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May 2, 1974

Introduction

This almanac page for Thursday, May 2, 1974, 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, May 1, 1974

Next Date: Friday, May 3, 1974

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 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.

  • 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.

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

Archival Holdings

Any selection of archival documents will necessarily be partial. You should use the documents and folders identified below as a starting place, but consult the linked collection finding aids and folder title lists and the collections themselves for context. Many documents to be found this way do not lend themselves to association with specific dates, but are essential to a complete understanding of the material.

  • 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 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. XXVI, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1974-1976

    Syrian-Israeli Disengagement Agreement, January-May 1974

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

    Brazil

    • 101. Telegram 90883 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Brazil, Washington, May 2, 1974, 2337Z

      Summary: Meeting during the OAS General Assembly session in Atlanta, Kissinger and Silveira discussed the possible establishment of a U.S.-Brazil special coordinating mission, trade issues, and Brazil’s relations with neighboring countries.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840114–2579. Confidential; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Watson; cleared by Bowdler, Schwab, and Gammon; approved by Eagleburger. In telegram 86800 to Brasília, April 27, the Department transmitted a letter in which Kissinger informed Silveira he supported the idea of setting up a working group to discuss science, technology transfer, and transnational enterprises. (Ibid., P840114–2584)

  • 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

  • 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-E2693 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2693-, Dean Birch briefs members of the press. 5/2/1974, Washington, D.C. White House. Dean Birch.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2693-14A, Portrait of Dean Birch briefing members of the press. 5/2/1974, Washington, D.C. White House. Dean Birch.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2693-19A, Dean Birch briefs members of the press. 5/2/1974, Washington, D.C. White House. Dean Birch.

    Roll WHPO-E2695 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E2695-, Safety Patrol poses together. 5/2/1974, Washington, D.C. White House, south lawn.

  • 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.

    S - White House Press Office Briefings (continuation of the L-series)

    • WHCA-SR-S-574
      Press briefing by Gerald Warren. (5/2/1974, White House Press Lobby)

      Runtime: 41:44:00

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by __ (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-6915
      "Today" Show. An interview with the Vice President
      CBS
      Runtime: 0:30
    • WHCA-6916
      "Martin Agronsky: Evening Edition".
      CBS
      Runtime: 0:30
    • WHCA-6917
      "Congress Views The Transcripts".
      CBS
      Runtime: 0:29:00
    • WHCA-6923
      Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:35:26

      22. Smith/Donaldson: Subpoenaed tapes; judiciary committee reviewing procedures and President Nixon's attorney St. Clair's role. Time Code Start: 49:47. Keywords: law officials, attorneys, lawyers, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: ABC.

      23. Smith/Schoumacher: How the White House complied with the subpoena. Time Code Start: 52:40. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: ABC.

      24. Smith/Zimmerman: Vice President Gerald Ford defends the President. Time Code Start: 55:00. Keywords: Vice Presidents, speeches, statements, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: ABC.

      25. Smith: Former Vice President Agnew disbarment permanent. Time Code Start: 57:20. Keywords: Vice Presidents, resignations, terminations, taxes, investments, investigations, hearings, careers, jobs, unemployment, disbarments, law officials. Network: ABC.

      26. Smith: Commentary on President Nixon transcripts portraying two sides of him. Time Code Start: 57:56. Keywords: documents, transcriptions, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: ABC.

      27. Chancellor/Scherer: Subpoenaed tapes and judiciary committee rules for President Nixon's attorney St. Clair with Dennis. Time Code Start: 59:45. Keywords: law officials, attorneys, lawyers, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: NBC.

      28. Chancellor/Brokaw: White House response to committee. Time Code Start: 62:42. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: NBC.

      29. Chancellor/Nessen: Vice President Gerald Ford on the transcript situation. Time Code Start: 64:04. Keywords: Vice Presidents, statements, Watergate, Senate Committee hearings, investigations, scandals, impeachment, resignations, recordings, Presidents, releases bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying,. Network: NBC.

      30. Chancellor: Watergate committee refused five sought after tapes. Time Code Start: 66:25. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: NBC.

      31. Chancellor: General Haig refuses questioning and Peterson situation. Time Code Start: 66:48. Keywords: military leaders, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: NBC.

      32. Chancellor/Stern: Look at transcripts on "hush money". Time Code Start: 67:29. Keywords: documents, transcriptions, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: CBS.

      33. Chancellor/Goralski: Attorney John Doar doubts accuracy and completeness of transcripts. Time Code Start: 69:37. Keywords: documents, transcriptions, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals law officials, attorneys, lawyers,. Network: CBS.

      34. Chancellor/Valeriani: Secretary of State Kissinger arrives in Israel. Time Code Start: 72:06. Keywords: Mideast, Middle East, Israeli, leaders, cabinet, advisors, travel, trips. Network: NBC.

      35. Brinkley: Commentary on TV coverage of impeachment hearings. Time Code Start: 74:00. Keywords: Presidents, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, impeachment. Network: NBC.

      36. Cronkite/Schorr: Transcripts and John Dean's credibility. Time Code Start: 76:12. Keywords: documents, transcriptions, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: CBS.

      37. Cronkite/Rather: General Haig and Watergate committee. Time Code Start: 78:30. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: CBS.

      38. Cronkite/Morton: Judiciary Committee rules of procedure and President Nixon's attorney St. Clair. Time Code Start: 80:05. Keywords: Senate committee hearings, Watergate, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: CBS.

      39. Cronkite/Graham: Transcripts surface new allegations with Ervin. Time Code Start: 82:31. Keywords: documents, transcriptions, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: CBS.

      40. Cronkite: Transcripts on "hush money". Time Code Start: 85:52. Keywords: documents, transcriptions, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: CBS.

      41. Cronkite: Former Vice President Agnew disbarment permanent. Time Code Start: 86:53. Keywords: Vice Presidents, resignations, terminations, taxes, investments, investigations, hearings, careers, jobs, unemployment, disbarments, law officials. Network: CBS.

      42. Cronkite/Kalb: Middle East fighting and peace negotiations. Time Code Start: 87:07. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, war, peace, truce, treaties, negotiations. Network: CBS.

      43. Cronkite/Fenton: Mrs. Kissinger's tour of Israel. Time Code Start: 89:30. Keywords: Mideast, Middle East, Israeli, leaders, travel, trips, families, wife, marriages, Nancy Maginnes. Network: CBS.

      44. Cronkite/Mudd: Ohio primary; Gleen vs. Metzbaum tax is the issue. Time Code Start: 90:30. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, primaries, voting, taxes, taxation, revenue. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)