May 16, 1973

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.

• Remarks About Proposed Legislation To Establish a Nonpartisan Commission on Federal Election Reform.
• Special Message to the Congress Proposing Establishment of a Nonpartisan Commission on Federal Election Reform
• White House Statement About Congressional Role in Indochina Peace Efforts.

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 Wednesday, May 16, 1973

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

• House of Representatives: May 16, 1973
• Senate: May 16, 1973
• Extensions of Remarks: May 16, 1973

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 55, News Summaries - May 1-16, 1973 [6 of 8] [Note: Due to the way News Summary products were compiled, you should also consult nearby days for potentially relevant materials.]
  • News Summary, May 16, 1973, (Tuesday nets, wires, columns)

President's Personal File

The President's Personal File is essentially a President's secretary's file, kept by Rose Mary Woods, personal secretary to the President, for two purposes: (1) preserving for posterity a collection of documents particularly close to the President, whether because he dictated or annotated them, or because of the importance of the correspondent or the event concerned and (2) giving appropriate attention–letters of gratitude, invitations to White House social events, and the like–to members and important friends and supporters of the Nixon administration. This generalization does not describe all the varied materials of a file group which is essentially a miscellany, but it does identify the reason for the existence of the file group's core. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

• President's Speech File
  • Box 86, Tuesday, May 16, 1973, Campaign Reform Radio Speech

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 16, 1973
• Date search for May 16, 1973

All National Archives Units

• Text search for May 16, 1973
• Date search for May 16, 1973

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 16 May 1973

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. XXV, Arab-Israeli Crisis and War, 1973

Arab-Israeli Crisis and War, 1973

• 58. Conversation Between President Nixon and his Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, May 16, 1973

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Tapes, Conversation No. 919–3. No classification marking. According to the President’s Daily Diary, Nixon met with Kissinger in the Oval Office between 9:07 and 9:25 a.m. (Ibid., White House Central Files) The editors transcribed the portion printed here specifically for this volume.

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.

Visit the White House Tapes finding aid to learn about the taping system's operation and archival processing.

Old Executive Office Building

• 437-1; Unknown between 1:25 p.m. & 1:40 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Sanchez, Manolo
• 437-2; Unknown between 1:25 p.m. & 1:40 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Sanchez, Manolo
• 437-3; 1:40 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.; [Unknown person(s)]
• 437-4; Unknown between 2:00 p.m. & 2:44 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Sanchez, Manolo
• 437-5; Unknown between 2:00 p.m. & 2:44 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Sanchez, Manolo
• 437-6; Unknown between 2:00 p.m. & 2:44 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator
• 437-7; 2:44 p.m. - 2:46 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.
• 437-8; Unknown between 2:46 p.m. & 2:51 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator
• 437-9; 2:51 p.m. - 2:52 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Buzhardt, J. Fred, Jr.

