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March 4, 1973

Introduction

This almanac page for Sunday, March 4, 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: Saturday, March 3, 1973

Next Date: Monday, March 5, 1973

Schedule and Public Documents

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

    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.

  • 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.

    No Federal Register published on this date

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.

    • Annotated and Unmarked News Summaries [Note: Although there was no News Summary on this date, due to the way News Summary products were compiled, you should also consult nearby days for potentially relevant materials.]

  • 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.

    • No President's Daily Brief delivered on this date

  • 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. XXXI, Foreign Economic Policy, 1973-1976

    The End of Fixed Exchange Rates, January-March 1973

    • 21. Message From Japanese Finance Minister Aichi to President Nixon, Tokyo, March 4, 1973

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 53, Country Files, Europe, Monetary Crisis, March 1973. Secret. A type-written notation on the message indicates that it was sent “from Finance Minister Aichi in Absence of Prime Minister Tanaka.” Printed from an unsigned copy.

    • 22. Message From British Prime Minister Heath to President Nixon, London, March 4, 1973, 1500Z

      Source: National Archives, RG 56, Records of Secretary of the Treasury George P. Shultz, 1971–1974, Entry 166, Box 6, GPS White House. Top Secret. Scowcroft sent a copy to Shultz under cover of a March 4 memorandum that reads: “Henry has asked Sonnenfeldt to draft a reply, which we will check through you, to go out this evening.” This memorandum is stamped “Noted: GPS.” (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1066, Insitutional Materials, May 1974 [7 of 9]) Another copy of the message indicates that it was sent from London on March 4 in a backchannel message at 1500Z. (Ibid., Box 431, Backchannel Files, Backchannel Messages, Hot Line CABOfc London 1972–)

    • 23. Message From President Nixon to British Prime Minister Heath, Washington, March 4, 1973, 2325Z

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 53, Country Files, Europe, Monetary Crisis, March 1973. Top Secret; Critic. Sent in telegram PRUS 002.

  • 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

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

    Camp David Hard Wire

    White House Telephone

  • 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-E0372 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0372-, President Nixon swearing-in G. Bradford Cook as U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman. 3/4/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, G. Bradford Smith, Mrs. Smith.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0372-, President Nixon meeting with Jack Dreyfus. 3/4/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Jack Dreyfus.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0372-07-14, President Nixon meeting with members of the Quadriad, Secretary of the Treasury George Shultz, Chairman of the Governors of the Federal Reserve System Arthur Burns, Director of OMB Roy Ash, Chairman of (CEA) Council of Economic Advisors Herb Stein and John Ehrlichman. 3/3/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, George P. Shultz, Arthur Burns, Roy Ash, Herbert Stein, John Ehrlichman.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0372-17, President Nixon seen through his office doorway. 3/4/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, two unidentified men.

    Roll WHPO-E0375 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0375-, President Nixon meeting with Nancy McGinnes and Henry Kissinger. 3/4/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Nancy McGinnes, Henry Kissinger.

    Roll WHPO-E0376 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0376-, President Nixon meeting with Sammy Davis, Jr. in the Ov al Office. 3/4/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Sammy Davis, Jr.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0376-03A, President Nixon looking at a slipcased gift during his meeting with Sammy Davis, Jr. in the Yellow Oval Room. 3/4/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Yellow Oval Room. President Nixon, Sammy Davis, Jr.

  • 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-6155
      POW return from Vietnam to Clark AFB. Vietnam Prisoner of War
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:30
    • WHCA-6156
      CBS Highlights of POW Return. Vietnam Prisoner of War
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:00
    • WHCA-6157
      "Meet the Press".
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 00:29:35
    • WHCA-6158
      "Face the Nation" AND "Issues and Answers".
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:00:24
    • WHCA-6159
      "60 Minutes".
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:00:11
    • WHCA-6165
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:33:00

      18. Utley/Trotta: POW releases. Time Code Start: 50:27. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War, releases. Network: NBC.

      19. Utley/Hager: European finance people meet to stop currency devalution. Time Code Start: 57:00. Keywords: economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, currency, monetary values, exchange rates, decreases, wages, costs, increases. Network: NBC.

Context (External Sources)