March 4, 1974

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.

• Letter to Chairmen and Ranking Minority Members of the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees About Improvements in the Veterans Disability Compensation Program
• Proclamation 4274—Proclamation Amending Part 3 of the Appendix to the Tariff Schedules of the United States With Respect to the Importation of Agricultural Commodities

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 Monday, March 4, 1974

The Congressional Record is the official daily record of the debates and proceedings of the U.S. Congress.

• House of Representatives: March 4, 1974
• Senate: March 4, 1974
• Extensions of Remarks: March 4, 1974

Decided

• Federal Power Commission v. New England Power Company
• Granny Goose Foods, Inc. v. Teamsters
• Hernandez v. Veterans' Administration
• Johnson v. Robison
• National Cable Television Assn., Inc. v. United States
• Teleprompter Corporation v. Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc.

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.

• News Summaries, Unmarked News Summaries, Box 67, News Summaries - March 1974 [2 of 20] [Note: Due to the way News Summary products were compiled, you should also consult nearby days for potentially relevant materials.]
  • Weekend News Summary, (Sat. nets, no NBC Sun. due to tennis; Sat., Sun wires; Sun, Trib, NY News, Inquirer, Star. Comment separate)
  • Digest of Weekend Comment, March 4, 1974

Among Pat Buchanan’s duties was the compilation and coordination of background briefing materials for Presidential and a few Vice Presidential press conferences. The briefings—for both the larger, announced press conferences and the smaller, informal ones held in the Oval Office—related to a widespread number of topics and were in the form of probable questions which the White House staff members anticipated news reporters would address to the President. Along with the questions, were answers recommended by Buchanan, other members of the White House staff, and the heads of major departments of the government.

The briefing books are primarily in the form of potential questions and suggested answers (often with heavy annotation by President Nixon), along with associated memos. A listing of briefing books is below, with indication of whether President Nixon annotated the book or not. Each book has an index to the potential questions with direct links to the National Archives Catalog. You should consult the full digital folder for suggested responses, President Nixon's annotations, and other documents and topics not covered by the index.

FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC BRIEFING BOOK, March 4, 1974 (Annotated)

Citation: FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC BRIEFING BOOK, March 4, 1974; box 7; White House Central Files: Staff Member and Office Files: Patrick J. Buchanan; Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Yorba Linda, CA

Consult the full digital folder for other briefing materials not in the form of prepared questions and answers.

