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May 19, 1973

Introduction

This almanac page for Saturday, May 19, 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: Friday, May 18, 1973

Next Date: Sunday, May 20, 1973

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.

    No Federal Register published on this date

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.

    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.

  • 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. X, Vietnam, January 1973-July 1975

    Neither War nor Peace, January 27-June 15, 1973

    Vol. XLII, Vietnam: The Kissinger-Le Duc Tho Negotiations

    Attempting To Implement the Accords, February 1973-December 1973

    • 59. Memorandum of Conversation, Paris, May 19, 1973, 3:12-7:25 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 114, Country Files, Far East, Vietnam, Paris Memcons, May 17–23, 1973. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting was held at La Fontaine au Blanc, St. Nom la Bretèche. All brackets are in the original. The tabs are attached but not printed.

      Kissinger commented in his message to the President that the talks had gone better at this meeting: “Today’s session with DRV was a genuine working meeting, in which we appear to have made some progress towards an understanding. Le Duc Tho was in the mood for straight talk and went through the various items which were tabled in a generally constructive way.”

      Specifically, Kissinger continued:

      “He [Le Duc Tho] tabled a draft communiqué and a ceasefire order which were written in extreme terms; but he backed off them in the give and take. I can now see the possibility of making a bridge between his opening position and ours. This will mean the probable emergence of a document which may lead to an enforcement of a ceasefire in South Vietnam, a precise date for a Laos withdrawal, but nothing concrete on Cambodia.”

      Indeed, Kissinger told the President: “The primary stumbling block I see in this [the path to an agreed text] is still Cambodia.” Despite this, he concluded: “As of now, I feel it is possible we can produce a paper by Tuesday [May 22] which we will be able to define as a restoration of the basic Paris Agreement.” (Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. X, Vietnam, January 1973–July 1975, Document 53) That paper would be turned into the communiqué that would be signed at the next round of Paris meetings in June.

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

    France, 1973-1976

    • 309. Memorandum From Denis Clift of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft), Washington, May 19, 1973

      Summary: Clift discussed the studies prepared in response to NSSM 175, U.S. Nuclear Defense Policy Toward France.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–198, Study Memorandums, 1969–1974, NSSM–175. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Sent for action. Attached but not published is Tab A, message Tohak 106 from Scowcroft to Kissinger, May 19; at the bottom of the message is a checkmark next to the option to postpone the meeting. Richardson forwarded Part I of the study prepared in response to NSSM 175 to Kissinger under cover of a May 11 memorandum, and Director of the Bureau of Politic-Military Affairs Ronald Spiers forwarded Part II of the study to Kissinger under cover of a May 15 memorandum; both documents are ibid. No record of a SRG meeting on these studies was found. Citing the U.S. interest in an independent French, as well as British, nuclear capability, Nixon offered Pompidou U.S. assistance for the French nuclear program on June 1; Nixon noted that his offer carried no “political price, with nothing attached to it.” Pompidou agreed to send French experts for discussions in Washington. (Memorandum of conversation, June 1; Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS 26, France Meetings, 1973, May–June (Reykjavik, Iceland))

  • 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

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

    Camp David Study Table

    Oval Office

  • 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-E0475 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0475-, The White House Grounds and Garden. Pink blossoms on trees framing images of Oval Office exterior. 5/19/1973, Washington, D. C. White House Garden near Oval Office.

    Roll WHPO-E0816 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0816-, President Nixon and Pat Nixon at Norfolk, Virginia visiting the USS Independence on Armed Forces Day. 5/19/1973, Norfolk, Virginia USS Independence. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, USS Independence Commanding officer Captain Charles R. Smith, Vice Admiral Douglas C. Plate (Deputy Commander & Chief of Staff of Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT)), crowd, sailors, Navy personnel, Senator William L. Scott, Governor Linwood Holton, Senator Harry F. Byrd, Congressmen: Robert W. Daniel, J. G. William Whitehurst. William P. Clements, Jr., Deputy Secretary of Defense. General Walter T. Kerwin, Jr., Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, USA . Admiral John S. McCain, USN, retired Commander. Wayne Riggs (Chaplain Corps), USN Master Chief Petty Officer Gerald P. Gray (USN, senior enlisted men's representative for Atlantic Fleet), Chief Master Sgt Kenneth E. Holdren (Senior NCO Representative of Tactical Air Comand), Sgt Major William J. Moran (Sgt Major of Fleet Marine Force Atlantic Command), Sgt Major E. J. Wrightman (Continental Army Command), Rear Admiral E. P. Bullard USCG Fifth District Commander, Lt. General George C. Axte SN, Vice dm C. Edwin Bell, USN.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0816-01A, President Nixon and Pat Nixon at Norfolk, Virginia visiting the USS Independence on Armed Forces Day. A ship's Captain or officer stands with the Nixons at the lineup of Navy honor guards at attention flanking the entrance to Presidential helicopter. 5/19/1973, Norfolk, Virginia USS Independence. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, possibly USS Independence Commanding officer Captain Charles R. Smith or Vice Admiral Douglas C. Plate (Deputy Commander & Chief of Staff of Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT)), crowd, sailors, Navy personnel.

