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March 28, 1972

Introduction

This almanac page for Tuesday, March 28, 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: Monday, March 27, 1972

Next Date: Wednesday, March 29, 1972

Schedule and Public Documents

Archival Holdings

  • 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. XXIV, Middle East Region and Arabian Peninsula, 1969-1972; Jordan, September 1970

    Indian Ocean

    Vol. XL, Germany and Berlin, 1969-1972

    Germany and Berlin, 1969-1972

    • 347. Memorandum From Helmut Sonnenfeldt of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, March 28, 1972

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 686, Country Files, Europe, Germany (Bonn), Vol. XI. Secret. Sent for action. Another copy indicates that it was drafted by Hyland. (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 270, Memoranda of Conversations, 1968–77, Chronological File) According to an attached routing form, Kissinger noted the memorandum on March 29, i.e. after his meeting with Bahr. (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 686, Country Files, Europe, Germany (Bonn), Vol. XI)

    • 348. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, March 28, 1972, 1 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL GER W–US. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Hillenbrand; approved by Kissinger. (Memorandum from Davis to Eliot, April 5; ibid.) The meeting was held in Kissinger’s office at the White House. The memorandum is part 1 of 4. The remaining parts, on Currency Exchange Problems, European Community Relations, and Presidential Visit to the Soviet Union, are ibid. According to Kissinger’s Record of Schedule, the meeting lasted from 1:22 to 3:08 p.m. (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 438, Miscellany, 1968–76) For Bahr’s memoranda on his meeting with Kissinger, see Akten zur Auswärtigen Politrik der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, 1972, Vol. 1, pp. 347–351.

    Vol. E-1, Documents on Global Issues, 1969-1972

    U.S. Policy Towards International Production and Trafficking in Illegal Drugs

    • 221. Airgram A-3078 From the Department of State to All Diplomatic and Consular Posts, Washington, March 28, 1972

      The airgram transmitted Rogers’ statement on the adoption of amendments to the UN 1961 Single Conventionon Narcotic Drugs plus additional background information.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, SOC 11-5. Unclassified. Drafted by Wellman on March 27 and cleared by Gross. The press statement was attached but not published.

    International Cooperation in Space, 1969-1972

    • 278. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Eliot) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, March 28, 1972

      The Department informed Kissinger of its requirements for US-USSR technical discussions to ensure that a viable agreement on a joint space docking mission would be ready by the May 1972 summit.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, SP 1-1, US-USSR. Secret. Drafted by O. E. Anderson (NASA); concurred in by Jack Matlock, Director of the Office of Soviet Union Affairs and Richard T. Davies; and cleared in draft by Webber (SCI/SAM). Parker Borg signed for Eliot. A typewritten notation on the memorandum reads: “Memo from Gen. Haig to Mr. Eliot received 4/3/72.” A report of the NASA delegation to Moscow, April 4-6, is printed in Logsdon (ed.), Exploring the Universe, Vol. II, External Relations, Document I-46. Attached but not published were the draft principles. On April 3 Haig sent a memorandum to Eliot, approving Low’s statement in Moscow of draft principles for a possible U.S.-Soviet space docking mission, but with the understanding that it would not commit the United States to such a mission. (Ibid.)

    Vol. E-2, Documents on Arms Control and Nonproliferation, 1969-1972

    Chemical and Biological Warfare; Geneva Protocol; Biological Weapons Convention

    • 255. Draft Convention on Chemical Weapons, Geneva, March 28, 1972

      Text of Communist draft convention prohibiting production and stockpiling of chemical weapons.

      Source: Documents on Disarmament, 1972, pp. 120–124. No classification marking. For text of the U.S. Work Program regarding negotiations on the prohibition of chemical weapons, submitted to the CCD on March 20, and the statement of the U.S. Representative on chemical weapons, made March 21, see ibid., pp. 98—113.

    Vol. E-5, Part 2, Documents on North Africa, 1969-1972

    Algeria

    • 31. Telegram 540 From the Interests Section in Algeria to the Department of State, Algiers, March 28, 1972, 1333Z

      In a meeting with President Boumediene, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Newsom stressed U.S. initiatives in the international field as well as in U.S.-Algerian relations, and expressed the hope that diplomatic relations might soon be resumed.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, ORG 7 AF. Secret; Priority. It was repeated to London, Paris, Rabat, Tripoli, and Tunis. In the septel, telegram 547 from Algiers, March 29, Newsom urged the Department that “We have opportunity in Algeria for major export gain and for strong economic relationship based on our need for gas. Our recent international initiatives have improved political atmosphere. Complications and delays in approving El Paso, however, still major impediment to our success and resumption relations here. Action requested: we need find urgently possible major economic actions which can demonstrate our interest and maintain our momentum here. I suggest meeting pertinent agencies following my return.” (Ibid.) According to telegram 118270 to Djakarta, June 30, the Federal Power Commission gave its general approval of the El Paso importation of Algerian LNG on June 28. (Ibid., ORG 7 S)

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

    Afghanistan, 1969-1972

    • 358. Telegram 52513 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Afghanistan, Washington, March 28, 1972, 1542Z

      The Department expressed concern that domestic pressures in Afghanistan and Pakistan might be pushing both countries toward another confrontation over the Pushtunistan issue. The Embassies in Kabul and Islamabad were instructed to counsel restraint.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL AFG-PAK. Confidential. Drafted on March 27 by Flaten (NEA/PAF), cleared in NEA/PAF by Peter Constable and Laingen, and with EUR/SOV, and approved by Van Hollen. Also sent to Islamabad. Repeated to Moscow, New Delhi, Tehran, and London. The reference to a recent Moscow speech is to a speech made by Prime Minister Zahir in Moscow on March 14 in which he described the Pushtunistan issue as the only problem that existed between Afghanistan and Pakistan and called for a “solution based on Pushtunistan people’s right to determine own fate.” (Telegram 2307 from Moscow, March 15; ibid., POL 7 AFG.)

    Bangladesh, December 1971-December 1972

  • 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)