• WATERGATE -- SEALED REPORT
  • Do you know what the sealed report from the Grand Jury contains; and will your lawyers resist its being sent to the House Judiciary Committee?
  • Can you tell us what your reaction was to the news that, on hearing the evidence, the Grand Jury gave consideration to seeking an indictment against you?
• WATERGATE -- PRESIDENT'S ALLEGED ROLE
  • In the wake of the indictments, can you deny categorically that you had any role whatsoever in the alleged cover-up of the Watergate Affair?
  • Do you stand by your statement of August 22 that you told John Dean it would be "wrong" to raise the hush money for the defendants. In short, was Bob Haldeman guilty of perjury when he testified under oath that you told John Dean it would be "wrong" to raise the blackmail money for Howard Hunt?
  • Do you still believe that Bob Haldeman and John Ehrlichman are two of the "finest public servants I have ever known"?
  • On March 21, or thereabouts, did you in any way directly or indirectly indicate to Mr. Haldeman that the demands of Mr. Hunt, for blackmail money should be met. Did you authorize executive clemency?
• WATERGATE -- JAWORSKI-RODINO
  • Now that the indictments in the cover-up have been handed up, and there exists no longer the argument that the tapes requested will further delay the indictments, will you give Mr. Jaworski what he has requested in the way of tapes and documents?
  • Would you resist a subpoena from the Special Prosecutor for those papers and tapes?
  • Have you made a response yet to Mr. Rodino's request for the same documents, papers and tapes which you turned over to Mr. Jaworski? If not, can you tell us when the Judiciary Committee can expect the request to be answered?
  • If the House Judiciary Committee subpoenas additional tapes, documents and papers, will you honor that subpoena, or will you, in the words of one Congressman, challenge the manhood of the House?
• WATERGATE -- POLITICS
  • Your own RNC poll shows that the issue of "Nixon" was responsible for the loss of Jerry Ford's seat -- and for the third straight occasion, the GOP has lost a seat to the Democrats, where Watergate is at issue.
  • Four of your closest advisers and colleagues have been charged with the greatest corruption of any high officials in U.S. history. Can you tell us what are you feeling about this? Has your confidence in these men declined; do you feel betrayed, or responsible in any way for the wrong-doing that has been charged?
  • At your last press conference, little more than a week ago, you said that even if it means disaster for your party, you would not resign, because that would be bad for the Presidency. Do you equate your personal survival and prosperity with the survival and prosperity of this office?
  • Is it your judgment that an Impeachment Lobby exists which is out to destroy your Presidency; and can you name the various elements of this lobby?
• MILITARY SPYING
  • Can you tell us what were the "national security" concerns that required keeping the Plumbers operations so secret; and if all of those "national security" concerns have now been made public?
  • If you viewed the military spying seriously, why did you not indict Yeoman Radford?
  • Do you share Admiral Moorer and Secretary Kissinger's current view that the spying by Yeoman Radford was the zealotry of a single individual, attempting to score brownie points with his superiors?
  • What did the Plumbers report find about Yeoman Radford? What did it conclude about the military spying?
• CAMPAIGN REFORM
  • Has the Administration message on campaign reform been delayed; and will the Administration, in the wake of Watergate support federal financing of Congressional and Presidential campaigns?
  • Did the proximity of the Watergate indictments have anything to do with the delayed campaign reform message?
• PAY RAISE FOR GOVERNMENT
  • Do you still support the three-step, 7.5% per year pay increase for Federal officials, Judges, Congressmen and Executive Branch officials, recommended in your budget and now debated on the Hill?
• TAX RETURN
  • Have you completed your income tax return for 1973; we are a month away from the deadline. And can you tell us a) who is preparing your 1973 return; b) will you take the papers deduction and c) have you heard from the Joint Committee about any "adjustment" of your previous returns?
  • Will you make your 1973 tax return public?
• APPOINTMENTS
  • In light of the vigorous opposition of Senator Goldwater, do you intend to appoint Mr. Nitze to be Secretary of the Navy?
  • Was there any truth to the report that David Rockefeller turned down the offer to replace Secretary Shultz at Treasury?
• ANTI-ABORTION AMENDMENT
  • Do you support the so-called Right-to-Life Amendment to the Constitution, now being debated in hearings on Capitol Hill?
• WHITE HOUSE LIMOUSINES
  • Do you think it would be both symbolically and socially useful if your senior White House aides gave us their limousines, during the energy crunch; there were nineteen of them lined up on the apron at Andrews air field, the last time we returned from Key Biscayne.
• ECONOMY
  • Is it realistic to think, in light of the 1% CPI increase in January, that the back of inflation can be broken this year?
• MIDDLE EAST - EMBARGO
  • Now that progress has been made on the Syrian-Israeli front, is there anything new you can tell us on when the oil embargo might be lifted?
• MIDDLE EAST - ISRAEL & SYRIA
  • How are the negotiations between the Syrians and Israelis going? Do you anticipate agreement in the near future on the disengagement of forces on the northern front?
• MIDDLE EAST
  • There are reports that the United States is formulating proposals to have Jerusalem declared an open city. Is there any truth to this report?
• MIDDLE EAST - SUEZ CANAL
  • There have been reports that the United States might assist Egypt in clearing the Suez Canal and reopening it for traffic. Is there any truth to these reports
• TRAVEL PLANS FOR EUROPE AND MOSCOW
  • Can you tell us if your travel plans for Moscow and for a European trip as well are still going ahead?
• AFRICA - BURUNDI
  • There have been reports that you have authorized normalization of relations with Burundi in order to assist U.S. business in obtaining access to recently discovered mineral wealth in that country. How would you reconcile this policy with the continued systematic inter-tribal slaughter?

