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July 7, 1971

Introduction

This almanac page for Wednesday, July 7, 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: Tuesday, July 6, 1971

Next Date: Thursday, July 8, 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.

  • 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 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)
      Wednesday, July 7.

      The President got into the office at 7:00 this morning. I didn't get in until 8:30, and he called me in then and had me in there from then until nearly 1:00, which is a pretty long solid session. He came up with the way-out idea that he might build his "Five Great Powers" theme speech from Kansas City yesterday into a major statement, and then go to the Bohemian Grove, without announcing it in advance, and drop it there––it being the most influential and powerful group of people that are gathered, certainly in California and, really, in general in the country. He'd do it without any press coverage, and it would be for the purpose of using the leadership of that crowd to give them a lift. It could affect the economic conditions. It would have an enormous effect on California politics. The idea is that we'd camouflage the whole thing by telling them that Rogers is coming and ask that he be allowed to give the Lakeside talk, and then at the last minute we would substitute the President.

      He came up with the idea on replacing the Treasurer of the United States––because of Dottie Elston dying––with a Mexican woman and told me to go ahead and find one. It turns out that this really was a suggestion that came out of some conversation that Pat Nixon had in the receiving line yesterday.

      -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      PRIVACY- Reviewed and released under Deed of Gift, DR, NARA, September 11, 2014
      Audio Cassette 10, Side A.
      Duration: 50 seconds

      We had a long discussion of the Drowns. I had told him yesterday on the plane about my conversation with Helene so he’d know what had happened. I had had an hour-and-half with her on the phone the night before. I saved the tapes of that. He’s concluded today that the problem isn’t going to go away there’s no reason to leave an impossible situation so he had Rose in asked her go see Helene. Tell her she’s getting everything wrong, that they’re friends that the Nixon’s want to retain them. There’s an enormous, difficult problem with the brothers and etcetera. That they should keep their relationship come down and all that, but understand the problem. Rose pointed out to him and I agree with her that this just won’t work, and we sat around and talked about the whole thing for an hour or more and finally more or less gave up.
      -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Late this morning, he had a meeting with Rogers, Helms, Haig and me to discuss the whole question of security clearances, classification of documents, etcetera. It really didn't accomplish much of anything. It was sort of general talk as the President laid out his concerns, the problems of too many people having top secret clearances and of too many documents being distributed too broadly, but we didn't really come to any conclusions. He gave Haig some assignments of items to follow up on. One thing that came up was Rogers’s complaint about Henry seeing Harriman, which Rogers also raised with me on the phone. The President talked to me afterwards and made the point that he thinks that Rogers is right, and that it was wrong for Henry to see Harriman, because it really does create a problem, and Rogers is trying to keep his people from dealing with Harriman and those kinds of people.

      After I got home this afternoon, the President called while I was out sailing and left word for me to call back. When I did, he made the point, and was quite pleased about it, that as he said, the plot thickens. We now have a message from the Pakistanis, and the secret meeting that they set up is wrong-- is on, but for security reasons, they want it moved to Peking. He thinks this is very significant, because they want it at the highest level, and he thinks it's possible that he'll see the old man [Mao Tse-tung], as well as the guy who he originally was going to see [Chou En-lai]. He's concluded that he'll have to tell Rogers tomorrow about this, and that's obviously got him a little worried, but apparently, Henry goes over there tonight. So, this is highly significant and historic--
    • 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. IV, Foreign Assistance, International Development, Trade Policies, 1969-1972

    East-West Trade, 1969-1972

    • 339. Information Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for International Economic Affairs (Peterson) to President Nixon, Washington, July 7, 1971

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 218, CIEP. Confidential. Attached to a July 12 memorandum from Howe to Haig bringing to his attention this memorandum as well as two others from Peterson. On July 27 Huntsman sent Kissinger a memorandum informing him that the President had read this memorandum “with interest” and had requested that a copy be sent to Kissinger for his information. Johnston brought Peterson’s memoranda to Kissinger’s attention under cover of a July 28 memorandum. (Ibid., Subject Files, Box 402, Trade, Volume IV 7-12/71)

    Vol. XI, South Asia Crisis, 1971

    South Asia Crisis, 1971

    • 91. Memorandum of Conversation, New Delhi, July 7, 1971

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL INDIA–US. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Saunders on July 12. The meeting was held in the Prime Ministerʼs Office in New Delhi. The conversation was summarized in telegram 10864 from New Delhi, July 8. (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 578, Indo-Pak War, India Chronology, Dr Kissinger)

    Vol. XI, South Asia Crisis, 1971

    South Asia Crisis, 1971

    • 92. Memorandum of Conversation, New Delhi, July 7, 1971

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL INDIA–US. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Saunders on July 12. The meeting was held in Foreign Minister Singhʼs office in New Delhi. The conversation was summarized in telegram 10865 from New Delhi, July 8. (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 578, Indo-Pak War, India Chronology, Dr Kissinger) Kissinger also met on July 7 with Minister of Planning Chidambara Subramaniam. A memorandum of that conversation is ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL INDIA–US.

