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March 5, 1974

Introduction

This almanac page for Tuesday, March 5, 1974, 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 4, 1974

Next Date: Wednesday, March 6, 1974

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.

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

Archival Holdings

Any selection of archival documents will necessarily be partial. You should use the documents and folders identified below as a starting place, but consult the linked collection finding aids and folder title lists and the collections themselves for context. Many documents to be found this way do not lend themselves to association with specific dates, but are essential to a complete understanding of the material.

  • 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 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. XXXI, Foreign Economic Policy, 1973-1976

    Negotiating the New Rules, May 1973-June 1975

    • 60. Paper Prepared in the Department of the Treasury, Washington, March 5, 1974

      Source: National Archives, RG 56, Office of the Under Secretary of the Treasury, Files of Under Secretary Volcker, 1969–1974, Accession 56–79–15, Box 1, Gold—8/15/71–2/9/72. Confidential. A stamped notation on the paper reads: “Noted by Mr. Volcker.” There is no indication as to who prepared the paper. Attached to another copy, however, is an undated note from Bennett to Bryant that reads: “Any reaction? I plan to show this to the Secretary and Paul.” (Ford Library, Arthur Burns Papers, Federal Reserve Board Subject Files, Box B52, Gold, Mar.–Apr. 1974)

    Vol. XXXVI, Energy Crisis, 1969-1974

    October 6, 1973-March 22, 1974

    • 333. Paper Prepared in the Office of Economic Research, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, March 5, 1974

      Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Economic Research, Job 80–T01315A, Box 38. Secret. Prepared as a report for the Working Group of the International Energy Review Group (IERG), and distributed at its March 8 meeting. The minutes of the meeting are ibid., National Intelligence Council Files, Job 80–B01495R, Box 5.

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

    Managing the Department of State

    Vol. XXXIX, European Security

    U.S.-Soviet Bilaterals, September 1973-May 1974

    • 187. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, March 5, 1974, 4:45 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Records of the Office of the Counselor, Entry 5339, Box 4, HS Chron Official. Secret; Nodis; Eyes Only. The conversation took place in Secretary Kissinger’s office.

    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

    Guatemala and Belize

    • 177. Telegram 1261 From the Embassy in Guatemala to the Department of State, Guatemala City, March 5, 1974, 1715Z

      Summary: Two days after the Presidential elections, the Embassy reported that the Guatemalan Government was releasing results in a fashion that suggested gross fraud.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]. Confidential; Immediate. Repeated to USCINCSO and CINCLAT, all ARA Posts, and USCINCSO for POLAD.

    • 178. Telegram 1279 From the Embassy in Guatemala to the Department of State, Guatemala City, March 5, 1974, 2208Z

      Summary: Assessing the situation in Guatemala in the wake of evidently fraudulent elections, Ambassador Meloy concluded that U.S. had little leverage over President Arana. He recommended that no action be taken, stating that a peaceful transfer of power to the winner of free elections was in the interest of both the U.S. and Guatemala.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 785, Country Files, Latin America, Guatemala, Vol. I. Confidential; Immediate; Exdis. A draft “Options Paper,” prepared by Clare, March 6, noted that Embassy reporting suggested “that the GOG was initially taken aback by the size of Laugerud’s defeat at the polls and stalled until the morning of March 5 when President Arana tentatively decided it would be feasible to impose Laugerud by manipulating the vote count.” (Ibid., RG 59, ARA/CEN Files, Guatemala 1974, Briefing Paper) In telegram 44847 to Guatemala City, March 6, Kubisch indicated his agreement with Meloy’s recommendation, noting that it was “best to refrain from any action other than the private expression of our support for constitutional procedures when appropriate occasions arise to make this point. (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 785, Country Files, Latin America, Guatemala, Vol. I)

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

    Western Europe Regional, 1973-1976

    • 50. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, March 5, 1974, 1 p.m.

      Summary: Kissinger, Sisco, McCloskey, Sonnenfeldt, Lord, Hartman, and Hyland discussed the U.S. response to the EC-Arab initiative.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Records of the Office of the Counselor, Helmut C. Sonnenfeldt, 1955–1977, Entry 5339, Box 9, Pol 2 EC Arab Cooperation. Secret; Nodis; Eyes Only. Drafted by Robert Blackwill in C on March 6. The meeting took place in Kissinger’s office. Under cover of a March 5 memorandum to Kissinger, Sonnenfeldt forwarded an options paper, prepared at Kissinger’s request, outlining U.S. responses to the EC-Arab initiative. (Ibid.) In a March 5 memorandum to Kissinger, Hyland concluded that “the general thrust and substance of what the EC planned to do with the Arabs was, in fact, made known to the US in January and February in more and more detail, but never officially.” He also noted that the U.S. twice requested official consultations with the EC and warned of the harm that could arise in their absence; that France vetoed such official consultations; that the U.S. knew of the March 4 aide-memoire by February 22; and that Belgium was the only EC government to provide the text, even informally, to the U.S. (Ibid., Records of Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Entry 5403, Box 3, Nodis Letters HAK 1973–1977, Folder 3)

  • 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-E2322 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2322-, President Nixon seated at his Oval Office desk during a meeting with Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. 3/5/1974, Washington D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Henry Kissinger.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2322-05A, President Nixon seated at his Oval Office desk during a meeting with Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. 3/5/1974, Washington D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Henry Kissinger.