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 4, 1974
• Date search for March 4, 1974

All National Archives Units

• Text search for March 4, 1974
• Date search for March 4, 1974

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 04 March 1974

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. E-6, Documents on Africa, 1973-1976

Zaire

• 261. Telegram 1948 From the Embassy in Zaire to the Department of State, Kinshasa, March 4, 1974, 1508Z

  Ambassador Vance strongly recommended to Assistant Secretary Easum that the United States approve the sale of M–16s to Zaire.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Papers of Sheldon B. Vance, 1967–1976, Box 4, TELS—Amb. Vance—1974. Secret; Priority; Eyes Only. Drafted by DCM Michael H. Newlin; cleared by Col. Neilond, DAO, Col. Mallet, ZAMISH; and approved by Vance.

Vol. E-8, Documents on South Asia, 1973-1976

India-Pakistan 1

• 158. Telegram 3236 From the Embassy in India to the Department of State, New Delhi, March 4, 1974, 1400Z

  The Embassy offered a pessimistic appraisal of Indian foreign policy and predicted that country’s further isolation and loss of influence in world affairs.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 84, New Delhi Embassy Files: Lot 78 F 45, Subject Files 1974, POL AFF Pak India 1974, Jan–June. Confidential. It was drafted by McCormack; cleared by DCM, POL, ECON, S, and DAO; and approved by Moynihan. It was repeated to Colombo, Dakka, Islamabad, Kabul, Katmandu, Moscow, Rangoon, Tokyo, Peking, Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, and Hong Kong. In Telegram 2779 from New Delhi, February 26, the Embassy had noted a short-term improvement in India-Pakistan relations following the Pakistani recognition of Bangladesh but predicted that the next five years would be characterized by “limited détente with continued suspicion.” (Ibid.)

Vol. E-15, Part 2, Documents on Western Europe, 1973-1976, Second, Revised Edition

Western Europe Regional, 1973-1976

• 49. Memorandum of Conversation, Brussels, March 4, 1974, 5:05 p.m.

  Summary: Kissinger and Scheel discussed the opening of an EC-Arab dialogue and U.S.–EC relations.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Records of Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Entry 5403, Box 4, Nodis Memcons, Jan–March 1974. Secret; Sensitive; Nodis. Drafted by Eagleburger. The meeting took place in the German Embassy. Kissinger was in Brussels on March 4 to brief NATO and EC officials on the Middle East peace process. On March 3, Kissinger met with Scheel in Bonn, where they discussed U.S.-West European relations, with particular emphasis on the role of France. They also discussed EC-Arab relations, the EC and NATO declarations, Nixon’s proposed trip to Europe, SALT, MBFR, Berlin, Soviet naval power, the Middle East, and Cuba. (Ibid., Box 7, Nodis Memcons, Mar. 1974, Folder 6)

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.

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-E2319 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-E2319-02-06, President Nixon with Secretary James Lynn and Under Secretary Floyd Hyde. 3/4/1974, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. Floyd H. Hyde, departing Under Secretary of HUD James T. Lynn, Secretary of HUD Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Executive Director of the Domestic Council.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E2319-08-15, President Nixon with Nello Teer and James Sprouse, Associate General Contractors of America. 3/4/1974, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. Nello Teer, President of the Associated General Contractors of America James Sprouse, Executive Vice President of the Associated General Contractors of America Col. Mead.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E2319-17-23, President Nixon with Congresswoman Edith Green. 3/4/1974, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. Congresswoman Edith Green (D-Oregon) Max L. Friedersdorf, Deputy Assistant.

Roll WHPO-E2320 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-E2320-02-13, President Nixon with Secretary Lynn and Under Secretary Hyde. 3/4/1974, Washington DC White House, Oval Office. Floyd H. Hyde, departing Under Secretary of HUD James T. Lynn, Secretary of HUD Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Executive Director of the Domestic Council.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E2320-14-18, President Nixon with Associate General Contractors of America. 3/4/1974, Washington DC White House, Oval Office. Nello Teer, President of the Associated General Contractors of America James Sprouse, Executive Vice President of the Associated General Contractors of America Col. Mead.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E2320-21-24, President Nixon with Congresswomen Edith Green. 3/4/1974, Washington DC White House, Oval Office. Congresswoman Edith Green (D-Oregon) Max L. Friedersdorf, Deputy Assistant.

Roll WHPO-E2321 Photographer: SCHMACHER | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-E2321-, Stan Scott poses with unidentified woman. 3/4/1974, unknown unknown.

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.

