March 20, 1971

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

• Original typewritten diary (PDF)

The President's day began at Camp David, 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.

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.

• Federal Register of Saturday, March 20, 1971

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.

• Annotated News Summaries, Box 30, News Summaries - March 1971 [1 of 2]
• Annotated News Summaries, Box 30, News Summaries - March 1971 [2 of 2] [During this period, the Staff Secretary only removed pages from the News Summaries which contained President Nixon's handwriting, often leaving the document with no date. Although there are no specific documents with this date, you should also consult the full folder for the month.]

Among Pat Buchanan’s duties was the compilation and coordination of background briefing materials for Presidential and a few Vice Presidential press conferences. The briefings—for both the larger, announced press conferences and the smaller, informal ones held in the Oval Office—related to a widespread number of topics and were in the form of probable questions which the White House staff members anticipated news reporters would address to the President. Along with the questions, were answers recommended by Buchanan, other members of the White House staff, and the heads of major departments of the government.

The briefing books are primarily in the form of potential questions and suggested answers (often with heavy annotation by President Nixon), along with associated memos. A listing of briefing books is below, with indication of whether President Nixon annotated the book or not. Each book has an index to the potential questions with direct links to the National Archives Catalog. You should consult the full digital folder for suggested responses, President Nixon's annotations, and other documents and topics not covered by the index.

FIRST BRIEFING BOOK (March 20, 1971) (Annotated)

Citation: FIRST BRIEFING BOOK (March 20, 1971); box 3; White House Central Files: Staff Member and Office Files: Patrick J. Buchanan; Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Yorba Linda, CA

Consult the full digital folder for other briefing materials not in the form of prepared questions and answers.

