Breadcrumb

May 15, 1972

Introduction

This almanac page for Monday, May 15, 1972, 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: Sunday, May 14, 1972

Next Date: Tuesday, May 16, 1972

Schedule and Public Documents

Archival Holdings

  • 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. II, Organization and Management of U.S. Foreign Policy, 1969-1972

    The Intelligence Community and the White House

    Vol. VIII, Vietnam, January-October 1972

    The North Vietnamese Offensive Falters, Negotiations Resume, May 8-July 18, 1972

    Vol. XIV, Soviet Union, October 1971-May 1972

    Nixon at the Summit, May 13-May 31, 1972

    • 226. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, May 15, 1972, 5 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 494, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin/Kissinger, 1972, Vol. 12, Part 2. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Accordingly to Kissinger’s Record of Schedule, the meeting, which was held in General Scowcroft’s office, ended at 6:15 p.m. (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 438, Miscellany, 1968–1976)

    • 227. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, May 15, 1972

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 478, President’s Trip Files, The President, Bilateral Agreements. Secret; Exclusively Eyes Only. Sent for information. A notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it. According to a May 16 memorandum from Kissinger to Nixon, this was part of the fifth briefing book for the summit delivered to the President before books one to four. (Ibid., RG 59, S/P Files: Lot 77 D D112, Box 335, Lord Chronology, 1972)

    • 228. Telephone Conversation Between President Nixon and his Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, May 15, 1972

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Tapes, White House, Conversation No. 24–126. No classification marking. According to his Daily Diary, Nixon met with Kissinger from 9:29 to 9:35 p.m. The editors transcribed the portion of the conversation printed here specifically for this volume. According to the President’s Daily Diary, President Nixon placed the call. (Ibid., White House Central Files)

    Vol. XXXII, SALT I, 1969-1972

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

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

    Bangladesh, December 1971-December 1972

    • 422. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Eliot) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, May 15, 1972

      In response to the President’s expressed desire to convert as much multilateral economic assistance to Bangladesh as possible into bilateral assistance, Eliot forwarded the Department’s recommendations as to how the remaining $130 million of a $200 million Congressional appropriation for South Asian relief could be channeled to Bangladesh in the form of bilateral assistance.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, AID (US) BANGLADESH. Limited Official Use. No drafting information appears on the memorandum. The attachment cited in the memorandum is not published. On May 22 NSC Staff Secretary Davis sent a memorandum to Eliot which reads: “In response to your May 15 memorandum, bilateral assistance of $75 to $100 million in the current U.S. fiscal year has been approved. Your recommendations on the mix of other relief assistance for Bangladesh is (sic.) also approved.” (Ibid.) On May 30 the Department of State announced that the United States and Bangladesh had signed a bilateral agreement providing for $90 million in U.S. assistance to Bangladesh as a grant for rehabilitation. (Telegram 94906 to Dacca, May 30; ibid., AID (US) 4 BANGLADESH)

    Vol. E-10, Documents on American Republics, 1969-1972

    Mexico

    • 478. Memorandum for the Record, Washington, May 15, 1972, 3–3:30 p.m., Washington, May 15, 1972, 3-3:30 p.m.

      President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Henry Kissinger and Foreign Secretary Rabasa discussed the Colorado River salinity issue and illegal immigration. On salinity, Rabasa suggested third party arbitration, to which Kissinger responded “that if we decided we could go the arbitration route, the approach outlined by Rabasa seemed quite fair.” On illegal immigrants, Rabasa suggested that the United States and Mexico issue a joint communiqué announcing the creation of a Joint Commission to study the problem.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 788, Country Files, Latin America, Mexico, Vol. III. Secret; Sensitive. It was prepared by Jorden. Jorden signed WJJ above his typeset signature. The memorandum to which Kissinger referred is published as Document 477.

  • 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)