K - Informal Presidential Remarks

• WHCA-SR-K-152
  Photo opportunity with Secretary of Housing and Urban Development James Lynn in the Oval Office. (3/4/1974)
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

S - White House Press Office Briefings (continuation of the L-series)

• WHCA-SR-S-509
  Press briefing by Gerald Warren. (3/4/1974, White House Press Lobby)
  
  Runtime: 46:30:00
  
  Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by __ (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-6828
  Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
  ALL NETWORKS
  
  1. Reasoner/Carlson: President Nixon's and Haldeman's statements on Watergate. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: Presidents, advisors, counsels, attorneys, lawyers, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: ABC.
  
  2. Smith/Geer/Landay: Judge Sirica will hold special hearing on secret report (Watergate). Time Code Start: 02:21. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: ABC.
  
  3. Smith/Donaldson: Judiciary committee on disclosure of secret document. Time Code Start: 05:19. Keywords: judges, justices, courts, investigations, Senate committee hearings. Network: ABC.
  
  4. Reasoner/Jackson: Mitchell Stans conspiracy trial will continue. Time Code Start: 07:21. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, trials, obstruction of justice, perjury, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: ABC.
  
  5. Smith/Reynolds: Ohio holds special elections. Time Code Start: 09:38. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates, primaries, voting. Network: ABC.
  
  6. Chancellor/Perkins: Secretary of State Kissinger's fame in the world. Time Code Start: 12:43. Keywords: cabinet, advisors. Network: ABC.
  
  7. Chancellor/Stern/Brokaw: Judge Sirica's secret reports with President Nixon's attorney St. Clair. Time Code Start: 14:36. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: NBC.
  
  8. Chancellor/Perkins: Haldeman statement to press. Time Code Start: 17:51. Keywords: media, press conferences, news conferences, interviews, Watergate, advisors, counsels, attorneys, lawyers, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: NBC.
  
  9. Chancellor/Scherer: Representative Rodino statement on subpoena powers. Time Code Start: 19:47. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: NBC.
  
  10. Chancellor/Paxton: Special elections become more popular with short spot on Vice President. Time Code Start: 21:25. Keywords: elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates. Network: NBC.
  
  11. Chancellor/Levine: Shultz and William Simon proposals and their future. Time Code Start: 24:21. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, prices. Network: NBC.
  
  12. Cronkite/Graham: Judge Sirica's secret report; President Nixon's attorney St. Clair's position and Vice President's comment (Watergate). Time Code Start: 26:15. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: CBS.
  
  13. Cronkite/Morton: Representative Rodino and President Nixon's attorney St. Clair's statement to the press. Time Code Start: 27:55. Keywords: Presidents, law officials, attorneys, lawyers, speeches, statements, press conferences, news conferences, interviews, news. Network: CBS.
  
  14. Cronkite/Rather: President Nixon has no intention to block Grand Jury report from House Judiciary Committee. Time Code Start: 29:28. Keywords: Presidents, reactions, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals, documents, reports. Network: CBS.
  
  15. Cronkite/Drinkwater: Haldeman statement to the press. Time Code Start: 31:10. Keywords: media, press conferences, news conferences, interviews, advisors, counsels, attorneys, lawyers, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: CBS.
  
  16. Cronkite/Schnake: Mitchell and Stans conspiracy trial. Time Code Start: 32:57. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, trials, obstruction of justice, perjury, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: CBS.
  
  17. Cronkite/Mudd: Special elections in Ohio with Luken. Time Code Start: 34:31. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates, primaries, voting. Network: CBS.
  
  18. Cronkite/Collingwood: British elections with Heath and Wilson. Time Code Start: 37:50. Keywords: England, United Kingdom, Prime Ministers, elections, candidates. Network: CBS.
  
  19. Cronkite/Benton: Gasoline allocations with William Simon. Time Code Start: 40:05. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, energy, petroleum, oil, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources, energy. Network: CBS.
  
  20. Cronkite/Sevareid: Commentary on energy crisis and gas line reductions. Time Code Start: 41:53. Keywords: petroleum, oil supply, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, alternate energy sources, conservation. Network: CBS.

• TIME magazine of March 4, 1974

• New York Times of March 4, 1974

• AP Images photos from March 4, 1974
• Getty Images photos from March 4, 1974

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 1974 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• March 4, 1974