tab A is the July 2 final draft of the U.S. version of the proposed agreement. Attached but not published at Tab B are the working drafts of the proposed agreement and at Tab C is the undated authorization from the Legal Adviser to conclude the agreement.

    Vol. E-9, Part 2, Documents on the Middle East Region, 1973-1976

    Middle East Region

    • 6. Memorandum From Harold H. Saunders and Richard T. Kennedy of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, July 12, 1973

      Summary: Saunders and Kennedy briefed Kissinger on the upcoming SRG meeting to discuss NSSM 182, and provided him with an analytical summary of the response.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, National Security Council Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–068, Meeting Files, 1969–74, Senior Review Group Meeting, Soviet Strategy in Near East/South Asia, NSSM 182, 7/13/73. Top Secret. Sent for information. Brackets are in the original. Quandt drafted the attached analytical summary on July 12. Attached but not published are the undated talking points and the Department’s draft response to NSSM 182, which is published as Document 3.

    Vol. E-11, Part 1, Documents on Mexico; Central America; and the Caribbean, 1973-1976

    Guyana

    • 362. Telegram 1032 From the Embassy in Guyana to the Department of State, Georgetown, July 12, 1973, 1930Z

      Summary: The Embassy predicted that the People’s National Congress would attempt to maintain a pretense of honesty in the upcoming elections.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]. Confidential; Priority. Repeated to Bridgetown, Kingston, London, Port of Spain, Martinique, and USCINCSO for POLAD. All brackets are in the original except those indicating garbled text.

    Jamaica, The Bahamas, and the Eastern Caribbean

    • 437. Telegram 2301 From the Embassy in Jamaica to the Department of State, Kingston, July 12, 1973, 1715Z

      Summary: De Roulet reported on a telephone call he made to Manley after learning of Ambassador Fletcher’s July 11 visit to the Department.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Country Files—Latin America, Box 786, Jamaica, Vol. I. Confidential; Immediate; Exdis. All brackets are in the original except “[s]”, added for clarity. In airgram A–122 from Kingston, June 21, the Embassy transmitted an assessment of Manley’s record, concluding that the Prime Minister was “clearly committed to a policy of moderate redistribution.” (Ibid., RG 59, Central Files, 1970–1973, POL 15–1 JAM) In telegram 2370 from Kingston, July 18, De Roulet reported on a July 17 meeting with Manley and emphasized the importance of a direct channel of communication between the U.S. Ambassador and the Jamaican Prime Minister in order to avoid misunderstandings between the two countries. (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Country Files—Latin America, Box 786, Jamaica, Vol. I) Telegram 135953 is published as Document 436.

    Vol. E-11, Part 2, Documents on South America, 1973-1976

    Argentina

    • 6. Memorandum From William J. Jorden of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, July 12, 1973

      Summary: Jorden reported that President Cámpora’s resignation would pave the way for Perón to assume power.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 769, Country Files, Latin America, Argentina, 1 September 1971–31 December 1973. Secret. Sent for information. A stamped note reads, “HAK has seen.” On July 13, the Argentine Congress accepted Cámpora’s and Solano Lima’s resignations and appointed Raul Lastiri Provisional President. (Telegram 5032 from Buenos Aires, July 14; ibid., RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number])

    Vol. E-12, Documents on East and Southeast Asia, 1973-1976

    Indonesia and the East Timor Crisis

    • 98. Letter From President Nixon to Indonesian President Suharto, Washington, July 12, 1973., Washington, July 12, 1973

      Nixon replied to Suharto’s request for three destroyer escorts.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 755, Presidential Correspondence, Indonesia, Suharto [1970–1974]. No classification marking. On August 7, Clements informed Kissinger that the Department of Defense would be able to transfer the destroyer escorts to Indonesia “approximately within the time frame desired.” (Ibid., Country Files, Far East, Box 533, Indonesia, Volume 4, 1 January 1973–)

    Vol. E-15, Part 2, Documents on Western Europe, 1973-1976, Second, Revised Edition

    United Kingdom, 1973-1976

    • 222. Memorandum From Helmut Sonnenfeldt of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, July 12, 1973

      Summary: Sonnenfeldt discussed the proposed British sale of Rolls Royce Spey airplane engines to China.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 64, Country Files, Europe, General, Exchanges with the UK—Other, July 12, 1973 (1 of 3). Secret. Sent for urgent action. Attached but not published is Tab A, a draft memorandum to Nixon; Tab B, the UK aide-mémoire and draft COCOM submission; and Tab C, an undated paper entitled, “Procedures on COCOM Exceptions Requests.” Kissinger wrote at the top of the memorandum, “Put Pres. memo into files. Tell State + Defense to oppose low key. I’ll handle with Rush.” On July 10, Cromer told Kissinger that the UK wanted “to tie the Chinese into the West in a way that gets them on board, and incidentally it is of some commercial benefit to us.” Kissinger replied, “Our problem is tactical. For reasons of our own we want to strengthen China.” After noting DOD’s opposition to the proposal, Kissinger stated, “We favor it. The only question is whether to give it a low-key protest or bless it.” (Memorandum of conversation, July 10; ibid.)

  • The Kissinger telephone conversation transcripts consist of approximately 20,000 pages of transcripts of Kissinger’s telephone conversations during his tenure as Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (1969-1974) and Secretary of State (1973-1974) during the administration of President Richard Nixon. Visit the finding aid for more information.

    Digitized versions can be found in the National Archives Catalog.

Audiovisual Holdings

Context (External Sources)