    Roll WHPO-E0817 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0817-, President Nixon and Pat Nixon at the USS Independence in Norfolk, Virginia on Armed Forces Day. 5/19/1973, Norfolk, Virginia USS Independence. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, USS Independence Commanding officer Captain Charles R. Smith, Vice Admiral Douglas C. Plate, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT) Mrs. Douglas C. Plate, crowd, sailors, Navy personnel, Senator William L. Scott (R-Virginia) Governor Linwood Holton (R-Virginia) . Senator Harry F. Byrd (Independent-Virginia). Congressman Robert W. Daniel, Jr. (R-Virginia . Congressman G. William Whitehurst (R-Virginia). William P. Clements, Jr., Deputy Secretary of Defense. General Walter T. Kerwin, Jr., Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, USA . Admiral John S. McCain, USN, retired Commander. Wayne Riggs, Chaplain Corps. USN Master Chief Petty Officer Gerald P. Gray, USN, senior enlisted men's representative for the Atlantic Flee. Chief Master Sgt Kenneth E. Holdren, Senior NCO Representative of Tactical Air Comand. Sgt Major William J. Moran, Sgt Major of Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic Command. Sgt Major E. J. Wrightman, Continental Army Command. Rear Admiral E. P. Bullard, USCG, Commander of the Fifth District. Lt. General George C. Axte USN . Vice Admiral C. Edwin Bell, USN.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0817-04A, Crowds at the USS Independence in Norfolk, Virginia on Armed Forces Day. The ship and huge crowd at the harbor surround the podium where military officials sit to hear President Nixon speaking. 5/19/1973, Norfolk, Virginia USS Independence. President Nixon, Pat Nixon.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0817-33A, President Nixon and Pat Nixon walking with Governor Linwood Holton and his wife upon arrival at the USS Independence in Norfolk, Virginia on Armed Forces Day. Presidential helicopter is in the background. 5/19/1973, Norfolk, Virginia USS Independence. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Linwood Holton, Mrs. Linwood Holton, unidentified military personnel.

    Roll WHPO-E0818 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0818-, President Nixon and Pat Nixon at the USS Independence in Norfolk, Virginia on Armed Forces Day. 5/19/1973, Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk Naval Station. President Nixon, Pat Nixon.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0818-04A, President Nixon and Pat Nixon at the USS Independence in Norfolk, Virginia on Armed Forces Day. President Nixon waves to the crowd below, while he and Pat Nixon walk on deck of the ship. 5/19/1973, Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk Naval Station. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, crowd.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0818-30A, President Nixon and Pat Nixon at the USS Independence in Norfolk, Virginia on Armed Forces Day. President Nixon waves to the crowd from the podium, standing with Navy leaders. 5/19/1973, Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk Naval Station. President Nixon, Pat Nixon.

    Roll WHPO-E0819 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0819-, President Nixon and Pat Nixon at the USS Independence in Norfolk, Virginia on Armed Forces Day. 5/19/1973, Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk Naval Station.

    Roll WHPO-E0820 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0820-, President Nixon participating in an Armed Forces Day event. 5/19/1973, Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk Naval Station. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, USS Independence Commanding officer Captain Charles R. Smith, Vice Admiral Douglas C. Plate, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT) Mrs. Douglas C. Plate, crowd, sailors, Navy personnel, Senator William L. Scott (R-Virginia) Governor Linwood Holton (R-Virginia) . Senator Harry F. Byrd (Independent-Virginia). Congressman Robert W. Daniel, Jr. (R-Virginia . Congressman G. William Whitehurst (R-Virginia). William P. Clements, Jr., Deputy Secretary of Defense. General Walter T. Kerwin, Jr., Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, USA . Admiral John S. McCain, USN, retired Commander. Wayne Riggs, Chaplain Corps. USN Master Chief Petty Officer Gerald P. Gray, USN, senior enlisted men's representative for the Atlantic Flee. Chief Master Sgt Kenneth E. Holdren, Senior NCO Representative of Tactical Air Command. Sgt Major William J. Moran, Sgt Major of Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic Command. Sgt Major E. J. Wrightman, Continental Army Command. Rear Admiral E. P. Bullard, USCG, Commander of the Fifth District. Lt. General George C. Axte USN . Vice Admiral C. Edwin Bell, USN.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0820-, President Nixon greeting a child in the crowd while participating in an Armed Forces Day event. 5/19/1973, Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk Naval Station. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, USS Independence Commanding officer Captain Charles R. Smith, Vice Admiral Douglas C. Plate, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT) Mrs. Douglas C. Plate, crowd, sailors, Navy personnel, Senator William L. Scott (R-Virginia) Governor Linwood Holton (R-Virginia) . Senator Harry F. Byrd (Independent-Virginia). Congressman Robert W. Daniel, Jr. (R-Virginia . Congressman G. William Whitehurst (R-Virginia). William P. Clements, Jr., Deputy Secretary of Defense. General Walter T. Kerwin, Jr., Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, USA . Admiral John S. McCain, USN, retired Commander. Wayne Riggs, Chaplain Corps. USN Master Chief Petty Officer Gerald P. Gray, USN, senior enlisted men's representative for the Atlantic Flee. Chief Master Sgt Kenneth E. Holdren, Senior NCO Representative of Tactical Air Command. Sgt Major William J. Moran, Sgt Major of Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic Command. Sgt Major E. J. Wrightman, Continental Army Command. Rear Admiral E. P. Bullard, USCG, Commander of the Fifth District. Lt. General George C. Axte USN . Vice Admiral C. Edwin Bell, USN.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0820-19, President Nixon holding a little girl's hand in the crowd while participating in an Armed Forces Day event. 5/19/1973, Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk Naval Station. President Nixon, crowd, unidentified little girl.

