May 12, 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 Camp David, Maryland

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.

• Proclamation 4135—World Trade Week, 1972

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, May 12, 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 May 12, 1972
• Date search for May 12, 1972

All National Archives Units

• Text search for May 12, 1972
• Date search for May 12, 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 12 May 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. XIV, Soviet Union, October 1971-May 1972

Summit in the Balance: U.S.-Soviet Relations and the Decision to Mine Haiphong, April 26-May 12, 1972

• 220. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) and the Soviet Ambassador (Dobrynin), Washington, May 12, 1972, 11:15 a.m.

  Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 372, Telephone Conversations, Chronological File. No classification marking.

• 221. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, May 12, 1972, 4:22-5:05 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 494, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin/Kissinger, 1972, Vol. 2. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Kissinger and Dobrynin met in the White House Map Room. The closing time of the meeting is from Kissinger’s Record of Schedule. (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 438, Miscellany, 1968–1976)

• 222. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Eliot) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, May 12, 1972

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 7 US/NIXON. Confidential. Drafted by Herbert Okun and Wayne Smith (EUR/SOV) on May 11, and cleared by Matlock and Deputy Assistant Secretaries for European Affairs Richard Davies and George Springsteen.

• 223. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between President Nixon and his Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, May 12, 1972, 5:21 p.m.

  Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 372, Telephone Conversations, Chronological File. No classification marking.

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

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

• 140. Memorandum From John A. Froebe, Jr., of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, May 12, 1972

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 543, Country Files, Far East, Korea, Vol. V, 1972, Part 2. Top Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. Initialed by Kissinger and Haig.

Vol. XX, Southeast Asia, 1969-1972

Thailand

• 163. Telegram From the Embassy in Thailand to the Department of State, Bangkok, May 12, 1972, 1201Z

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 23 THAI. Confidential; Immediate;Limdis.

Vol. XXXII, SALT I, 1969-1972

Kissinger's Secret Trip to Moscow and Aftermath, April 19-May 17, 1972

• 273. National Security Decision Memorandum 166, Washington, May 12, 1972

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H–Files), Box H–233, National Security Decision Memoranda, NSDMs 145–164. Top Secret; Nodis; SALT.

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

Iran 1972

• 192. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon, Washington, May 12, 1972

  Rogers submitted to Nixon a summary of the Shah’s concerns and recommended themes the President might wish to touch upon in Iran.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Presidential Trip Files, Box 479, Briefing Book, Visit of Nixon to Iran, May 1972. Secret. The attached briefing book is not published.

Iraq 1972

• 307. Intelligence Memorandum No. 0865/72, Washington, May 12, 1972

  The memorandum analyzed Soviet policies in the Persian Gulf, with a focus on Moscow’s relations with Iraq and Iran.
  
  Source: Central Intelligence Agency, OCI Files, Job 79T00832A, Box 8, Folder 8, Moscow and the Persian Gulf, No. 0865-72. Secret; No Foreign Dissem. Prepared in the Office of Current Intelligence and coordinated within the Directorate of Intelligence. This memorandum was included in the Presidential Briefing materials for Nixon’s May 1972 trip to Iran.

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

U.S. Relations with India and Pakistan, 1972

• 262. Telegram 5892 From the Embassy in India to the Department of State, New Delhi, May 12, 1972, 0835Z

  The Embassy submitted to the Department of External Affairs a list of AID personnel working in India with an indication of those leaving by September who would not be replaced.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, AID (US) INDIA. Confidential; Priority; Nodis. Eyes Only for Sisco and Hannah.

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-9058 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-9058-, James Falk, John Evans, Ed Morgan standing on the South Lawn with White House as background. 5/12/1972, Washington, D.C. White House, South Lawn. James Falk, John Evans, Ed Morgan.

Roll WHPO-9089 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-9089-02A-06A, Vice President Agnew at an arrival ceremony. 5/12/1972, Tokyo, Japan airport. Agnew, Japanese officials, military personnel.

Roll WHPO-9091 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-9091-03A-15A, Arrival ceremony for Vice President Agnew in Tokyo. 5/12/1972, Tokyo, Japan airport. Agnew, Japanese officials, military personnel.