• PROTECTIVE REACTION STRIKES
  • How often are you going to authorize these protective reaction type bombing raids on North Vietnam? Are U.S. aircraft only bombing missile sites?
• HELICOPTER LOSSES TO ANTIAIRCRAFT FIRE
  • Haven't we lost more helicopters than this operation is worth?
• U. S. FORCES IN I CORPS
  • How many American forces do we have in Northern South Vietnam, who might be vulnerable to a North Vietnamese attack there?
• LAN SOM OPERATION
  • Why do you believe that the Lan Som Operation has hurt the North Vietnamese supply system?
• PREMATURE WITHDRAWAL - A DEFEAT
  • It was stated at the beginning of the operation that the ARVN would remain in Laos until the beginning of the rainy season. Do you consider that the operation has gone according to plan in light of this seemingly premature withdrawal?
• LAOTIAN OPERATION
  • Some days back, commenting on the Laotian operation, you said that General Abrams had told you that the ARVN could "hack it," as he put it. Considering the reports now coming out of Laos -- along with the departing Vietnamese troops, do you still stand by your general view that this operation was successful?
• WITHDRAWAL PLANS
  • Secretary Laird has said that you will continue withdrawals at a rate of at least 300 per week from South Vietnam and that seems to indicate you will be down to something less than 50,000 by the end of the new year. Is that indeed your timetable? Also, do you plan to leave a residual force in South Vietnam -- in the absence of a negotiated peace; there has been confusion on this matter?
• MIDDLE EAST Withdrawal from Suez Canal
  • Has there been any progress on President Sadat's proposal for partial withdrawal from the Suez Canal?
• TEXTILE QUOTAS
  • I would like to ask you about the cost effectiveness if you will of your textile quota proposal. It seems that to meet a campaign commitment, to provide a measure of protection for one American industry -- what is being risked is a possible trade war -- if Congress adds shoes and other items to your bill -- possible deterioration in relations with crucial Japan? As a "free trader" and an internationalist, aren't you concerned with these prospects and to what degree was your decision influenced by Japanese business going around the Administration to Chairman Mills?
• CAN ARVN STILL "HACK IT"
  • Considering the premature ARVN withdrawal from Laos, do you still stand by your statement at the last press conference that the ARVN can "hack it?"
• EFFECT ON WITHDRAWAL PROGRAM
  • Do you stand by your earlier prediction that the operation has guaranteed continued U.S. withdrawals and can those withdrawals be accelerated as a result of the operation?
• WHEN WILL IT END?
  • The United States has been fighting in Vietnam for longer than any other war in our history. When is American involvement in this conflict going to come to an end?
• LAOTIAN OPERATION
  • Some days back, commenting on the Laotian operation, you said that General Abrams had told you that the ARVN could "hack it," as he put it. Considering the reports now coming out of Laos -- along with the departing Vietnamese troops, do you still stand by your general view that this operation was successful?
• REPORTING OF THE WAR
  • Can you tell us if you have any complaints about the media coverage of the war? You seem to indicate some.
• NO MORE WARS
  • In the March 4, New York Times interview with C. L. Sulzburger, you are quoted as saying that you "seriously doubt if we will ever have another war," that Vietnam is probably the last one. Isn't that a bit optimistic considering the three wars America has been involved in the last three decades?
• CREDIBILITY GAP
  • Considering that "pipeline" incident which Secretary Laird regretted, the excuse of U.S. troops to cover Medevac operations in Laos, the seeming bending of guidelines you have set in the past -- do you find substance to the increasingly repeated charge that there is a credibility gap in this Administration? (Note Memo on HKS -- he has discussed this)
• WITHDRAWAL PLANS
  • Secretary Laird has said that you will continue withdrawals at a rate of at least 300 per week from South Vietnam and that seems to indicate you will be down to something less than 50,000 by the end of the new year. Is that indeed your timetable? Also, do you plan to leave a residual force in South Vietnam -- in the absence of a negotiated peace; there has been confusion on this matter?
• MIDDLE EAST U.S. Pressure on Israel
  • What is the difference between the U.S. trying to force Israel out of the Sinai in 1957 and the present effort to pressure Israel to withdraw the pre-war lines? What will the U.S. do if Israel refuses to yield to pressure?
• MIDDLE EAST Security Arrangements with Israel
  • Have you approved or are you considering a plan for offering to Israel U.S. troops in a peacekeeping force, a formal defense treaty and substantial financial support in return for withdrawal to pre-war borders?
• MIDDLE EAST Soviet Position
  • What are your views on the Soviet presence in the Mideast if there is an Arab-Israeli peace agreement? Would you foresee Soviet troops in a peacekeeping force? Can you get Soviet combat forces out of Egypt? Are they withdrawing from Soviet missile sites?
• MIDDLE EAST Israeli Withdrawal
  • Do you agree with Secretary Rogers that Israel can have security even if it pulls back to its pre-war borders with Egypt? Or would you be inclined to accept Mrs. Meir's view that Israel must keep Sharm al-Shaikh to be secure?
• MIDDLE EAST Withdrawal from Suez Canal
  • Has there been any progress on President Sadat's proposal for partial withdrawal from the Suez Canal?
• MIDDLE EAST Congressional Endorsement of US Peacekeeping Role
  • Will you seek formal Congressional endorsement before committing the US troops to a peacekeeping force in the Middle East?
• COMMUNIST CHINA
  • Can you indicate what you feel are the immediate prospects for closer ties in trade and communication with the Government of Communist China, in the wake of your recent decisions?
• SALT
  • The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks reconvened in Vienna on March 15. Are you optimistic about the prospects? What instructions does the U.S. Delegation have? Will we accept a formal ABM limitation with a tacit freeze on their ICBM construction?
• SOVIET ACTIVITY IN CUBA
  • In view of the Understanding with the USSR regarding offensive weapons in Cuba, are you concerned about the recent visit of Soviet naval vessels to Cuba and the continued presence of a Soviet subtender in Cuban waters?
• TEXTILE QUOTAS
  • I would like to ask you about the cost effectiveness if you will of your textile quota proposal. It seems that to meet a campaign commitment, to provide a measure of protection for one American industry -- what is being risked is a possible trade war -- if Congress adds shoes and other items to your bill -- possible deterioration in relations with crucial Japan? As a "free trader" and an internationalist, aren't you concerned with these prospects and to what degree was your decision influenced by the Japanese going around the Administration to Chairman Mills.
• INCREASED COMMUNICATION
  • Can you tell us why the increased communication with the public in recent weeks -- including this show -- some suggest that it may be related to the polls?

SECOND BRIEFING BOOK (March 20, 1971) (Annotated)

Citation: SECOND BRIEFING BOOK (March 20, 1971); box 3; White House Central Files: Staff Member and Office Files: Patrick J. Buchanan; Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Yorba Linda, CA

Consult the full digital folder for other briefing materials not in the form of prepared questions and answers.

