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July 19, 1973

Introduction

This almanac page for Thursday, July 19, 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 18, 1973

Next Date: Friday, July 20, 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. XV, Soviet Union, June 1972-August 1974

    The October Arab-Israeli War and Kissinger's Trip to Moscow, July 1973-January 1974

    • 135. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, July 19, 1973, 5:20-5:50 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1027, Presidential/HAK Memcons, Memcons—HAK & Presidential, April–November 1973, [4 of 5]. Confidential. The meeting was held in Kissinger’s office in the White House. Brackets are in the original.

    Vol. XVIII, China, 1973-1976

    Political Turmoil in the United States, June 1973-September 1974

    • 43. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, July 19, 1973, 11:00-11:46 a.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 95, Country Files, Far East, China Exchanges, July 10–Oct. 31, 1973. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting took place in Kissinger’s office at the White House.

    Vol. XXX, Greece; Cyprus; Turkey, 1973-1976

    Greece

    • 5. National Intelligence Estimate, Washington, July 19, 1973

      Source: Central Intelligence Agency, NIC Files, Job 79–R01012A. Secret; Controlled Dissem. The Central Intelligence Agency and the intelligence organizations of the Departments of State and Defense, the National Security Agency, and the Department of the Treasury participated in the preparation of this estimate. The Director of Central Intelligence submitted this estimate with the concurrence of all members of the United States Intelligence Board with the exception of the representatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation who abstained on the grounds that it was outside his jurisdiction.

    Turkey

    • 196. Research Study Prepared in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, Washington, July 19, 1973

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 15 TUR. Secret; No Foreign Dissem; Controlled Dissem. Drafted by Rotklein, cleared by Curtis Jones, and released by George Denney. A note at the bottom of the first page reads: “Aside from normal substantive exchange with other agencies at the working level; it has not been coordinated elsewhere.”

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

    Human Rights

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

    Africa Region

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

    Middle East Region

    • 8. Memorandum From Harold H. Saunders of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, July 19, 1973

      Summary: Saunders briefed Kissinger for a July 20 SRG meeting, following the July 13 meeting on NSSMs 181 and 182.

      Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS 71, National Security Council, Committees and Panels, Senior Review Group, March 1972–July 1973. Top Secret. Attached at Tab A is the Department of State paper entitled “A U.S. Strategy for the Region of the Soviet Southern Flank,” with a covering paper from Saunders dated July 19, published as Document 9. Attached at Tab B is the analytical summary of the study for NSSM 181, published as Document 10. The full NSSM 181 study is not published. Attached at Tab C is a paper on contingencies in the event of instability in Saudi Arabia, published as Document 11. Kissinger requested this paper on July 12. [text not declassified]

    • 9. Paper Prepared by Harold H. Saunders of the National Security Council Staff, Washington, July 19, 1973

      Summary: Saunders prepared a paper analyzing a Department of State study on U.S. Strategy in the Middle East.

      Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS 71, National Security Council, Committees and Panels, Senior Review Group, March 1972–July 1973. Secret. This paper was attached as Tab A to the July 19 Saunders memorandum to Kissinger published as Document 8. Attached is the signed analytical summary from Saunders critiquing the paper. The points in this summary are reproduced in the July 19 briefing memorandum from Saunders to Kissinger published as Document 8.

    • 10. Paper Prepared by William B. Quandt of the National Security Council Staff, Washington, July 19, 1973

      Summary: Quandt provided the analytical summary of the Department’s study responding to NSSM 181.

      Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS 71, National Security Council, Committees and Panels, Senior Review Group, March 1972–July 1973. Secret. This paper was attached as Tab B to the July 19 memorandum from Saunders to Kissinger published as Document 8. NSSM 181 is Document 2.

    • 11. Paper Prepared by William B. Quandt of the National Security Council Staff, Washington, July 19, 1973

      Summary: At Kissinger’s July 12 request, Quandt provided an analytical summary of contingency plans in the event of instability in Saudi Arabia.

      Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS 71, National Security Council, Committees and Panels, Senior Review Group, March 1972–July 1973. Top Secret; Sensitive. This paper was attached as Tab C to the July 19 memorandum from Saunders to Kissinger, published as Document 8. That memorandum indicates that Kissinger requested the plan on July 12 based on the suggestion from U.S. Ambassador to Iran Richard Helms. Kissinger’s request is in the Washington National Records Center, OASD Files: FRC 330–78–0002, Saudi Arabia 381, 1973 X3101. The plan, drafted by the NSC Contingency Planning Working Group, was forwarded by the group’s acting chair, Joseph W. Neubert, Acting Deputy Director for Planning (S/PC), to Kissinger under a July 20 covering memorandum. The contingency plan is not published. (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Box TS 32, Geopolitical File, Middle East Chronological File, October 1973)

    • 12. Memorandum From Acting Director of Central Intelligence Walters to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, July 19, 1973

      [Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS 71, National Security Council, Committees and Panels, Senior Review Group, March 1972–July 1973. Secret; [handling restriction not declassified]. 2 pages not declassified.]