Roll WHPO-9092 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-9092-02A-07A, Arrival ceremony for Vice President Agnew in Tokyo, Japan. 5/12/1972, Tokyo, Japan airport. Spiro Agnew, Japanese officials, military personnel.

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-569
  Briefing by Richard Allen, Dr. David Hoopes, and Steve Bull. (5/12/1972, Family Theater, White House)
  
  Runtime: 48:00:00
  
  Keywords: Briefings, public briefings, statements to the press (see also Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media)
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by CBW (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
• WHCA-SR-H-570
  Press briefing by John D. Ehrlichman and Gerald Warren. (5/12/1972, Press Center, White House)
  
  Runtime: 51:00:00
  
  Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by CBW (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-5365
  Secretary Connally from CBS Morning News.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 00:10:11
• WHCA-5366
  "The David Frost Show" with William Safire and Arthur Schlesinger. William Safire, presidential phrase maker; Arthur Meier Schlesinger, Jr., historian and social critic
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 01:30:21
• WHCA-5383
  Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 01:34:07
  
  1. Smith: Pentagon report on mining, summit meeting. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: United States Department of Defense, headquarters, Armed Forces, natural resources, mines, summits, meetings. Network: ABC.
  
  2. Smith/Miller: Film of Danang Harbor in Vietnam/supplies. Time Code Start: 00:55. Keywords: Vietnam War. Network: ABC.
  
  3. Reasoner/Peterson" Railroad bombing in North Vietnam, Air Force pilots interviewed. Time Code Start: 03:16. Keywords: Vietnam War, bombings. Network: ABC.
  
  4. Reasoner/Brannigan: An Loc, Hanoi arms in Vietnam. Time Code Start: 05:40. Keywords: Vietnam War. Network: ABC.
  
  5. Murphy: Pro-President Nixon march. Time Code Start: 08:19. Keywords: Presidents, support, demonstrations, rally, protests, protesters, demonstraters, demonstrators. Network: ABC.
  
  6. Reasoner/Donaldson/Bell/Matney: Campaigns Humphrey in Maryland, Governor George Wallace in Maryland, McGovern in Michigan. Time Code Start: 11:48. Keywords: Senators, Governors, Presidential elections, campaigns, primaries, candidates. Network: ABC.
  
  7. Chancellor/Goralski/Troute: Vietnam (Friedheim), Battle of An Loc, Hue. Time Code Start: 16:36. Keywords: Vietnam War. Network: NBC.
  
  8. Chancellor/Briggs/Flick: Paris Peace Talks, anti-war demonstrations. Time Code Start: 21:24. Keywords: Paris Peace Talks, Vietnam War, treaty, treaties, negotiations, government, officials, endings, demonstrations, rally, protests, protesters, demonstraters, demonstrators, Vietnam War, anti-war. Network: NBC.
  
  9. Chancellor/Kiker: Nebraska primary results, Michigan next week. Time Code Start: 26:11. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, primaries, voting. Network: NBC.
  
  10. Cronkite: Vietnam; bombing in North Vietnam. Time Code Start: 30:04. Keywords: Vietnam War, bombings, bombs. Network: CBS.
  
  11. Cronkite/Kalb: Moscow summit probably on; Paris Peace talks still on (Vietnam War). Time Code Start: 34:29. Keywords: SALT, S.A.L.T., Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, Russia, Soviet Union, USSR, Cold War, détente, summits, meetings, Paris Peace Talks, Vietnam War, treaty, treaties, negotiations. Network: CBS.
  
  12. Cronkite/Duval: Anti-war demonstrations, pro-President Nixon parade in Florida. Time Code Start: 35:48. Keywords: elections, campaigns, campaigning, primaries, candidates, speeches, Presidents, demonstrations, rally, protesters, demonstraters, demonstrators, Vietnam War, anti-war. Network: CBS.
  
  13. Cronkite: L. Patrick Gray says FBI will hire female agents. Time Code Start: 38:27. Keywords: Federal Bureau of Investigations, leaders, statements, women, employees, hiring, employment. Network: CBS.
  
  14. Sevareid: Commentary on Vietnam. Time Code Start: 43:35. Keywords: Vietnam War. Network: CBS.

• LIFE magazine of May 12, 1972

• New York Times of May 12, 1972

• AP Images photos from May 12, 1972
• Getty Images photos from May 12, 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.

• May 1972 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• May 12, 1972