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March 26, 1973

Introduction

This almanac page for Monday, March 26, 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: Sunday, March 25, 1973

Next Date: Tuesday, March 27, 1973

Schedule and Public Documents

Archival Holdings

  • 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.

  • 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. XXI, Chile, 1969-1973

    "That Chilean Guy May Have Some Problems": The Downfall of Salvador Allende, January-September 1973

    Vol. XXXIII, SALT II, 1972-1980

    SALT II, 1972-1980

    Vol. XXXVIII, Part 2, Organization and Management of Foreign Policy; Public Diplomacy, 1973-1976

    International Information Policy, Public Diplomacy, and Cultural Affairs

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

    Space and Telecommunications

    • 76. Action Memorandum From the Director of the Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs (Spiers) to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Porter), Washington, March 26, 1973

      Spiers recommended consultation with French officials to request reconsideration of military and intelligence concerns arising in negotiation of the Space Registration Convention.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, Box 2960, SP 16. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Archelaus R. Turrentine and Holsey G. Handyside (PM/AE); and concurred in by EUR/WE, IO/UNP, L/UNA, IO/UNA, IO, and EUR. In the margin next to the third line in the third paragraph, written in an unknown hand, is “now confirmed.” Written in an unknown hand under the Approve/Disapprove lines is “Due to Ambassador Porter’s departure to San Clemente, demarche made by PM Acting Director Pickering to Fr. Counselor Masset 4/5/73.” Michel Debre’ was French Minister of State for National Defense. Tab B is published in the Department of State Bulletin, May 28, 1973, pp. 712–715. Attached but not published at Tab C is Canadian telegram 4643 from Paris to Ottawa, December 18, 1972. Attached but not published at Tab D is a memorandum from Porter to De Palma and Acting Legal Adviser Charles N. Brower, approving the U.S. negotiating position regarding registration of space objects.

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

    Oman and the Yemens

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

    Mexico

    • 49. Memorandum of Conversation, Mexico City, March 26, 1973, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

      Summary: Kissinger and President Echeverría discussed U.S.-Latin American relations, Echeverría’s upcoming international travels, and a Mexican proposal for a charter on the economic rights and duties of states.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Country Files, Box 788, Latin America, Mexico, Vol. IV, 1973. Secret. The conversation took place at the Mexican Presidential residence, Los Pinos. Jorden summarized the outcome of Echeverría’s March–April trip to Canada, Great Britain, France, Belgium, the Soviet Union, and China in an April 27 memorandum to Kissinger. (Ibid.) Echeverría had put forward his proposal for a global charter on economic relations between developed and developing nations at an April–May 1972 UNCTAD session. (United Nations Year Book, 1972, pages 273–274)

    Vol. E-15, Part 1, Documents on Eastern Europe, 1973-1976

    East Europe Regional

    • 5. Memorandum From the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (Ash) and the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, March 26, 1973., Washington, March 26, 1973

      Under the cover of this 3 page memorandum, Kissinger and Ash submitted the report of the Commission on International Radio Broadcasting chaired by Dr. Milton Eisenhower. This document provides the conclusions of the report, outlines possible Congressional reaction, and presents the “Next Steps” that should be taken. The Commission recommended further government support for and improvements to Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Special Files, President’s Office File, President’s Handwriting File, Box 21, March 11-31, 1973. No classification marking. A stamped notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it. The Commission’s recommendations as approved by Nixon became the basis for the Board of International Broadcasting Act of 1973 (PL 93-129), which the U.S. Senate approved on October 19. No attachments were included.

  • 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-E0503 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0503-, Max Friedersdorf receiving petitions. 3/26/1973, Washington, D.C. unknown. Max Friedersdorf, unidentified men.

  • 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-036
      Press briefing by Ronald Ziegler. (3/26/1973, 4 Ambassadors Press Center)

      Runtime: 42:41:00

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

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

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
    • WHCA-SR-S-039
      Statements by Ronald Ziegler on prisoner release agreement (for sound) and on John Dean and Watergate. (3/26/1973, White House Press Lobby)

      Runtime: 0:08:47

      Keywords: Press conference, news conference, interviews, media, press secretary, briefings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, Vietnam Prisoner of War, POW, military, t

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

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original. Technical notes: 1 hour, 29 minutes, 13 seconds of silence at end of recording removed from access copies.

  • 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-6207
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:32:45

      23. Reasoner/Zimmerman: POWs. Time Code Start: 73:40. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War. Network: ABC.

      24. Smith/Donaldson/Gill: Watergate. Time Code Start: 76:37. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: ABC.

      25. Reasoner/Snell/Kesner: Lumber and meat prices. Time Code Start: 80:30. Keywords: food, meats, animal products, markets, retail stores, prices, costs, increases, shortages, wood, trees. Network: ABC.

      26. Reasoner/Cioffi: Suez. Time Code Start: 84:40. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, Egyptian, Jordanian, Mediterranean, Red Sea, Suez canal zone, Districts, canals, waterways, shipping. Network: ABC.

      27. Smith: Commentary on U.S. greatness. Time Code Start: 85:39. Keywords: American, power, military strength. Network: ABC.

      28. Chancellor/Jones: POWs will be released on time; troop withdrawals proceed with Ziegler; fighting in Vietnam. Time Code Start: 88:23. Keywords: Vietnam War, troops, withdrawals, Vietnam Prisoner of War. Network: NBC.
    • WHCA-6208
      Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:30

      1. Chancellor/Valeriani/Stern: Watergate; Ziegler denies LA Times story on John Dean and MacGruder; Attorney General Kleindienst comment. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: advisors, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, media, newspapers, denials. Network: NBC.

      2. Chancellor/Levine/Dancy: Cost of housing. Time Code Start: 04:13. Keywords: homes, rent, real estate, costs, prices, sales, cost of living. Network: NBC.

      3. Chancellor/Wilson: POW returns to North Carolina and talks about Viet Cong captivity. Time Code Start: 07:30. Keywords: Vietnam War, People's Liberation Armed Forces (PLAF), National Liberation Front (NLF), VC, Vietnam Prisoner of War, prisons, treatment. Network: NBC.

      4. Mudd/Cronkite/Wagner: POWs to be released; Vietnamese POW exchange. Time Code Start: 12:48. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War, releases. Network: CBS.

      5. Mudd/Pierpoint/Stahl: Watergate; LA Times story denied by Ziegler, Attorney General Kleindienst comment. Time Code Start: 18:37. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: CBS.

      6. Mudd/Kilpatrick: food prices. Time Code Start: 23:53. Keywords: food, meat, agriculture, animal products, dairy products, prices, costs, increases, shortages. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)