    Roll WHPO-E0821 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0821-, Armed Forces Day. 5/19/1973, Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk Naval Station. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, USS Independence Commanding officer Captain Charles R. Smith, Vice Admiral Douglas C. Plate, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT) Mrs. Douglas C. Plate, crowd, sailors, Navy personnel, Senator William L. Scott (R-Virginia) Governor Linwood Holton (R-Virginia) . Senator Harry F. Byrd (Independent-Virginia). Congressman Robert W. Daniel, Jr. (R-Virginia . Congressman G. William Whitehurst (R-Virginia). William P. Clements, Jr., Deputy Secretary of Defense. General Walter T. Kerwin, Jr., Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, USA . Admiral John S. McCain, USN, retired Commander. Wayne Riggs, Chaplain Corps. USN Master Chief Petty Officer Gerald P. Gray, USN, senior enlisted men's representative for the Atlantic Flee. Chief Master Sgt Kenneth E. Holdren, Senior NCO Representative of Tactical Air Command. Sgt Major William J. Moran, Sgt Major of Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic Command. Sgt Major E. J. Wrightman, Continental Army Command. Rear Admiral E. P. Bullard, USCG, Commander of the Fifth District. Lt. General George C. Axte USN . Vice Admiral C. Edwin Bell, USN.

  • 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.

    K - Informal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-K-067
      Crowd-Norfolk Navy Station. (5/19/1973)

      Runtime: 13:50

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

    P - Formal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-P-730512
      Remarks by President Nixon on Armed Forces Day at Pier 12 in Norfolk, Va. with V. Adm. Plate. (5/19/1973)

      Runtime: 23:30

      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-114
      Remarks to press by Ronald Ziegler at Norfolk Navy Station. (5/19/1973, Norfolk Navy Station)

      Runtime: 4:15

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media, press secretary

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by RMM (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-6304
      Weekly News Summary, Tape III.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 0:30

      1. Utley: Kalmbach, lawyer for Watergate defendants. Time Code Start: 01:00. Keywords: attorneys, lawyers, Presidential elections, fundraising, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: NBC.

      2. Utley/Valeriani: President Nixon's in Norfolk, Virginia; Armed Forces Day. Time Code Start: 01:40. Keywords: Presidents, travel, trips, Nixon trips, domestic, military, holidays, celebrations. Network: NBC.

      3. Utley: Ziegler involved in Watergate coverup?. Time Code Start: 03:25. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: NBC.

      4. Utley: Caulfield denies part of McCord's testimony. Time Code Start: 04:10. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: NBC.

      5. Utley/Bell: Watergate and the GOP (Republican) with George Bush. Time Code Start: 05:00. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations, Republicans, Republican Party. Network: NBC.

      6. Utley/Dobyns: North Vietnamese tell where MIAs [Vietnam Missing in Action] are buried. Time Code Start: 14:19. Keywords: Vietnam War, MIAs, Vietnam Missing in Action, Indochina War, military. Network: NBC.

      7. Utley/Goralsky: Ceasefire in Indochina, International Commission of Control and Supervision (ICCS) role [Vietnam]. Time Code Start: 16:30. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War, releases, exchanges, ceasefires, management organizations. Network: NBC.

      8. Utley/Reynolds: U.S. relations with Red China with Ambassador Bruce. Time Code Start: 20:00. Keywords: Ambassadors, diplomats, negotiations, People's Republic of China,. Network: NBC.
    • WHCA-6305
      Weekly News Summary, Tape IV.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:00

      1. OsGoode/Pierpoint: President Nixon gives Armistice Day speech. Time Code Start: 00:47. Keywords: Presidents, speeches, war commemorations, military, holidays. Network: CBS.

      2. OsGoode/Schorr: More on Watergate. Time Code Start: 04:25. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: CBS.

      3. OsGoode/Pappas: GOP (Republican) planning '74 strategy. Time Code Start: 07:28. Keywords: Republicans, Republican Party, elections, campaigns. Network: CBS.

      4. OsGoode: Mitchell says he will not be fall guy for Watergate. Time Code Start: 09:51. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)