1. Home
  2. Research
  3. Almanac

July 31, 1974

Introduction

This almanac page for Wednesday, July 31, 1974, 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: Tuesday, July 30, 1974

Next Date: Thursday, August 1, 1974

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.

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

    Jamaica, The Bahamas, and the Eastern Caribbean

    • 449. Telegram 1369 From the Embassy in The Bahamas to the Department of State and the Department of Defense, Nassau, July 31, 1974, 1821Z

      Summary: The Embassy reported on a July 31 meeting between Ambassador Spiers and Adderley in which it became clear that the Bahamian Government had never accepted the view that an agreement on military facilities would not involve a program of economic assistance.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D740208–0920. Secret; Priority to Department of State. Repeated to London and CINCLANT. In telegram 1177 from Nassau, July 1, the Embassy reported that Adderley had suggested that talks on military facilities should lead to an agreement involving considerable U.S. financial aid to The Bahamas. (Ibid., D740174–0756) In telegram 162871 to Nassau, July 26, the Department noted that there was “no realistic prospect for bilateral economic or developmental assistance to the GCOB.” (Ibid., D740203–0797) In telegram 165649 to Nassau, July 30, the Department transmitted additional guidance for Spiers’s July 31 meeting with Adderley. (Ibid., D740207–0497) In telegram 2130 from Nassau, December 31, the Embassy transmitted a Bahamian request that the target date for completion of the negotiations be moved to June 30, 1975. (Ibid., D750001–0554)

  • 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-698
      Press briefing by Gerald Warren. (7/31/1974, White House Press Lobby)

      Runtime: 23:50

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by __ (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-7105
      "Martin Agronsky: Evening Edition". John D. Ehrlichman, former chief domestic advisor to the President.
      NBC
      Runtime: 00:28:10
    • WHCA-7106
      "The Compass Weekly". John D. Ehrlichman, former chief domestic advisor to the President.
      NBC
      Runtime: 00:59:36
    • WHCA-7113
      Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:30

      1. Smith/Bell/Donaldson: White House statements and House reaction. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: ABC.

      2. Reasoner/Clark: Senate working impeachment procedures. Time Code Start: 03:36. Keywords: Presidents, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, impeachment. Network: ABC.

      3. Reasoner: President Nixon would not receive pension if impeached. Time Code Start: 05:15. Keywords: Presidents, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, impeachment, retirement, benefits. Network: ABC.

      4. Reasoner/Schoumacher: Ehrlichman sentenced. Time Code Start: 05:40. Keywords: advisors, counsels, attorneys, lawyers, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: ABC.

      5. Reasoner/Matney/Artist Freda Reiter: More on Milk Fund, D.C.federal court, former head of milk producer's cooperative Harold Nelson pleads guilty conspiring to bribe John Connally, Connally already indicted, Judge George Hart reads charges. Time Code Start: 07:55. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, trials, food, dairy products, organizations, lobbys, Presidential campaigns, contributions, funding, finances, donations, investigations. Network: ABC.

      6. Smith: President Nixon claims executive privilege on some tapes. Time Code Start: 09:30. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: ABC.

      7. Smith: Commentary on Congress and impeachment debate not addressing campaign reform. Time Code Start: 10:15. Keywords: House of Representatives, debates, Watergate, Senate Committee hearings, impeachment, resignations. Network: ABC.

      8. Chancellor/Quinn: Impeachment proceedings with Senator Barry Goldwater. Time Code Start: 12:00. Keywords: Presidents, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, impeachment, Senators. Network: NBC.

      9. Chancellor/Brokaw: White House views of hearings. Time Code Start: 15:40. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: NBC.

      10. Chancellor: More gaps in White House tapes. Time Code Start: 17:02. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: NBC.

      11. Chancellor/Stern: Ehrlichman sentenced today. Time Code Start: 17:49. Keywords: advisors, counsels, attorneys, lawyers, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: NBC.

      12. Chancellor: Connally denies taking money during Milk Fund trial, Harold Nelson also admits conspiring to make illegal campaign contributions; $100,000 sent to President Nixon's lawyer Kalmbach in 1969. Time Code Start: 20:00. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, trials, food, dairy products, organizations, lobbys, Presidential campaigns, contributions, funding, finances, donations, investigations. Network: NBC.

      13. Chancellor/Simpson: Farm prices up. Time Code Start: 21:10. Keywords: food, crops, agriculture, farming, wage and price controls, freezes, prices, costs, increases, decreases, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money. Network: NBC.

      14. Chancellor: Photo profiles of Judiciary Committee members. Time Code Start: 23:38. Keywords: U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, Congress. Network: NBC.

      15. Mudd/Graham: Ehrlichman sentenced. Time Code Start: 26:30. Keywords: advisors, counsels, attorneys, lawyers, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: CBS.

      16. Mudd/Stahl: President Nixon claims executive privilege on parts of some tapes. Time Code Start: 28:30. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: CBS.

      17. Mudd: Milk Fund trial, Harold Nelson pleads guilty conspiring to bribe John Connally, approved illegal campaign contributions to Nixon, Hubert Humphrey and Edmund Muskie. Time Code Start: 30:00. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, trials, food, dairy products, organizations, lobbys, Presidential campaigns, contributions, funding, finances, donations, investigations. Network: CBS.

      18. Mudd/Rather: High level strategy to come from President Nixon soon. Time Code Start: 30:35. Keywords: Presidents, meetings, Watergate, impeachment, resignations,. Network: CBS.

      19. Mudd/Morton: House prepares for impeachment proceedings. Time Code Start: 31:53. Keywords: Presidents, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, impeachment, House of Representatives, Congress. Network: CBS.

      20. Mudd/Jones: Vice President Gerald Ford's possible change on the defense of President Nixon. Time Code Start: 33:58. Keywords: Vice Presidents, speeches, statements, hearings, burglary, impeachment, resignations, investigations, conspiracy, coverups. Network: CBS.

      21. Mudd: Former Vice President Agnew requests right to have firearms. Time Code Start: 35:38. Keywords: Vice Presidents, resignations, terminations, security, weapons, guns. Network: CBS.

      22. Mudd: Farm prices up. Time Code Start: 35:55. Keywords: food, crops, agriculture, farming, wage and price controls, freezes, prices, costs, increases, decreases, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money. Network: CBS.

      23. Mudd: Benson reply to President Nixon's economy speech. Time Code Start: 36:23. Keywords: Presidents, speeches, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, unemployment, prices. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)