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March 8, 1973

Introduction

This almanac page for Thursday, March 8, 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: Wednesday, March 7, 1973

Next Date: Friday, March 9, 1973

Schedule and Public Documents

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.

  • 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. XV, Soviet Union, June 1972-August 1974

    Summit Preparations; Jackson-Vanik Amendment; Non-Use of Nuclear Weapons, December 1972-April 1973

    • 80. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to the President’s File, Washington, March 8, 1973, 1-1:10 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 495, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin/Kissinger, Vol. 15. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Brackets are in the original.

    • 81. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, March 8, 1973, 1:10-2:50 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 495, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin/Kissinger, Vol. 15. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The conversation took place in the Map Room. The memorandum is attached at Tab B to a memorandum from Kissinger to Nixon, undated, summarizing his conversations with Dobrynin on March 6 and 8.

    Vol. XVIII, China, 1973-1976

    Kissinger's Visits to Beijing and the Establishment of the Liaison Offices, January 1973-May 1973

    Vol. XXXIII, SALT II, 1972-1980

    SALT II, 1972-1980

    • 14. Minutes of a Meeting of the National Security Council, Washington, March 8, 1973, 10:10-11:30 a.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Institutional Files (H–Files), Box H–110, NSC Meeting Minutes, Originals, 1971 to 6–20–74. Top Secret; Sensitive. The meeting took place in the Cabinet Room of the White House. There is a White House tape of this meeting. (Ibid., White House Tapes, Cabinet Room, Conversation 117–2)

    • 15. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, March 8, 1973, 1:10-2:50 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 495, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin/Kissinger, Vol. 15. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting took place in the Map Room of the White House. The memorandum of conversation was attached to an undated memorandum from Kissinger to Nixon summarizing his conversations with Dobrynin on March 6 and 8.

    Vol. XXXV, National Security Policy, 1973-1976

    National Security Policy

    Vol. XXXVI, Energy Crisis, 1969-1974

    March 8-October 5, 1973

    • 170. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, March 8, 1973

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, PET 4 IRAN–US. Limited Official Use. Drafted by Brown. A stamped notation reads: “19 Mar 1973.”

    • 171. National Security Study Memorandum 174, Washington, March 8, 1973

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–197, National Security Study Memoranda, NSSM 174 (Response). Secret. A copy was sent to Ash, Ehrlichman, Flanigan, DiBona, and Moorer. On a March 5 memorandum from Odeen to Kissinger, transmitting an earlier draft of the NSSM, Kissinger had handwritten: “No—Do not want ad hoc group chaired by State—maybe by Odeen.” (Ibid.) The final NSSM was altered accordingly. (Memorandum from Odeen to Kissinger, March 6; ibid.)

    Vol. E-3, Documents on Global Issues, 1973-1976

    Drug Control, 1973-1976

    • 146. Memorandum From the Assistant to the President (Ash) to President Nixon, Washington, March 8, 1973

      Ash recommended the creation of a new agency within the Department of Justice to consolidate drug control efforts.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, President’s Office Files, President’s Handwriting Files, Box 21, March 1–10, 1973. No classification marking. A stamped notation on the memorandum indicates that the President saw it. Nixon initialed his approval of option 3.

    Terrorism

    • 208. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon, Washington, March 8, 1973

      Rogers provided an update on efforts to combat terrorism after the March 2 assassinations in Khartoum, Sudan.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 286, Agency Files, Department of State, Vol. XVIII, January 1973–May 1973. Confidential. The attached NSC correspondence profile indicates that Nixon noted the memorandum on March 14. Nixon’s March 6 address at a Department of State ceremony honoring Noel and Moore is published in Public Papers: Nixon, 1973, pp. 169–171.

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

    India-Pakistan 1

    • 113. Conversation Between President Nixon and the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, March 8, 1973, 9:54-10:05 a.m.

      Kissinger discussed the potential impact of releasing military equipment to Pakistan that had been purchased prior to the arms embargo.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Tapes, Oval Office, Conversation No. 872–3. No classification marking. The meeting took place in the Oval Office of the White House.

    • 114. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, March 8, 1973, 4:30 p.m.

      President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger met with Khar for a brief discussion of military aid and other issues of bilateral concern after Khar’s meeting with President Nixon earlier that day.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 612, Pakistan, Vol. X, Sept. 72–Oct. 73, Country Files, Middle East. Secret. It was drafted by Saunders. The meeting took place in Kissinger’s office.

    • 115. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, March 8, 1973

      President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger summarized cables from Ambassador Moynihan in which the Ambassador evinced strong opposition to potential resumption of U.S. arms sales to Pakistan.

      Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 203, Geopolitical File, Pakistan, Chronological File, 8 March 1973–11 May 1974. Secret. Sent for information. Nixon appended a lengthy handwritten comment: “K—Moynihan will be desperately disappointed—do your best to reassure him—pointing out the overriding consideration (in confidence) which leads to this one time exception—also point out—letting the balance get too much on India’s side could lead to another war & to China intervention.” In telegram 2632 from New Delhi, March 7, Moynihan had first stated his objections to Pakistani arms sales to the Secretary of State. (Ibid.)

    Vol. E-11, Part 2, Documents on South America, 1973-1976

    Brazil

  • 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)