    Roll WHPO-E2324 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2324-, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger reporting to President Nixon during an Oval Office meeting after his Mideast trip to Syria. 3/5/1974, Washington D.C White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Henry Kissinger.

    Roll WHPO-E2325 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2325-, President Nixon meeting with Vice President Gerald Ford in the Oval office. 3/5/1974, Washington D.C. White House, Oval Office.

    Roll WHPO-E2329 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2329-, Pat Nixon greets Tammy Bryant of Key West, Florida. 1974 National Easter Seal Poster Child. 3/5/1974, Washington D.C. White House. Pat Nixon, Tammy Bryant of Key West, Florida. 1974 Easter Seal Poster Child. Two of the adults probably her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Bryant.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2329-10A, Pat Nixon greets the National Easter Seal Society poster child, Tammy Bryant, who is from Key West, Florida. 3/5/1974, Washington D.C. White House. Pat Nixon, Tammy Bryant, probably Mrs. Kenneth Bryant.

  • 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-510
      Press briefing by Gerald Warren. (3/5/1974, White House Press Lobby)

      Runtime: 32:05:00

      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

      21. Reasoner/Koppel: Secretary of State Kissinger may bring oil emabrgo to an end. Time Code Start: 44:50. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, energy, petroleum, oil, gasoline, fuel, oil supply, oil supplies, imports, shortages, sales, costs, increases, rationing, embargoes. Network: ABC.

      22. Smith/Schoumacher/Donaldson: Grand Jury reports and Judiciary Committee on subpoena powers. Time Code Start: 47:00. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: ABC.

      23. Reasoner/Jarriel: President Nixon's comment on tape analyzed. Time Code Start: 50:59. Keywords: Presidents,. Network: ABC.

      24. Smith/Medina: Special elections in Vermont for impeachment. Time Code Start: 52:49. Keywords: Presidents, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, impeachment. Network: ABC.

      25. Reasoner/Jackson: Sears testifies against Mitchell and Stans. Time Code Start: 56:03. 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.

      26. Reasoner: Commentary on Javis rally and the Republicans didn’t mention President Nixon. Time Code Start: 57:56. Keywords: political parties, Republicans, GOP. Network: ABC.
    • WHCA-6829
      Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
      ALL NETWORKS

      1. Chancellor: Grand Jury with Rodine and Hutchinson. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: NBC.

      2. Chancellor/Brokaw: Judge Sirica reporting and verification of President Nixon's statement on tape (Watergate). Time Code Start: 02:42. Keywords: Watergate, Senate Committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: NBC.

      3. Chancellor: Mansfield statement. Time Code Start: 04:31. Keywords: Senators, speeches. Network: NBC.

      4. Chancellor/Neal: Special elections; California. Time Code Start: 04:52. Keywords: elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates. Network: NBC.

      5. Chancellor/Hagger: Mitchell and Stans conspiracy trial with Mitchell. Time Code Start: 07:36. Keywords: trials, obstruction of justice, perjury, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: NBC.

      6. Chancellor/Valeriani: Secretary of State Kissinger returns to the U.S.. Time Code Start: 09:32. Keywords: cabinet, advisors. Network: NBC.

      7. Chancellor/Brinkley: Gas supplies and comment on Secretary of State Kissinger. Time Code Start: 11:00. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, energy, petroleum, oil supply, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources. Network: NBC.

      8. Cronkite/Graham: Grand Jury report. Time Code Start: 13:28. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: CBS.

      9. Cronkite/Morton: House Judiciary Committee with Representative Rodino. Time Code Start: 15:32. Keywords: Senate committee hearings, Watergate, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: CBS.

      10. Cronkite/Culhane: Vermont votes for impeachment. Time Code Start: 17:21. Keywords: Presidents, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, impeachment. Network: CBS.

      11. Cronkite/Mudd: Investigation of President Nixon's tax returns. Time Code Start: 19:53. Keywords: Presidents, Internal Revenue Service, taxes, taxation, revenue, audits, investigations, state taxes. Network: CBS.

      12. Cronkite/Schakine: Mitchell and Stans conspiracy trial. Time Code Start: 21:40. 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.

      13. Cronkite/Sevareid: Commentary on Solzhenitsyn writings on turmoil and decline of the West. Time Code Start: 23:24. Keywords: social declines, economy problems, authors, forecasts, social, political beliefs, USSR, Soviet Union, Russia, American,. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)