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July 17, 1973

Introduction

This almanac page for Tuesday, July 17, 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: Monday, July 16, 1973

Next Date: Wednesday, July 18, 1973

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 Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland

  • 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.

  • Each Public Papers of the Presidents volume contains the papers and speeches of the President of the United States that were issued by the White House Office of the Press Secretary during the time period specified by the volume. The material is presented in chronological order, and the dates shown in the headings are the dates of the documents or events. In instances when the release date differs from the date of the document itself, that fact is shown in the text note.

    To ensure accuracy, remarks have been checked against audio recordings (when available) and signed documents have been checked against the original, unless otherwise noted. Editors have provided text notes and cross references for purposes of identification or clarity.

  • 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.

  • The Congressional Record is the official daily record of the debates and proceedings of the U.S. Congress.

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. E-6, Documents on Africa, 1973-1976

    Uganda

    • 247. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Rush to President Nixon, Washington, July 17, 1973

      Rush noted that the Embassy staff in Kampala had helped secure the release of Peace Corps Volunteers held by General Amin, and this showed the importance of maintaining a diplomatic presence in Uganda.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 746, Country Files, Africa, Uganda, Vol. I. Confidential. A notation on Kissinger’s covering memorandum of August 6 to the President, transmitting the Rush memorandum, reads: “The President has seen.”

    Vol. E-8, Documents on South Asia, 1973-1976

    Afghanistan

    • 4. Telegram 5222 From the Embassy in Afghanistan to the Department of State, Kabul, July 17, 1973, 0255Z

      The Embassy reported on the coup perpetrated by former Prime Minister Mohammad Daoud against King Zahir and offered its observations of the incoming government.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 591, Country Files, Middle East, Afghanistan, Volume I. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. It was drafted by Neumann and repeated immediate to Ankara, Bonn, Islamabad, London, Moscow, New Delhi, Paris, Rome, Tehran, and to CINCPAC. The coup took place on July 16, while King Zahir was in Rome for medical treatment. Prime Minister Shafiq was detained by Daoud’s government and executed in 1979. In telegram 142393 to London, July 20, the Department reported that Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had asked the United States to delay recognition of the Daoud government.

    India-Pakistan 1

    • 138. Research Study RNAS–15 Prepared in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, Washington, July 17, 1973

      The Bureau of Intelligence and Research issued a report “Pakistan under Civilian Government,” which assessed the challenges and prospects for Pakistan’s first civilian government since 1960.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 15 PAK. Confidential; No Foreign Dissem. It was drafted by Arietti, cleared by Jones, and approved by Denney.

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

    S - White House Press Office Briefings (continuation of the L-series)

    • WHCA-SR-S-206
      Medical briefing and press briefing by Ronald Ziegler. (7/17/1973, Bethesda Naval Hospital)

      Runtime: 35:00:00

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

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

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
    • WHCA-SR-S-208
      Press briefing by Gerald Warren. (7/17/1973, White House Press Lobby)

      Runtime: 25:00:00

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media

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

      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-6442
      Weekly News Summary, Tape VIII.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 0:30

      1. Reasoner/Landay/Zimmerman: White House tapes and papers. Time Code Start: 01:16. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: ABC.

      2. Smith/Kaplow: Phase IV. Time Code Start: 09:34. Keywords: wage and price controls, freezes, prices, costs, increases, decreases, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money. Network: ABC.

      3. Reasoner/Miller: Gas shortage investigation. Time Code Start: 12:02. Keywords: energy crisis, petroleum, oil, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing. Network: ABC.

      4. Smith/Clark: Alaskan oil pipeline. Time Code Start: 15:00. Keywords: petroleum, gasoline, oil crisis, energy crisis, transportation, shortages. Network: ABC.

      5. Reasoner/Snell: Cambodia; B-52s returning home [Vietnam]. Time Code Start: 18:46. Keywords: Cambodia, Vietnam War, aircraft, withdrawals, departures. Network: ABC.

      6. Reasoner: Commentary on the death of John Rolfson ABC news correspondent. Time Code Start: 26:41. Keywords: media, reporters, death, journalists. Network: ABC.
    • WHCA-6443
      Weekly News Summary, Tape IX.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:00:21

      1. Utley/Valeriani/Stern: President Nixon holding on to tapes; Secret Service told not to talk with Ron Ziegler. Time Code Start: 00:54. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: NBC.

      2. Utley: Kalmbach's testimony at Watergate hearings. Time Code Start: 05:34. Keywords: attorneys, lawyers, Presidential elections, fundraising, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: NBC.

      3. Utley/Levine: Phase IV and what it will be like. Time Code Start: 08:59. Keywords: wage and price controls, freezes, prices, costs, increases, decreases, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money. Network: NBC.

      4. Brinkley's Journal: Sagging dollar. Time Code Start: 11:42. Keywords: economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, currency, monetary values, exchange rates, decreases, wages, costs, increases. Network: NBC.

      5. Utley: Federal Trade Commission (FTC) files suit against gas companies. Time Code Start: 15:00. Keywords: consumer protection agency, trade regulation, antitrust enforcement, lawsuits, corporations, energy, petroleum, gasoline, oil crisis, energy crisis, transportation, shortages. Network: NBC.

      6. Utley/Oliver: Alaskan oil pipeline. Time Code Start: 15:45. Keywords: petroleum, gasoline, oil crisis, energy crisis, transportation, shortages. Network: NBC.

      7. Utley/Trout: Number of secret Cambodia bombings; Vietnam still fighting. Time Code Start: 22:12. Keywords: Cambodia, Vietnam War, military, bombings. Network: NBC.

      8. Mudd/Schorr/Rather: Secret Service told not to talk; more on Oval Office tapes. Time Code Start: 30:35. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: CBS.

      9. Mudd/Schorr: Kalmbach testimony at Watergate hearings. Time Code Start: 34:58. Keywords: attorneys, lawyers, Presidential elections, fundraising, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: CBS.

      10. Mudd/Morton: Gas companies and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC); Alaskan oil pipeline. Time Code Start: 41:28. Keywords: consumer protection agency, trade regulation, antitrust enforcement, lawsuits, corporations, energy, petroleum, gasoline, oil crisis, energy crisis, transportation, shortages. Network: CBS.

      11. Mudd/Schieffer: Number of secret Cambodia bombings [Vietnam]. Time Code Start: 45:20. Keywords: Cambodia, Vietnam War, bombings. Network: CBS.

      12. Mudd/Osgoode: Guessing what's on President Nixon's tapes; satire. Time Code Start: 55:30. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: CBS.
    • WHCA-W-193
      Proceedings of the Senate Watergate Committee Hearings. Testimony of Alexander Butterfield FTN: George Bush, RNC Chairman; "I&A": Senators Byrd and Griffin; "MTP": Jimmy Hoffa.
      CBS, ABC, NBC
      Runtime: 01:37:26
    • WHCA-W-194
      Proceedings of the Senate Watergate Committee Hearings. Testimony of Herbert Kalmbach
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:36:52
    • WHCA-W-195
      Proceedings of the Senate Watergate Committee Hearings. Testimony of Herbert Kalmbach
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:30
    • WHCA-W-196
      Proceedings of the Senate Watergate Committee Hearings. Testimony of Herbert Kalmbach
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:00
    • WHCA-W-204
      Proceedings of the Senate Watergate Committee Hearings. Testimony of Robert Mardian Spiro Agnew.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:35:50

Context (External Sources)