    Vol. XIII, Soviet Union, October 1970-October 1971

    "One of Two Routes": Soviet-American Relations and Kissinger's Secret Trip to China, April 23-July 18, 1971

    • 281. Backchannel Message From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig), New Delhi, July 7, 1971, 0631Z

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 432, Backchannel Files, Very Sensitive Trip Cables. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Haig was in San Clemente. The message was received at the White House at 2:14 a.m. and relayed to San Clemente. The “messenger” in the text is Dobrynin. Kissinger described the message in his memoirs as follows: “I cabled Haig that Vorontsov’s note had its advantages. We could now complete the summits in our preferred order. The Soviet Union would find it more difficult to accuse us of bad faith in our opening to Peking (not a decisive factor, but helpful). And if the Soviets still wanted to go ahead with a Moscow summit—as I thought probable—it would take place in circumstances where the balance of interest was more visible.” (Kissinger, White House Years, p. 835)

    Vol. XIII, Soviet Union, October 1970-October 1971

    "One of Two Routes": Soviet-American Relations and Kissinger's Secret Trip to China, April 23-July 18, 1971

    Vol. XXIII, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1969-1972

    Vol. XL, Germany and Berlin, 1969-1972

    Germany and Berlin, 1969-1972

    Vol. E-4, Documents on Iran and Iraq, 1969-1972

    Iran 1971

    Vol. E-5, Part 1, Documents on Sub-Saharan Africa, 1969-1972

    The Horn

    • 318. Telegram 121360 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Somalia, Washington, July 7, 1971, 0051Z

      The Department instructed Ambassador Hadsel to delay his end-of-assignment departure until the release of the crew and vessels was certain. If the ambassador were to depart prior to the release, it might seem to indicate that the U.S. Government was becoming less interested in resolving the problem.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 33–4 Somali-US. Confidential. Drafted by Shinn; cleared in AF/E, AF/EX and PER/CA; and approved by Moore. Repeated to Accra and Nairobi.

    Vol. E-7, Documents on South Asia, 1969-1972

    India and Pakistan: Crisis and War, March-December 1971

    • 139. Memorandum of Conversation, New Delhi, July 7, 1971

      President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger and Indian Defense Minister Jagjivan Ram discussed Ram’s perception of the threat posed by China to India. Kissinger said that the U.S. would take a “grave view” of any Chinese move against India. The conversation concluded with a discussion of what might be done to improve relations between the U.S. and India.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL INDIA–US. Secret; Exdis. Drafted on July 12. Published from an unsigned copy. The meeting was held in Ram’s office. Kissinger left Washington on July 2 for what was publicly described as a fact-finding trip to South Vietnam, Thailand, India, and Pakistan. The trip included secreta secret visit to China, undertaken during Kissinger’s visit to Pakistan, following his stop in India. He returned to Washington on July 11.

  • 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-6771 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-6771-01A-06A, 34A-35A, Various rooms and their décor at the Western White House, La Casa Pacifica residence. 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House, interior.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6771-03, Yellow living room décor with arched windows in the Western White House, La Casa Pacifica residence. 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House, La Casa Pacifica, interior.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6771-07, Interior room with a round table in the Western White House, La Casa Pacifica residence. 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House, La Casa Pacifica, interior.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6771-07A-33A, Western White House, La Casa Pacifica residence building exterior with lawn. 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House, exteriors.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6771-08, Western White House, La Casa Pacifica residence building exterior with lawn. 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House, La Casa Pacifica, exterior.

    Roll WHPO-6772 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-6772-02-36, President Nixon's Western White House, La Casa Pacifica residence including gardens, architectural details, tile courtyard and designs, pool area, buildings.. 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House complex.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6772-09, La Casa Pacifica, Western White House swimming pool with five director's chairs in a line on the deck. 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House complex, La Casa Pacifica, exterior.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6772-11, La Casa Pacifica, Western White House swimming pool with five director's chairs in a line on the deck. Planter of yellow flowers in bloom at corner of pool desk by hanging outdoor light post. 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House complex, La Casa Pacifica, exterior.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6772-14, Exterior of the Western White House, La Casa Pacifica residence entrance area and driveway. 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House complex, La Casa Pacifica, exterior.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6772-27, Exterior of the Western White House La Casa Pacifica tiled courtyard and water fountain viewed from the open arched doorway entrance. 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House complex, La Casa Pacifica, exterior.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6772-34, Framed tile painting that hangs over the Western White House La Casa Pacifica arched entrance doorway. Pictured are a flock of swallows flying down toward a Senorita holding a guitar next to a man on a white horse in an Orange Grove. (Orange County California themes). 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House complex, La Casa Pacifica, exterior.

