March 31, 1972

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 The White House - Washington, D. C.

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.

• Statement on Receiving the First Report of the National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control.
• Executive Order 11664—Creating an Emergency Board to Investigate a Dispute Between the Penn Central Transportation Company and Certain of Its Employees
• Executive Order 11663—Creating an Emergency Board to Investigate Disputes Between the Carriers Represented by the National Railway Labor Conference and Certain of Their Employees

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 Friday, March 31, 1972

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)
• 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

• Text search for March 31, 1972
• Date search for March 31, 1972

All National Archives Units

• Text search for March 31, 1972
• Date search for March 31, 1972

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 31 March 1972

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. XVII, China, 1969-1972

China, March-December 1972

• 218. Memorandum for the Record, Washington, March 31, 1972, 3:05-3:55 p.m.

  Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 330 77 0094, China (Reds), 1972. Secret; Eyes Only. Drafted by Doolin on April 7 and approved by Nutter. Copies were sent to Laird, Rush, and Nutter. A notation on the memorandum indicates that Laird saw it. The meeting was held in the White House Situation Room. The time and place of the meeting are taken from a more extensive record in National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 93, Country Files, Far East, China Trade/Exchanges, February 2, 1972–July 4, 1973, 2 of 2.

Vol. XIX, Part 1, Korea, 1969-1972

Republic of Korea Troops in Vietnam and Force Modernization, April 1971-December 1972

• 131. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, March 31, 1972

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–232, National Security Decision Memoranda, NSDM 161. Top Secret. Sent for action. A notation on the memorandum indicates Nixon saw it.

Vol. XXIX, Eastern Europe, 1969-1972

Romania

• 211. Letter From President Nixon to Romanian President Ceausescu, Washington, March 31, 1972

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 761, Presidential Correspondence, 1969–1974, Romania Ceausescu Corres. No classification marking.

Vol. XXXII, SALT I, 1969-1972

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

• 247. Conversation Between President Nixon and the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, March 31, 1972

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Tapes, Oval Office, Conversation No. 699–1. No classification marking. According to the President’s Daily Diary, Nixon met with Kissinger from 10:17 to 11:14 a.m. (Ibid., White House Central Files) The editor transcribed the portion of the conversation printed here specifically for this volume.

• 248. Backchannel Message From the Chief of the Delegation to the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (Smith) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Helsinki, March 31, 1972, 1440Z

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 427, Backchannel Files, Backchannel Messages, 1972 SALT. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusive; Eyes Only.

• 249. Backchannel Message From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to the Chief of the Delegation to the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (Smith), Helsinki, March 31, 1972, 1700Z

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 427, Backchannel Files, Backchannel Messages, 1972 SALT. Top Secret; Eyes Only.

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

Iraq 1972

• 303. Memorandum From the Director of Central Intelligence (Helms) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Secretary of State Rogers, and Secretary of Defense Laird, Washington, March 31, 1972

  Helms passed along Kurdish views on growing Soviet-Iraqi cooperation, Soviet pressure on the Kurds to negotiate with Baghdad, and Kurdish reservations towards dealing with the Ba’ath.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 603, Country Files, Middle East, Iraq, Vol. I. Secret; No Foreign Dissem; Controlled Dissem; No Dissem Abroad.

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

U.S. Relations with India and Pakistan, 1972

• 244. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, March 31, 1972

  The President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger emphasized to Indian Ambassador Jha the need for India to exercise restraint in dealing with Pakistan. If it did not, and if it used threats of military action, Kissinger said U.S. “restraint would be more difficult to maintain.” He added that the U.S. would oppose any attempt to force territorial changes in Kashmir.
  
  Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS 28, Geopolitical File, India Chronological File, 4 Nov 1971–19 Sept 1973. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Apparently drafted by Kissinger. The luncheon meeting took place in Kissinger’s office. The attached clipping is page 17 from the March 27 edition of Newsweek magazine. The Anderson papers were copies of columns written by Jack Anderson for The Washington Post based upon records of WSAG meetings during the December crisis.

