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July 17, 1971

Introduction

This almanac page for Saturday, July 17, 1971, 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: Friday, July 16, 1971

Next Date: Sunday, July 18, 1971

Schedule and Public Documents

  • The Daily Diary files represent a consolidated record of the President's activities. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

    The President's day began at San Clemente, California

  • The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents made available transcripts of the President's news conferences; messages to Congress; public speeches, remarks, and statements; and other Presidential materials released by the White House.

    Digitized versions can be found at HathiTrust.

  • The Federal Register is the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other Presidential 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 H. R. Haldeman Diaries consists of seven handwritten diaries, 36 dictated diaries recorded as sound recordings, and two handwritten audio cassette tape subject logs. The diaries and logs reflect H. R. Haldeman’s candid personal record and reflections on events, issues, and people encountered during his service in the Nixon White House. As administrative assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, Haldeman attended and participated in public events and private meetings covering the entire scope of issues in which the Nixon White House engaged in during the years 1969-1973. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

    • Transcript of diary entry (PDF)
      Saturday, July 17th. Still at San Clemente. The President was in for the morning, mainly reviewing the China announcement, going over some follow-up plans. He decided to have Rogers go out today before the cameras on covering foreign reaction, and then thought better of it and didn't do it. Instead, the President had his session with the Jaffe and Krogh people on their foreign trip regarding dope, and that was our TV news item for the day. He had a lot of little follow-up odds and ends: like getting MacGregor to go to work on Dominick, to convince him the President knows what he's doing, some plans for the White House staff meeting on Monday, and the need to get Reagan's statement to Buchanan, to simmer him down, get Kissinger to work on the Right Wing, send out Kissinger's backgrounder, tell MacGregor not to let anybody ease up on the Mansfield amendment, that it's even more important now. Wants Kissinger to brief Connally separately on Monday with--, covering things that he doesn't cover in a general Cabinet meeting. He's decided he wants to do a poll, get a reading on how all this came out. And, that about covered it.

      He also got into some changes in the schedule plan, as he realized that he was really pretty tired as a result of the tension of all of this, and that he hadn't had a vacation out here, even though he had taken most of the afternoons off. I made the case that he had built himself and his position up to a point now where, it seemed to me, he would be perfectly justified and would have no problem in announcing a two week vacation and actually taking off in San Clemente for two full weeks in the latter part of August. He agreed with this; so we'll go ahead and schedule on that basis.

      We also got into Bill Rogers's reaction. He felt the whole story on the China thing had played very well, but he said he wanted some time with the President to be sure that what he says and does is correct. Especially he's concerned about how to handle the representation question in the United Nations and needs to decide whether the President wants to make a maximum effort to save the Taiwan seat, and it's ticklish as to whether we really try this or whether we just go through the motions. If we fight, we may still lose, but if we appear to fold, the Conservatives will hit us. As a result of this question, the President decided to invite him to dinner tonight at 6:00 with Mrs. Rogers and then also said he would talk with Rogers on the plane on the way back to Washington.

      In terms of general commentary regarding the whole China thing, the President made several wide-ranging observations. One thing, he was commenting on how stupid the Birchers are in attacking us on this, because they should see this in terms of the matter against the Russians and be delighted with it. The point to make is, that what would have happened if we hadn't done this, and SALT, for instance? We'd be collapsing now in Vietnam, and the Congressional resolutions on pull out would be passing; the UN issue for China was lost anyway. So we've got to build the point, especially to the Conservatives that they have to have confidence in the President and in what he's doing. He told Henry to tell the Right Wing not to get out on a limb on this stuff that they've got to trust the President.

      Then we got to talking about Yahya's cooperation in this whole thing with Henry, particularly how funny it was that Yahya made such a point at the luncheon in Islamabad of making a fuss over Ken, Henry's so-called stomachache, and in effect ordering him to the mountain retreat, and saying he would send his Deputy Foreign Minister to keep him company, and so on, making a big public fuss out of Henry's indisposition so that it would be reported as such, and give Henry the cover he was seeking.