Oval Office

• 919-1; Unknown between 8:51 a.m. & 9:07 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 919-2; Unknown between 8:51 a.m. & 9:07 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 919-3; 9:07 a.m. - 9:25 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.; [Unknown person(s)]
• 919-4; Unknown between 9:25 a.m. & 9:30 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 919-5; Unknown between 9:25 a.m. & 9:30 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Sanchez, Manolo
• 919-6; Unknown between 9:25 a.m. & 9:30 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 919-7; 9:30 a.m. - 9:48 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.
• 919-8; 9:48 a.m. - 9:48 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator
• 919-9; 9:48 a.m. - 9:54 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Buzhardt, J. Fred, Jr.
• 919-10; 9:54 a.m. - 9:54 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.
• 919-11; 9:54 a.m. - 10:23 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.; Buzhardt, J. Fred, Jr.
• 919-12; Unknown between 10:23 a.m. & 10:25 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 919-13; Unknown between 10:23 a.m. & 10:25 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator
• 919-14; 10:25 a.m. - 10:27 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Buzhardt, J. Fred, Jr.
• 919-15; 10:27 a.m. - 10:31 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.; [Unknown person(s)]
• 919-16; 10:31 a.m. - 10:31 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 919-17; 10:31 a.m. - 11:35 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Connally, John B.
• 919-18; Unknown between 11:35 a.m. & 11:36 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 919-19; 11:36 a.m. - 11:36 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 919-20; Unknown between 11:36 a.m. & 11:49 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.
• 919-21; Unknown between 11:49 a.m. & 12:34 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.
• 919-22; Unknown between 11:49 a.m. & 12:34 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 919-23; Unknown between 11:49 a.m. & 12:34 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 919-24; Unknown between 11:49 a.m. & 12:34 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Woods, Rose Mary
• 919-25; Unknown between 11:49 a.m. & 12:34 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.
• 919-26; Unknown between 11:49 a.m. & 12:34 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 919-27; 12:34 p.m. - 1:25 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.
• 919-28; Unknown between 1:25 p.m. & 3:02 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Yates, Nellie L.
• 919-29; Unknown between 1:25 p.m. & 3:02 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.
• 919-30; Unknown between 1:25 p.m. & 3:02 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator
• 919-31; Unknown between 1:25 p.m. & 3:02 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Buzhardt, J. Fred, Jr.
• 919-32; 3:02 p.m. - 4:08 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Buzhardt, J. Fred, Jr.; Haig, Alexander M., Jr.; [Unknown person(s)]
• 919-33; 4:08 p.m. - 4:08 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 919-34; Unknown between 4:09 p.m. & 4:52 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Shultz, George P.; [Unknown person(s)]
• 919-35; Unknown between 1:25 p.m. & 3:02 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 919-36; Unknown between 11:36 a.m. & 11:49 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 919-37; Unknown between 1:25 p.m. & 3:02 p.m.; United States Secret Service agents
• 920-1; Unknown between 4:09 p.m. & 4:52 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Shultz, George P.
• 920-2; Unknown between 4:52 p.m. & 4:55 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 920-3; 4:55 p.m. - 5:22 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.; Sanchez, Manolo; [Unknown person(s)]
• 920-4; Unknown between 5:22 p.m. & 5:25 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.
• 920-5; Unknown between 5:22 p.m. & 5:25 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 920-6; 5:25 p.m. - 5:31 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.
• 920-7; Unknown between 5:31 p.m. & 5:39 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.; [Unknown person(s)]
• 920-8; Unknown between 5:31 p.m. & 5:39 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 920-9; Unknown between 5:39 p.m. & 5:53 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Buzhardt, J. Fred, Jr.
• 920-10; Unknown between 5:39 p.m. & 5:53 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 920-11; 5:53 p.m. - 6:11 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.
• 920-12; Unknown between 8:40 p.m. & 8:45 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 920-13; 8:45 p.m. - 9:33 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.; Buzhardt, J. Fred, Jr.; [Unknown person(s)]
• 920-14; Unknown between 6:11 p.m. & 8:40 p.m.; United States Secret Service agents; [Unknown person(s)]
• 920-15; Unknown between 8:45 p.m. & 9:33 p.m.; [Unknown person(s)]

White House Telephone

• 46-74; 9:48 a.m. - 9:48 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator
• 46-75; 9:48 a.m. - 9:54 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Buzhardt, J. Fred, Jr.
• 46-76; Unknown between 10:23 a.m. & 10:25 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator
• 46-77; 10:25 a.m. - 10:27 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Buzhardt, J. Fred, Jr.
• 46-78; Unknown between 2:00 p.m. & 2:44 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator
• 46-79; 2:44 p.m. - 2:46 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.
• 46-80; Unknown between 2:46 p.m. & 2:51 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator
• 46-81; 2:51 p.m. - 2:52 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Buzhardt, J. Fred, Jr.
• 46-82; Unknown between 2:52 p.m. & 2:58 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator
• 46-83; 2:57 p.m. - 2:58 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Buzhardt, J. Fred, Jr.
• 46-84; Unknown between 4:08 p.m. & 9:33 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator
• 46-85; Unknown between 4:08 p.m. & 9:33 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.
• 46-86; Unknown between 4:57 p.m. & 9:33 p.m.; Buzhardt, J. Fred, Jr.; White House operator; Mardian, Robert C.
• 46-87; Unknown between 9:33 p.m. & 9:53 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator
• 46-88; 9:53 p.m. - 9:59 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.

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-E0802 Photographer: Parish, William | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-E0802-, Mike Farrell with blind White House tour visitors. 5/16/1973, Washington, D.C. White House.

Roll WHPO-E0803 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-E0803-, Military Wife of the Year Awards. 5/16/1973, Washington, D.C. White House.

Roll WHPO-E0804 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-E0804-, Wheelchair Décor Contest Winners. 5/16/1973, unknown unknown.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E0804-02A, Pat Nixon speaking with the Wheelchair Décor Contest Winners. 5/16/1973, unknown unknown. Pat Nixon, unidentified persons.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E0804-19A, Pat Nixon presenting a plaque to the Wheelchair Décor Contest Winners. 5/16/1973, unknown unknown. Pat Nixon, unidentified persons.

Roll WHPO-E0805 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-E0805-, Steve Bull and Comedian Bob Hope inspect a tent. 5/16/1973, Washington, D.C. White House. Steven B. Bull, Bob Hope.

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.