Afghanistan, 1969-1972

• 359. Telegram 1806 From the Embassy in Afghanistan to the Department of State, Kabul, March 31, 1972, 0400Z

  Ambassador Neumann reported that, in the context of a “vague atmosphere of political crisis” in Kabul, former Prime Minister Daud had initiated contact with the Embassy through an intermediary to inquire what the U.S attitude would be in the event that Daud reassumed power.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL AFG. Secret; Exdis. In telegram 56321 to Kabul, March 31, the Department endorsed the response to Daud outlined in paragraph 8 of this telegram. (Ibid.)

Bangladesh, December 1971-December 1972

• 414. Telegram 55123 From the Department of State to the Embassy in France, Washington, March 31, 1972, 0023Z

  The Embassy was instructed to inform the Chinese Ambassador that that the United States intended to recognize Bangladesh on April 4.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL Chicom–US. Secret; Priority; Nodis; Homer. Drafted by Laingen and Van Hollen; cleared by Davies and Sisco, in EA by Deputy Assistant Secretary Winthrop G. Brown, and by Kissinger; and approved by Rogers.

Vol. E-10, Documents on American Republics, 1969-1972

Cuba

• 258. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig) to President Nixon, Washington, March 31, 1972., Washington, March 31, 1972

  President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs Haig reported that the captain of the Johnny Express was still being held in Havana.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 781, Country Files, Latin America, Cuba, Vol. IV, 1972. Confidential. A stamped notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it. At the bottom of the memorandum, the President wrote: “Pass to Rebozo.” A notation in Haig’s handwriting reads, “Done by Haig April 5.”

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.

Visit the White House Tapes finding aid to learn about the taping system's operation and archival processing.

Oval Office

• 699-1; 10:13 a.m. - 11:14 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Woods, Rose Mary; Sanchez, Manolo; Kissinger, Henry A.
• 699-2; Unknown between 11:14 a.m. & 11:20 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Woods, Rose Mary
• 699-3; 11:20 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Woods, Rose Mary; Bull, Stephen B.
• 699-4; 11:42 a.m. - 11:59 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.; Bland, Richard E.; McClennan, W. Howard; a.m.abali, Louis; Arevala, Tommy (Lt.); Bugbee, Perce; Duke, Dorothy S.; Eckert, Ernst R. G.; Freeman, Roger M.; Hechtman, Robert; Hole, Albert E.; Hurley, John F.; Jablonsky, John L.; Klinger, Keith E.; Phillips, Anne W. (Dr.); Proven, John A.; Whitaker, Baron; Young, William J.; Tipton, Howard D.; Willis, Clayton; Bell, George T.; Casey, James; White House photographer
• 699-5; 11:59 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.
• 699-6; 12:00 p.m. - 12:02 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Cowen, Eugene S.; Cook, Richard K.; White House photographer
• 699-7; 12:02 p.m. - 1:58 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Bull, Stephen B.; Woods, Rose Mary; [Unknown person(s)]
• 699-8; 2:00 p.m. - 2:05 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Butterfield, Alexander P.; Woods, Rose Mary; Bull, Stephen B.

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-8800 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-8800-, Unidentified man accepting gifts from a group of American Indians. 3/31/1972, Washington, D.C. White House, South Lawn. unidentified man, American Indian group.

Roll WHPO-8801 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-8801-, Jeni Brown standing with family members. 3/31/1972, Washington, D.C. White House grounds. Jeni Brown, Brown family members.

Roll WHPO-8802 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-8802-02-13, President Nixon standing with members of the National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control and receiving their progress report. 3/31/1972, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Gene Cowen, commission members.
• Frame(s): WHPO-8802-17-25, President Nixon shaking hands and standing with Gene Cowen. 3/31/1972, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Gene Cowen, commission members.

Roll WHPO-8803 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-8803-, Portrait of Mike Balzano. 3/31/1972, Washington, D.C. North Driveway, White House. Mike Balzano.

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.

H - White House Staff Member Recordings

• WHCA-SR-H-546
  Press briefing by Richard Bland and William Howard on fire prevention and control. (3/31/1972, Press Center, White House)
  
  Runtime: 20:00
  
  Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by LDH (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

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-5248
  "A Conversation with Julie Nixon Eisenhower".
  ABC
  Runtime: 00:34:00
• WHCA-5262
  Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 01:30:19
  
  1. Film report on U.S. war planes in Vietnam. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: Vietnam War, aircraft. Network: ABC.
  