    Roll WHPO-6773 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-6773-01A-17A, 22A-25A, La Casa Pacifica, Western White House residence buildings complex, including the gazebo. 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House, La Casa Pacifica exteriors.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6773-18A-21A, La Casa Pacifica, Western White House residence Gazebo, interior. 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House, Gazebo.

    Roll WHPO-6774 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-6774-01-05, 23-37, La Casa Pacifica, Western White House residence. 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California La Casa Pacifica, Western White House,.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6774-06-22, La Casa Pacifica, Western White House residence. 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California La Casa Pacifica, Western White House, exteriors.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6774-17, Tiled courtyard and outdoor fireplace patio at La Casa Pacifica, Western White House. 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House complex, La Casa Pacifica, exterior.

    Roll WHPO-6775 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-6775-02-06, 10-24, Western White House, La Casa Pacifica residence exteriors. 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House, La Casa Pacifica, residence, exteriors.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6775-07-09, 25-37, Western White House, La Casa Pacifica residence interiors. 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House, La Casa Pacifica, residence, interiors.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6775-30A, The Western White House, La Casa Pacifica residence red bedroom. A white elephant statue on a side table on the right. 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House, La Casa Pacifica, interior.

    Roll WHPO-6776 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-6776-02-37, Western White House, La Casa Pacifica room interior décor, including lamps, a side-table, a mantle, a mirror, and couches. 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House, La Casa Pacifica, residence.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6776-03A, Western White House, La Casa Pacifica yellow living room interior furniture and arched window. 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House, La Casa Pacifica, interior residence.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6776-09A, Western White House, La Casa Pacifica yellow living room interior, including small round breakfast side-table area set with 4 upholstered chairs, lamp and couch. 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House, La Casa Pacifica, interior residence.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6776-14A, Western White House, La Casa Pacifica yellow living room interior, including loveseat couches arched window in living room. 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House, La Casa Pacifica, interior residence.

    Roll WHPO-6777 Photographer: | Color or B&W:

    • Frame(s): WHPO-6777-01-04, San Clemente Western White House Bed and couch with floral print. 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House, La Casa Pacifica, interior.

    Roll WHPO-6778 Photographer: | Color or B&W:

    • Frame(s): WHPO-6778-01-02, San Clemente Western White House bedroom décor, bed and couch with floral print. 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House, La Casa Pacificainterior.

    Roll WHPO-6781 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-6781-02A-17A, President Nixon driving passengers Secretary Rose Mary Woods and valet Manolo Sanchez in a golf cart. 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House, grounds. President Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, Manolo Sanchez.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6781-05A, President Nixon driving passengers Secretary Rose Mary Woods and valet Manolo Sanchez in a golf cart. 7/7/1971, San Clemente, California Western White House, grounds. President Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, Manolo Sanchez.

    Roll WHPO-6803 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-6803-04-07, Vice President Agnew with King Faisal. 7/7/1971, Saudi Arabia unidentified locales. Spiro Agnew, King Faisal, officials, royalty, crowd.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6803-08-10, Vice President Agnew addressing a crowd outdoors. 7/7/1971, Saudi Arabia unidentified locales. Spiro Agnew, King Faisal, officials, royalty, crowd.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6803-11-21, Vice President Agnew meeting with Saudi Arabian royalty and officials. 7/7/1971, Saudi Arabia unidentified locales. Spiro Agnew, King Faisal, officials, royalty, crowd.

    Roll WHPO-6804 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-6804-04-32, Vice President Agnew arriving in Saudi Arabia and meeting in various locales with Crown Prince Khalid. 7/7/1971, Jidda, Saudi Arabia airport, unidentified locales, King Faisal's office. Spiro Agnew, Crown Prince Khalid, King Faisal, unidentified officials, aides.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6804-33-35, Vice President Agnew seated with King Faisal. 7/7/1971, Jidda, Saudi Arabia airport, unidentified locales, King Faisal's office. Spiro Agnew, Crown Prince Khalid, King Faisal, unidentified officials, aides.

    Roll WHPO-6805 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-6805-, Vice President Agnew at various locations in Saudi Arabia. 7/7/1971, Saudi Arabia unidentified locales. Spiro Agnew, King Faisal, officials, royalty, crowd.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6805-23, Vice President Agnew seated with King Faisal in Saudi Arabia. 7/7/1971, Saudi Arabia unidentified locales. Spiro Agnew, King Faisal, officials, royalty, crowd.

  • 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-4506
      "The Dick Cavett Show" with John Kerry, Jim Brown, John Kobler and Police Chiefs. Police Chiefs Murphy (N.Y.C.) and Wilson (Washington, D.C.), John Kerry, Jim Brown, John Kobler
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:32:52

Context (External Sources)