P - Formal Presidential Remarks

• WHCA-SR-P-730511
  Radio remarks re federal election reform. (5/16/1973)
  
  Runtime: 10:44
  
  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-109
  Press briefing by Leonard Garment and Ronald Ziegler. (5/16/1973, White House Press Lobby)
  
  Runtime: 1:32:02
  
  Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media, press secretary
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by DN (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
• WHCA-SR-S-110
  Briefing by David Wheat. (5/16/1973, EOB Conference Room (450))
  
  Runtime: 1:12:00
  
  Keywords: Briefings, public briefings, statements to the press (see also Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media)
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by GSA; Recorded by RDL (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-6287
  Weekly News Summary, Tape III.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 0:30
  
  1. Reasoner/Schomacher: G. Cook resigns from U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); wiretaps authorized by President Nixon. Time Code Start: 01:24. Keywords: Presidents, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, investigations, recordings. Network: ABC.
  
  2. Smith/Clark: Ellsberg testimony on corrupting influence of secrecy in Senate committee hearing government's security system; Senator Thurmond tells Muskie he isn't fit to be Presidential candidate. Time Code Start: 04:09. Keywords: Senate Committee hearings, investigations, abuse of power, national security, intelligence gathering, covert activities, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, Pentagon papers, Watergate. Network: ABC.
  
  3. Reasoner/Jarriel/Donaldson: Election reform; Watergate report; Ervin Watergate committee. Time Code Start: 08:53. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: ABC.
  
  4. Smith/Bennet: Highway 1 in South Vietnam. Time Code Start: 19:40. Keywords: Vietnam War, roads. Network: ABC.
  
  5. Smith: Commentary on wiretaps. Time Code Start: 26:25. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, investigations, recordings. Network: ABC.
• WHCA-6288
  Weekly News Summary, Tape IV.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 01:00:11
  
  1. Chancellor/Valeriani: More on Watergate; questions over John Dean; Watergate report to President Nixon. Time Code Start: 00:54. Keywords: advisors, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: NBC.
  
  2. Chancellor/Stern: Haldeman and Ehrlichman; Watergate. Time Code Start: 03:05. Keywords: advisors, counsels, attorneys, lawyers, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: NBC.
  
  3. Chancellor/Nessen: Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Watergate with McClellan and Helms. Time Code Start: 04:19. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, national security, intelligence gathering, covert activities, spying, espionage. Network: NBC.
  
  4. Chancellor: G. Bradford Cook resigns from SEC (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) over Watergate. Time Code Start: 06:14. Keywords: stock market, investments, bonds, regulations, officials, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: NBC.
  
  5. Chancellor/Mackin: Ellsberg testimony before Senate committee hearing on government's security system; Senator Muskie and Thurmond disagree, Thurmond tells Muskie he isn't fit to be Presidential candidate. Time Code Start: 11:14. Keywords: Senate Committee hearings, investigations, abuse of power, national security, intelligence gathering, covert activities, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, Pentagon papers, Watergate. Network: NBC.
  
  6. Brinkley: comment on the six year term for future Presidents. Time Code Start: 13:35. Keywords: Presidents, tenure, terms. Network: NBC.
  
  7. Mudd/Rather: Ziegler states President Nixon says John Dean is responsible for everything. Time Code Start: 30:44. Keywords: Presidents, advisors, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: CBS.
  
  8. Mudd/Herman: G. Cook resigns from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Time Code Start: 32:15. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, resignations. Network: CBS.
  
  9. Mudd/Schorr: G. Gordon Liddy gets some immunity for testifying. Time Code Start: 35:04. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: CBS.
  
  10. Mudd/Kalb: Dr. Halperin says President Nixon Okayed phonetaps; Winston Lord. Time Code Start: 37:44. Keywords: Presidents, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, investigations, recordings. Network: CBS.
  
  11. Mudd/Graham: Ellsberg testimony before Senate committee hearing on government's security system; Senator Muskie and Thurmond disagree, Thurmond tells Muskie he isn't fit to be Presidential candidate. Time Code Start: 39:36. Keywords: Senate Committee hearings, investigations, abuse of power, national security, intelligence gathering, covert activities, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, Pentagon papers, Watergate. Network: CBS.
  
  12. Mudd/Pierpoint: Senate vote to end bombing is stalled. Time Code Start: 48:35. Keywords: Vietnam War, bombings, Senators, voting. Network: CBS.
  
  13. Mudd/Herman: David Frye and Jack Russell talk about comedians view of Watergate. Time Code Start: 52:00. Keywords: humor, Comedian, actor, actors, celebrities, statements, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: CBS.

• New York Times of May 16, 1973

• AP Images photos from May 16, 1973
• Getty Images photos from May 16, 1973

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 1973 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• May 16, 1973