  2. Report on Vietnamization. Time Code Start: 02:25. Keywords: Vietnam War. Network: ABC.
  
  3. Report on McGovern & Senator Proxmire's endorsement for Wisconsin primary. Time Code Start: 02:46. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates, primaries, voting, conventions, delegates. Network: ABC.
  
  4. Film report on Muskie campaign in Wisconsin. Time Code Start: 03:18. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates. Network: ABC.
  
  5. Film report on Hubert Humphrey campaign in Wisconsin, with interview. Time Code Start: 05:11. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, primaries, candidates, voting, speeches. Network: ABC.
  
  6. Report on Governor George Wallace campaign in Wisconsin. Time Code Start: 07:13. Keywords: Senators, Governors, Presidential elections, campaigns, primaries, candidates. Network: ABC.
  
  7. Segment on conviction of United Mine Workers President (UMW) President W.A. Tony Boyle. Time Code Start: 07:57. Keywords: trials, killings, deaths, crimes, violence, homicides, murders, shootings, assassinations, labor, unions, leaders. Network: ABC.
  
  8. Film of table tennis championship between China, Canada and the U.S. (Ping Pong). Time Code Start: 10:07. Keywords: People's Republic of China, Canadians, Americans, sports, ping pong, table tennis, games, contests. Network: ABC.
  
  9. Reasoner: Film report of his trip through Hong Kong. Time Code Start: 11:56. Keywords: Presidents, travel, trips, People's Republic of China. Network: ABC.
  
  10. Reasoner: Commentary on the new U.S.-China relationship. Time Code Start: 15:41. Keywords: People's Republic of China, diplomacy, politics. Network: ABC.
  
  11. Report on the Berrigan trial in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (Harrisburg 7). Time Code Start: 17:59. Keywords: Protests, militants, bombings, violence, sabotage, shootings, kidnappings, courts, trials, investigations, prosecutions. Network: NBC.
  
  12. Report on the International Telephone & Telegraph (ITT Corporation) case with film of new conference by Miss Susan Lichtman on the Anderson memo. Time Code Start: 19:43. Keywords: International Telephone & Telegraph, communications, world corporations, conglomerates, campaign funding, investigations, accusations, newspapers, journalists, reporters. Network: NBC.
  
  13. Report on Senator Proxmire's endorsement of McGovern in the Wisconsin primary. Time Code Start: 22:29. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates, primaries, voting, conventions, delegates. Network: NBC.
  
  14. Film report on the Muskie campaign in Wisconsin. Time Code Start: 22:47. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates. Network: NBC.
  
  15. Film report on battles in Vietnam and Laos. Time Code Start: 26:10. Keywords: Laos, Vietnam War. Network: CBS.
  
  16. Report on new North Vietnamese offensives. Time Code Start: 27:31. Keywords: North Vietnamese Army, NVA, Vietnam War. Network: CBS.
  
  17. Report on meeting of Viet Cong negotiator Madame Nguyen Thi Binh with the French. Time Code Start: 29:03. Keywords: Paris Peace Talks, Vietnam War, People's Liberation Armed Forces (PLAF), National Liberation Front (NLF), VC, treaty, treaties, negotiations, women, officials. Network: CBS.
  
  18. Film of press conference of Miss Susan Lichtman re: International Telephone & Telegraph (ITT Corporation) memo. Time Code Start: 29:26. Keywords: International Telephone & Telegraph, communications, world corporations, conglomerates, campaign funding, investigations, hearings, writings, documents, media, press conferences, news conferences, interviews. Network: CBS.
  
  19. Senator Proxmire endorsement of McGovern in Wisconsin primary, with man in the street comments film, speeches by Muskie, Governor George Wallace, Henry Jackson, Lindsay, McGovern, Humphrey. Time Code Start: 32:41. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates, primaries, voting, conventions, delegates. Network: CBS.
  
  20. Sevareid: Commentary on President Nixon's 1972 campaign and the press. Time Code Start: 37:51. Keywords: Presidents, Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates, media, newspapers, magazines, publications. Network: CBS.

• LIFE magazine of March 31, 1972

• New York Times of March 31, 1972

• AP Images photos from March 31, 1972
• Getty Images photos from March 31, 1972

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 1972 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• March 31, 1972