      -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      DECLASSIFIED - E.O. 13526, Sect. 3.4: by MS, NARA, June 12, 2013
      Audio Cassette 11, Side A, Withdrawn Item Number 3 [AC-11(A) Sel 2]
      Duration: 47 seconds

      He also brooded some again today, as he does frequently, about the question of how Taiwan can survive now, and that obviously really concerns him. The point here is that no promises have been made and no commitments have been made to the Chinese that have to be delivered prior to 1972. But after that, it's inevitable that Taiwan is going to have to become a province of China or something of that sort. And it does pose a problem especially since the President has been an old China hand from way back—a free China hand, that is. He also was talking about the problem of what happens to Hong Kong.
      -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      He commented at some length with Henry as to the strain that he'd been through on this, and that you don't realize how much tension you're under in trying to keep a secret of this magnitude; and of course, he also was greatly disturbed and sweating all this out vis-a-vis the Rogers problem, and that made the strain all the more difficult. He also commented that the thesis that the Right Wing has, that there should be no contact with the Communists, is absolutely wrong. The President has always felt that was wrong. He's always favored the need to talk. And we've got to make the point to the Right Wing that we can't just arm ourselves to the teeth and keep the bad guys away; that we're going to have to talk with them and try to handle things in a way that we come out on top, or at least that we don't lose anything.

      He talked about the pressure for a press conference and decided that, while he could refuse to discuss the Vietnam negotiations and the substance of China, that he was better off not to even try one before the 26th, when Henry goes back for his next secret meeting in Paris with Le Duc Tho.

      End of July 17th.
    • Original audio recording (MP3)

  • 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. XVII, China, 1969-1972

    China,January-September 1971

    Vol. XXIX, Eastern Mediterranean, 1969-1972

    Cyprus

    • 374. Information Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Sisco) to Secretary of State Rogers, Washington, July 17, 1971

      Source: Department of State, Cyprus Desk Files: Lot 75 D 41, Pol 1. Secret; Exdis. The memorandum was prepared by Boyatt. A note on the first page reads: “Hold for Sisco. Do not send.” Sisco wrote: “I agree with recds—JJS. An attached note text reads: “JJS—For your use in orally briefing the Secretary—Roger Long.” The memorandum was concurred in by Pugh, Churchill, and Davies. A summary of the information in this memorandum was forwarded to Kissinger in a July 30 memorandum from Eliot. (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 592, Country Files—Middle East, Cyprus, Vol. I Jan 1969–June 30, 1974)

    Vol. XLI, Western Europe; NATO, 1969-1972

    Malta

    • 229. National Security Study Memorandum 135, Washington, July 17, 1971

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 622, Country Files—Middle East, Malta, Vol. I. Secret. A copy was also sent to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

  • 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

  • The White House Photo Office collection consists of photographic coverage of President Richard Nixon meeting with prominent social, political, and cultural personalities; speaking engagements and news conferences of the President and various high-ranking members of the White House staff and Cabinet; Presidential domestic and foreign travel, including Presidential vacations; social events and entertainment involving the First Family, including entertainers present; official portraits of the President, First Family, and high-ranking members of the Nixon administration; the 1969 and 1973 Inaugurals; the President’s 1972 Presidential election campaign appearances (including speeches) and other official activities of the White House staff and the President’s Cabinet from January 20, 1969 until August 9, 1974 at the White House and the Old Executive Office Building; other locations in Washington, DC, such as The Mall; and the Presidential retreats in Camp David, Maryland, Key Biscayne, Florida, and San Clemente, California. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

    Roll WHPO-6824 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-6824-17-24A, President Nixon seated outside on the patio during a meeting with Dr. Jerome H. Jaffe, Egil Krogh, Jr., John Ehrlichman, and Beny Primm to discuss the drug-user testing, identification and treatment program in South Vietnam. 7/17/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House, exterior. President Nixon, Dr. Jerome Jaffe, Egil Krogh, John D. Ehrlichman, Beny J. Primm.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6824-21, President Nixon seated outside on the patio during a meeting with Dr. Jerome H. Jaffe, Egil Krogh, Jr., Johh Ehrlichman and Beny Primm to discuss the drug-user testing, identification and treatment program in South Vietnam. 7/17/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House, exterior. President Nixon, Dr. Jerome Jaffe, Egil Krogh, John Ehrlichman, Beny J. Primm.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6824-25A-34A, Unidentified women on a balcony and around a pool. 7/17/1971, California unknown. unidentified women.