• IMMORALITY AND MY LAI
  • After the reports of thousands of innocents killed, after My Lai -- how do you answer that charge of the young that this is an immoral war?
• LEGALITY OF THE WAR
  • Can I ask you again a question I have raised with you before. With the Tonkin Gulf Resolution repealed -- what is the legal justification for continued American involvement in Vietnam?
• MONDALE/SAXBE
  • What will the Administration do if Congress' restricts your power to support a South Vietnamese invasion of the North, through the Mondale/Saxbe Bill?
• WAS IT WORTH IT?
  • Considering all the cost in blood and treasure, all the division and bitterness it has brought to our country, the resources diverted away from the works of peace, the alienation of our allies and own people from our Government -- has the price of Vietnam been worth it?
• BLACK SUPPORT
  • Can you tell me your view why you and your Administration what seems a good record of advancing racial equality seems to have little or no support in the black community?
• HARRIS AND GALLUP
  • Both Harris and Gallup Polls show you at the lowest level of support as President. Some polls show you trailing Democratic Senator Edmund Muskie; and at least one report says that if you have so gambled on success in Vietnam and a resurgent economy that if they do not come about, you will not run again. Can you tell us how you feel about those polls -- and whether or not your decision to run again is contingent upon success in Vietnam, or in the economy?
• PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM
  • In 1968 you were elected President, with both Houses of the Congress in opposition hands, and as a result much of your major legislation of the Ninety-First Congress, such as welfare reform, was stalled -- and now there seems a real possibility the same might happen to your New American Revolution. I have long held to the view that what this country needed was something of a more responsive system -- such as the British Parliamentary System -- where the Prime Minister always has a working majority with him; and if he loses the confidence of the country, new elections can be held swiftly to determine the desires of the electorate. Can you comment on that?
• THE VP AND THE MEDIA
  • The Vice President has been severely critical of the nation's media for over a year now. Can you tell us if you share his criticisms and if you think the media is giving the Nixon Administration a raw deal?
• SURVEILLANCE AND DOSSIERS (General)
  • Do you want to make any comment on the investigation into government control of so many dossiers on so many Americans; does this concern you?
• SST & SPACE
  • Considering the political problems with the SST and the space program, do you really think the country would be in serious straits, if they were defeated or cut back in Congress?
• REVENUE SHARING & REORGANIZATION
  • Can you tell us what your present hopes are for passage of revenue sharing and reorganization?
  • Are you willing, as your assistant Clark MacGregor seemed to indicate, to accept Congressional changes in the legislation?
  • Can you tell us if you think the cooperation of Chairman Mills, which seems vital to these programs, will be forthcoming?
• THE COOLING OF AMERICA
  • A number of articles, and a couple of magazines, have been devoted to the cooling of America? Do you see this as having taken place; do you think that your Administration deserves a measure of credit for it?
• HARDHAT DEMONSTRATORS
  • In your recent trips, there have been more than the usual number and kind of demonstrators. In particular, I am referring to the presence of hardhats, picketing against you. Is the Administration's romance with the hardhats, with organized labor, over?
• GUN CONTROL
  • Considering the number of death by accidental gun shot wounds, the number of Americans who die in quarrels because of the availability of guns, and the use of guns in so many crimes -- what are your thoughts on a national gun control law, which would take hand guns out of the hands of every American, except law enforcement officers?
• J. EDGAR HOOVER
  • Mr. Hoover is today being criticized not only by Senator McGovern, but by some old supporters, for his recent decisions and judgment -- especially in the case of Agent Shaw. Can you foresee a time when Mr. Hoover will no longer be the Director of the FBI?
• CAMPAIGN SPENDING
  • There seems to be a good deal of ambiguity about the Administration's position on limitations on campaign spending and on the amount of contributions. Can you tell us what you are for, or against?

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, March 20.
  
  The President's at Camp David. Coast is still clear nobody’s caught up with him yet at least. He was very much interested in the report on the reaction to the Vice President's dinner last night with John Connally and the Cabinet, and I got one from Rumsfeld and reported it back to him. Don said that it had gone very well. It was a relaxed, friendly kind of meeting, with a knitted feeling that the Cabinet was much groupier than they have been before, and it was a very different-- a very different kind of meeting from those they've had in the past. He said it started a little as a bitching session, but shifted to the positive, and compared to previous gatherings, was definitely the best. He said Connally was much shorter than at the staff dinner and didn't lecture them as much, but they all got the point without question. Romney and Hardin and Rogers picked up the theme and carried it on very well.
  
  Don said the introduction was very skillfully done by the Vice President, as he led into Connally's remarks and set him up very well for it. They also got into quite a discussion of the election, Mitchell apparently leading into it, and with the conclusion that Joh-- Connally and Mitchell both think that Humphrey will be the nominee, but that if he stumbles or screws up his processes, that Teddy would be the one. Hodgson made the point that Scoop Jackson is stronger than most people think because of his very great labor strength; but Connally says that may be true, but the labor people like Hubert too, and he's the one that's going to get it. Morton, Hodgson, the Vice President, and Connally all seem to think Scoop Jackson would be the toughest candidate to beat. Rumsfeld and, certainly, I don't agree. We both think Teddy Kennedy would be worse, because he'd stir things up more. The President's inclined to agree with the evaluation that Hodgson-- that Jackson would be the toughest.
  
