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March 23, 1972

Introduction

This almanac page for Thursday, March 23, 1972, 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, March 22, 1972

Next Date: Friday, March 24, 1972

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.

  • 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.

    President's Personal File

    The President's Personal File is essentially a President's secretary's file, kept by Rose Mary Woods, personal secretary to the President, for two purposes: (1) preserving for posterity a collection of documents particularly close to the President, whether because he dictated or annotated them, or because of the importance of the correspondent or the event concerned and (2) giving appropriate attention–letters of gratitude, invitations to White House social events, and the like–to members and important friends and supporters of the Nixon administration. This generalization does not describe all the varied materials of a file group which is essentially a miscellany, but it does identify the reason for the existence of the file group's core. 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.

  • 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. V, United Nations, 1969-1972

    Appointments of Senior UN Personnel

    Vol. XIV, Soviet Union, October 1971-May 1972

    Preparing for Moscow and Nixon's Trip to China, January 1-March 29, 1972

    Vol. XVII, China, 1969-1972

    China, March-December 1972

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

    Proximity Talks and the Backchannel: Separate Department of State and White House Negotiating Tricks

    Vol. XXXII, SALT I, 1969-1972

    Narrowing the Issues, October 19, 1971-April 18, 1972

    • 243. National Security Decision Memorandum 158, Washington, March 23, 1972

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H–Files), Box H–208, National Security Decision Memoranda, NSDMs 151–200. Top Secret; Nodis; SALT.

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

    Iran 1972

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

    U.S. Relations with India and Pakistan, 1972

    • 239. Telegram 49598 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Pakistan, Washington, March 23, 1972, 0219Z

      The Department transmitted to the Embassy a summary of an extensive request for military assistance and sales conveyed to Assistant Secretary Sisco on March 20 by Pakistani Ambassador Raza. The request included 100 tanks, 4 submarines, and 3 squadrons of planes.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, DEF 12–5 PAK. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Peter Constable (NEA/PAF) on March 21; cleared by Laingen, Schneider, Van Hollen, and Alan Ford, Deputy Director of the Office of Military Assistance and Sales (PM/MAS); and approved by Sisco. Sent for information to DOD/ISA/NESA for Colonel Gross. Raza’s letter to Sisco can be found ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 627, Country File, Middle East, Pakistan, Vol. IX, Jan–31 Aug 72.

    • 240. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon, Washington, March 23, 1972

      Rogers informed Nixon about his conversation on March 22 with Aziz Ahmed, Secretary General of the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ahmed pressed for a decision on Pakistan’s request for military sales and assistance and for an assessment of the future role of the U.S. in South Asia. Rogers assured Ahmed of continuing U.S. support for Pakistan and added that the issue of military supply was under review.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 627, Country File, Middle East, Pakistan, Vol. IX Jan–31 Aug 72. Secret; Exdis. Irwin signed for Rogers.

    • 241. Telegram 3666 From the Embassy in India to the Department of State, New Delhi, March 23, 1972, 1550Z

      Ambassador Keating expressed his opposition to any increase in U.S. military collaboration with Pakistan.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, DEF 15 PAK–US. Top Secret; Exdis.

    Bangladesh, December 1971-December 1972

    • 411. Telegram 1019 From the Consulate General in Dacca to the Department of State, Dacca, March 23, 1972, 0930Z

      The Consulate General reported on the increasing irritation with the United States exhibited by the Government, the media, and the public in Bangladesh. The Consulate General’s concern was that the Government’s patience was wearing thin and it might take action against the US mission.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL BANGLADESH–US. Confidential; Priority; Limdis. Repeated to Islamabad and New Delhi. Prime Ministers Gandhi and Mujibur Rahman met in Calcutta February 6–8. On February 8 they issued a joint declaration summarizing the meetings and stressing the solidarity that existed between the two countries. (The text of the declaration was transmitted to the Department on February 9 in telegram 283 from Calcutta; ibid., POL BANGLADESH–INDIA) Gandhi and Mujibur Rahman subsequently met in Dacca March 18–19, where they signed a mutual defense treaty patterned on the Indo-Soviet treaty of August 1971. (Telegram 3714 from New Delhi, March 24; ibid.)

  • 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

Context (External Sources)