    Roll WHPO-6830 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-6830-01-03, President Nixon during a meeting discussing the drug-user testing, identification, and treatment program in South Vietnam with Special Consultant Dr. Jerome Jaffe, Egil Krogh, John Ehrlichman and Beny Primm. 7/17/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House, grounds. President Nixon, Dr. Jerome H. Jaffe, Special Consultant. Egil Krogh, Jr., John D. Ehrlichman, Beny J. Primm (consultant to Dr. Jaffe).

    Roll WHPO-6881 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-6881-03A-05A, Vice President Agnew standing with Prince Juan Carlos. 7/17/1971, Madrid, Spain unknown locations. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, Francisco Franco, Prince Juan Carlos, Spanish officials, unidentified persons.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6881-06A-13A, Vice President Agnew greeting Generalissimo Francisco Franco. 7/17/1971, Madrid, Spain unknown locations. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, Francisco Franco, Prince Juan Carlos, Spanish officials, unidentified persons.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6881-14A-17A, Vice President Agnew sitting with Generalissimo Francisco Franco. 7/17/1971, Madrid, Spain unknown locations. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, Francisco Franco, Prince Juan Carlos, Spanish officials, unidentified persons.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6881-19A-21A, Vice President Agnew at dinner with Generalissimo Francisco Franco. 7/17/1971, Madrid, Spain unknown locations. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, Francisco Franco, Prince Juan Carlos, Spanish officials, unidentified persons.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6881-22A-26A, Vice President Agnew preparing to depart. 7/17/1971, Madrid, Spain airport, tarmac. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, Francisco Franco, Prince Juan Carlos, Spanish officials, unidentified persons.

    Roll WHPO-6882 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-6882-04A, Vice President Agnew walking into a building. 7/17/1971, Spain unknown locations. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, Spanish officials, aides, unidentified persons.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6882-05A-10A, Vice President Agnew sitting with officials. 7/17/1971, Spain unknown locations. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, Spanish officials, aides.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6882-12A-16A, Vice President Agnew greeting well wishers and greeting the crowd at an airport. 7/17/1971, Spain airport, tarmac. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, crowd.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6882-17A-28A, Vice President Agnew talking with people at a hotel. 7/17/1971, Spain unknown locations. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, Spanish officials, aides, unidentified persons.

    Roll WHPO-6883 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-6883-03A-06A, Vice President Agnew being greeted upon arrival. 7/17/1971, Soto-Grande, Spain airport, tarmac. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, Spanish officials, aides, unidentified persons.

    Roll WHPO-6884 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-6884-02A, Vice President Agnew addressing a crowd upon arrival in Madrid. 7/17/1971, Madrid, Soto-Grande, Spain airports, tarmac. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, Francisco Franco, Spanish officials, aides, unidentified persons.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6884-04A-10A, Vice President Agnew attending a dinner with Gen. Franco and others. 7/17/1971, Madrid, Soto-Grande, Spain unknown location. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, Francisco Franco, Spanish officials, aides, unidentified persons.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6884-11A, Vice President Agnew sitting with officials. 7/17/1971, Madrid, Soto-Grande, Spain airports, unknown locations. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, Francisco Franco, Spanish officials, aides, unidentified persons.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6884-13A-18A, Vice President Agnew greeting the crowd at the Soto-Grande airport. 7/17/1971, Madrid, Soto-Grande, Spain airports, tarmac. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, Francisco Franco, Spanish officials, aides, unidentified persons.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6884-19A-20A, Vice President Agnew greeting people at a hotel. 7/17/1971, Madrid, Soto-Grande, Spain unknown locations. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, Francisco Franco, Spanish officials, aides, unidentified persons.