  The President also had some reaction to items in the news today and wanted to be sure, particularly, that we were following up on the SST battle and were doing everything that we possibly could, and also, that he would do anything that would be worthwhile. Along the same line, he wanted to be sure we were following up with the blacks on the Whitney Young eulogy. Apparently, there were three blacks at the NAB reception last night, and all of them asked for copies of the eulogy, which of course, pleased the President. So he wants to be sure we get it out to all the black ministers, lawyers, doctors, insurance men, etcetera. Continued on the next tape. Both becau--
  
  [End of tape reel AC-05(B)]
  
  [Begin tape reel AC-06(A)]
  
  Continuing Saturday March 20. The President also raised the question of the need to really ride herd on the plans for Tricia's wedding and the handling of the events leading up to it. He wants to be sure that we take a hard look at everything. He feels Connie Stuart is too emotional to handle this adequately. A lot of people will be interested in what's going on, and that we need to get the decisions second-guessed, and the President wants to have a look at them. So he's asked me to set up a system to make sure that things get in to us before decisions are made, so that we have control, ostensibly in the President's name. So we'll set that up.
  
  Apparently, his Camp David caper is working out okay, and he seems to be in good spirits, although he is calling from time to time on little odds and ends, like the above. End of-- He called again later, apparently following up on a conversation with Scoop Jackson and perhaps some others, regarding his interest in being sure we go all out on the SST vote, which comes up in the Senate on Wednesday and where we have a chance to regain the initiative after the House defeat last week. He wants to be sure we're making the all-out effort, that our count is worked out as carefully as possible, and that he be utilized to work on the four or five where he might be able to make the difference. He got a pretty good reading from Jackson on what is being done in general, and that, I think, got him sort of fired up on it.
  
  End of March 20.
• 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.

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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.

• President's Daily Brief of 20 March 1971

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. VII, Vietnam, July 1970-January 1972

Operational Lam Son 719, February 8-April 7, 1971

• 159. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, March 20, 1971

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 82, Vietnam Subject Files, Vietnam Operations in Laos and Cambodia, Vol. V. Top Secret. Sent for information. A stamped notation reads, “President has seen.” According to a March 27 memorandum from Kennedy to Kissinger, the President requested that a summary of this memorandum be sent to Congressmen Boggs, Albert, and Ford. (Ibid., Box 314, Subject Files, Congressional Jan–Jul 1971, Vol. II [2 of 2]) Haig also sent a modified version to Klein under an April 15 covering memorandum authorizing him to share the information with columnist Jack Anderson. (Ibid., Box 154, Vietnam Country Files, Viet 9 Apr 71–30 Apr 71)

Vol. XXI, Chile, 1969-1973

Cool and Correct: The U.S. Response to the Allende Administration, November 5, 1970-December 31, 1972

• 214. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, March 20, 1971

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 774, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, Vol. IV. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. A stamped notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it.

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

Iraq 1969-1971

• 282. Telegram 47357 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Belgium, Washington, March 20, 1971, 0249Z

  With arrests of Iraqi Jews increasing, the Department pressed for information on the scheduled visit of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to Baghdad, and suggested asking the Belgian Government to make an appeal on behalf of the United States.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 29 IRAQ. Confidential. Repeated to The Hague, Mission Geneva, and USUN. Drafted by Thomas J. Scotes; cleared by Seelye, Papandorp, Trinka, and Trueworthy; approved by Atherton.

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.

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-4241
  Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 01:44:00
  
  1. Chancellor: Laos. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: Laos, Vietnam War. Network: NBC.
  
  2. Mudd/Quint: Indochina War. Time Code Start: 01:33. Keywords: Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam War. Network: CBS.
  
  3. Mudd: Vice President Agnew and Senator Mike Mansfield on CBS News Coverage. Time Code Start: 03:34. Keywords: Vice Presidents, speeches, statements, interviews. Network: CBS.
  
  4. Mudd/Serafin: Upcoming Supersonic Transport (SST) vote, Senators split. Time Code Start: 04:22. Keywords: Senate, Senators, voting, votes, Supersonic Transport, SST, aircraft, speed of sound, subsonic airliners, investigations, reports. Network: CBS.

• New York Times of March 20, 1971

• AP Images photos from March 20, 1971
• Getty Images photos from March 20, 1971

The Vanderbilt Television News Archive is the world's most extensive and complete archive of television news. They have been recording, preserving and providing access to television news broadcasts of the national networks since August 5, 1968.

• March 1971 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• March 20, 1971