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

    Guyana

    • 363. Telegram 1062 From the Embassy in Guyana to the Department of State, Georgetown, July 19, 1973, 1539Z

      Summary: The Embassy reported that the PNC won a landslide victory in national elections marked by extensive fraud.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]. Confidential; Immediate. Repeated Priority to Bridgetown, Kingston, Port of Spain, and USCINCSO for POLAD. All brackets are in the original except “[27.0]”, added for clarity. Telegram 1032 is Document 362. Telegram 1060 from Georgetown is dated July 18. (Ibid., [no film number]) The airgram mentioned in paragraph 4 was not found.

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

    Japan

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

    Western Europe Regional, 1973-1976

  • 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-213
      Press briefing and medical bulletin by Ronald Ziegler. (7/19/1973, Bethesda Naval Hospital)

      Runtime: 24:03:00

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

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

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
    • WHCA-SR-S-215
      Press briefing on Phase IV economic program by George Shultz and Peter Flanigan. (7/19/1973, EOB Conference Room (450))

      Runtime: 36:00:00

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by GSA; Recorded by Earl Doss (initials of WHCA engineer)

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
    • WHCA-SR-S-217
      Intern briefing by Secretary of Housing and Urban Development James T. Lynn. (7/19/1973, EOB Conference Room (450))

      Runtime: 1:16:00

      Keywords: Briefings, private briefings

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by GSA; Recorded by Earl Doss (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-6434
      "ABC News - At Ease".
      NBC
      Runtime: 01:29:33
    • WHCA-6446
      Weekly News Summary, Tape XII.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 0:30

      1. Reasoner/Donaldson/Jarriel: The Watergate Hoax; White House Tapes with Ron Ziegler. Time Code Start: 01:22. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: ABC.

      2. Reasoner/Schomaucher: special prosecutor Archibald Cox. Time Code Start: 08:10. Keywords: law officials, attorneys, lawyers, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: ABC.

      3. Reasoner/Kaestner/Miller/Kaplow: Phase IV, food prices with Secretary of Agriculture Butz. Time Code Start: 10:55. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, food, wage and price controls, freezes, prices, costs, increases, decreases, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money. Network: ABC.

      4. Reasoner: Senator Sam Ervin. Time Code Start: 23:26. Keywords: Senators, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: ABC.

      5. Reasoner: Commentary on Phases IV controls used to reduce inflation. Time Code Start: 26:28. Keywords: wage freezes, price freeze, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, money, wages, costs, unemployment, employees, salaries, salary. Network: ABC.
    • WHCA-6447
      Weekly News Summary, Tape XIII. BBC commentator, Barbara Walters, Burt Reynolds.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:06:02

      1. Chancellor: Watergate; The Hoax. Time Code Start: 00:55. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: NBC.

      2. Chancellor/Valeriani: White House reaction to Hoax. Time Code Start: 04:19. Keywords: Presidents, statements, reactions, frauds. Network: NBC.

      3. Chancellor: John Dean pleads the 5th Amendment 67 times. Time Code Start: 05:20. Keywords: advisors, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandal. Network: NBC.

      4. Chancellor: More on Watergate; Mardian. Time Code Start: 07:00. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: NBC.

      5. Chancellor/Levine/Neal: Economic news, Phase IV, Secretary of Agriculture Butz. Time Code Start: 10:58. Keywords: wage and price controls, freezes, prices, costs, increases, decreases, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money. Network: NBC.

      6. Chancellor/Koralski/Bell: Investigation into Russian Wheat Deal [related terms: Soviet Union, USSR]; Senator Henry Jackson. Time Code Start: 17:19. Keywords: U.S., American, Soviet Union, USSR, Russia, agriculture, food, crops, products, sales, agreements, business, imports, exports, trade, taxes, taxation, revenue, losses. Network: NBC.

      7. Chancellor/Cochran: Cambodia bombing secrets [Vietnam]; Freidheim. Time Code Start: 22:49. Keywords: Cambodia, Vietnam War, bombings. Network: NBC.

      8. Mudd/Schorr: Watergate hoax. Time Code Start: 30:33. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: CBS.

      9. Mudd/Pappas: Minimum wage raised; Phase IV. Time Code Start: 39:21. Keywords: wage and price controls, freezes, prices, costs, increases, decreases, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money. Network: CBS.

      10. Mudd/Schiefer: Cambodia bombing secrets [Vietnam]. Time Code Start: 47:50. Keywords: Cambodia, Vietnam War, bombings. Network: CBS.
    • WHCA-W-201
      Proceedings of the Senate Watergate Committee Hearings. Testimony of Fred LaRue Jim Lehrer, Neil McNeil, Pat Buchanan, Edward Ted Kennedy, Stephen Hess, David Austern.
      National Public Affairs Center for Television/Eastern Educational Network
      Runtime: 01:35:20
    • WHCA-W-202
      Proceedings of the Senate Watergate Committee Hearings. Testimony of Fred LaRue Elliot Richardson.
      ABC
      Runtime: 01:35:15
    • WHCA-W-203
      Proceedings of the Senate Watergate Committee Hearings. Testimony of Fred LaRue Elliot Richardson.
      NBC, CBS, PBS
      Runtime: 1:00

Context (External Sources)