    Roll WHPO-6885 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-6885-01A-07A, Vice President Agnew arriving in Madrid. 7/17/1971, Madrid, Spain airport, tarmac. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, Francisco Franco, Prince Juan Carlos, Spanish officials, aides, unidentified persons.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6885-08A-20A, Vice President Agnew attending a formal reception. 7/17/1971, Madrid, Spain unknown. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, Francisco Franco, Prince Juan Carlos, Spanish officials, aides, unidentified persons.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6885-21A-35A, Vice President Agnew attending a luncheon. 7/17/1971, Madrid, Spain unknown. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, Francisco Franco, Prince Juan Carlos, Spanish officials, aides, unidentified persons.

  • The White House Communications Agency Sound Recordings Collection contains public statements that took place between 1969 and 1974. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

    B - Vice-Presidential (Agnew and Ford)

    • WHCA-SR-B-186
      Departure remarks-Airport Kinshasha, Congo. (7/17/1971)

      Runtime: 1:05

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
    • WHCA-SR-B-187
      Arrival remarks-Madrid Airport Lobby, Spain. (7/17/1971)

      Runtime: 1:06

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
    • WHCA-SR-B-187
      Press briefing-A.F. 2 enroute Madrid. (7/17/1971)

      Runtime: 15:08

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

    H - White House Staff Member Recordings

    • WHCA-SR-H-415
      Press briefing by Ronald Ziegler and Jerome Jaffe. (7/17/1971, Surf and Sand Hotel, Laguna Beach, California)

      Runtime: 38:00:00

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media, press secretary

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by JRS (initials of WHCA engineer)

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

    K - Informal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-K-224
      Photo Opportunity-San Clemente Compound. (7/17/1971)

      Runtime: 5:00

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

  • The White House Communications Agency Videotape Collection contains “off-the-air” recordings of televised programs produced between 1968 and 1974. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

    • WHCA-4533
      "Agronsky & Company" President Nixon's Upcoming Trip to China. The panelists discusses President Nixon's pending trip to the People's Republic of China Edwin O. Reischauer, scholar on China and Japan.
      CBS
      Runtime: 00:34:10
    • WHCA-4544
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:25:29

      19. Brinkley: Vice President Agnew finishes his 6-day tour of Africa. Time Code Start: 45:55. Keywords: Vice Presidents, travel, trips, African. Network: NBC.

      20. McGee: Vice President Agnew's comments criticized on topic of African American disatisfaction with the United States government. Time Code Start: 46:48. Keywords: Vice Presidents, civil rights, leaders, protests, protests, militants, activists, African Americans, armed resistance, Civil Rights, Black Panthers. Network: NBC.

      21. Brinkley/Stern: Subversive Activities Control Board (SACB) still in action, funding costs growing, Black Panthers and other anti-war groups listed to be tried by SACB. Time Code Start: 47:32. Keywords: investigations, militants, activists, African Americans, armed resistance, Civil Rights, Black Panthers. Network: NBC.

      22. Mudd/Jones: Vice President Agnew's remarks on African Americans, contrasting with native Africans, citicizing United States democracy; speculation on possible loss of Taiwan's United Nations seat. Time Code Start: 50:47. Keywords: Vice Presidents, civil rights, leaders, protests, criticisms, protests, militants, activists, African Americans, armed resistance, Civil Rights, Black Panthers, organization of nations, intergovernmental alliance, Taiwanese, admissions, rejections. Network: CBS.

      23. Mudd/Pierpoint: Political implications of President Nixon's planned China trip to improve relations with Communsit China. Time Code Start: 54:31. Keywords: People's Republic of China, Presidents, travel, trips, negotations, Taiwanese. Network: CBS.

      24. Mudd/Schakne: Details of the Presidential candidates running in the 1972 election. Time Code Start: 56:11. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates. Network: CBS.

      25. Mudd/Walker: Drug Control Program reports U.S. troop drug addictions in Vietnam half of previous projections.. Time Code Start: 58:51. Keywords: Vietnam War, Armed Forces, military, pharmaceuticals, drugs, drug abuse, narcotics, morphine, heroin, marijuana, alcoholism, addicts, addiction, statistics. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)