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May 24, 1971

Introduction

This almanac page for Monday, May 24, 1971, 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 23, 1971

Next Date: Tuesday, May 25, 1971

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 Key Biscayne, Florida

  • 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

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

  • Decided

    Granted

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 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)
      Monday, May 24.

      He had me come over at about 10:00. We had set up a deal for him to meet with Miss USA at 11:00, since when she was selected yesterday, she indicated that the man she would-- person she would most like to meet was the President, said she'd like to talk with him about various things. So we set up the opportunity, and it worked out very well.

      The President got into some ideas on library plans, obviously arising out of the Johnson visit. He said that LBJ had tried to amend the Congressional regulations on USIA in order to permit their film to be used in Presidential libraries. He hadn't gotten this done, and he wants us to move on it right now on the basis of Johnson. Get Mansfield and Albert to run this through so that we can use it in our library also. He's concerned about the plans for our library; he doesn't want to create a monument like Johnson's. He's also worried about oral histories and has very much of a feeling that he does not want any oral histories made.

      He got into the Midway trip plans; particularly he's concerned about how to tell Rogers. One more of those problems. He wants me to handle this discreetly before Henry gets it screwed up. They're doing it on the basis of Bunker sending a cable to Henry or to the President, saying that Thieu wants the meeting. Henry's then going to show the cable to Rogers. The President's concerned to be sure that he does this right, and that he discusses it with Rogers, making it clear that the only possible time we can do it is June 7. The problem here is that Rogers can't go at that time; so we've got to set it up in such a way that he doesn't think he's being cut out. The President's also somewhat concerned about how positive the effect of the Midway trip's going to be and feels that's going to depend on how the announcement's handled. It can be very good if it's done right. He wants to keep the Midway trip very closely held, with no announcement until June 2 or 3, because he doesn't want the Senate to build up pressure on it by knowing about the trip ahead of time.

      He then got into quite a bit of discussion on domestic policy matters. He's very much concerned about handling of the drug situation, wants the whole thing taken out of HEW. He makes the point that they're all on drugs there anyway, but he wants it handled in Justice. He also wants Finch and Rumsfeld to quit emoting about the drug problem, which only builds it up. We should be talking about our solutions, not about the enormity of the problem. He was also concerned about a paper that he thinks slipped by on educational television; a paper that Flanigan had sent in, and he wants me to get it back and reevaluate it. He thinks that Flanigan's been taken in by Frank Pace and the other people on the NET board, and he wants to be sure that we don't get caught on this, because he feels they are not the people we want to work with. He feels NET is no good. The whole ide-- thing is a bad idea; subsidize-- subsidized public broadcasting is wrong, even if we could influence it to cover things in the right way. So I'm supposed to try to drop it over the edge and see that it's not funded in some way.

      He's also worried about the Peace Corps and letting Blatchford run wild and thinks we're making some mistakes there. He feels we're not using our power enough on these things, like PBO and the Peace Corps. We've been here two and a half years, and they're still poison. That we should really look into this; put a tough guy on it who hates the left-wing press and do something about it. He thinks that there is a legitimate complaint about us, which is that we haven't changed anything; we're running the same programs but just a little better. That led him into concern about the conservatives, and his point that we've probably got to get someone other than Pat Buchanan to handle them, someone who's strong enough to argue back and not just buy their arguments. He's wondering about maybe getting Jeff Bell in. He also wants Ehrlichman to get a conservative who's known as such in a full-time position, because we really need to put time and effort on this. Mitchell, he feels, should get onto the YAF deal, they've now announced they're going to back Reagan for President. He thinks Mitchell should move into that and straighten them back out, because we need the group enthusiasm of the right wing. We can't buy the argument that the conservatives have no place to go. The only enthusiasm we can get is from the ideologues, and so we've got to get their man in and give him something. He thinks we ought to try to get Marty Anderson back, and we also talked about Dick Allen and the possibility of pulling him in somewhere, such as OEP if Rumsfeld doesn't take it. He also wants us to play up the conservatives seeing the President, and get less left-wingers in and be very careful on where as we're developing things to appeal to people, that they're not leftist-type things. We should do it through conservative means. He wants Buchanan, Malek and all, to work on getting us some good conservative names and start using our power for our own benefit. He also mentioned again the need to throw out the disloyal people now, such as Stanley Resor, and get our decks cleared for the campaign next year. The President spent the afternoon out boating, and I guess he's going over to the Key Biscayne Hotel for dinner. We'll be leaving tomorrow for the Alabama trip.

      End of May 24.
    • 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

    All National Archives Units

National Security Documents

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-6358 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-6358-02-18, Vice President Agnew sitting during a meeting with South African Minister of Information, Connie Mulder. 5/24/1971, Washington, D.C. Executive Office Building, Vice Presidential Office. Spiro Agnew, Petrus Cornelius Mulder, staff.

    Roll WHPO-6359 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-6359-04-21, Pat Nixon receiving guests for a Congressional Wives Luncheon. 5/24/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Blue Room. Pat Nixon, Congressional wives.

    Roll WHPO-6361 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-6361-04-13, President Nixon seated at his Key Biscayne office desk during a meeting with Miss USA of 1971, Michele McDonald. 5/24/1971, Key Biscayne, Florida Key Biscayne Compound, Nixon residence. President Nixon, Michele McDonald, unidentified couple, press corps members.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6361-12, President Nixon seated at his Key Biscayne office desk during a meeting with Miss USA of 1971, Michele McDonald. 5/24/1971, Key Biscayne, Florida Key Biscayne Compound, Nixon residence. President Nixon, Michele McDonald.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6361-14-32, Julie Eisenhower and David Eisenhower fishing on the beach with a dog. 5/24/1971, Key Biscayne, Florida Key Biscayne Compound, beach. Julie Eisenhower, David Eisenhower.

    Roll WHPO-6362 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-6362-02-17, Julie Eisenhower and David Eisenhower fishing on the beach with their feet in the water. 5/24/1971, Key Biscayne, Florida Key Biscayne Compound, beach. Julie Nixon Eisenhower, David Eisenhower.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6362-11, Julie Nixon Eisenhower and David Eisenhower fishing on the beach with their feet in the water. 5/24/1971, Key Biscayne, Florida Key Biscayne Compound, beach. Julie Nixon Eisenhower, David Eisenhower.

    Roll WHPO-6380 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-6380-03, President Nixon seated with Miss U.S.A. of 1971, Michele McDonald. 5/24/1971, Key Biscayne, Florida Key Biscayne Compound, residence. President Nixon, Michele McDonald.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6380-04-23, Julie and David Eisenhower on the beach, with fishing rods and dogs. 5/24/1971, Key Biscayne, Florida Key Biscayne Compound, beach. Julie Eisenhower, David Eisenhower.

    Roll WHPO-6381 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-6381-02A-07A, President Nixon seated with Miss U.S.A. of 1971, Michele McDonald. 5/24/1971, Key Biscayne, Florida Key Biscayne Compound, residence. President Nixon, Michele McDonald.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6381-08A-14A, Julie and David Eisenhower fishing in the ocean while standing near the shore at the beach, holding fishing rods, while the Presidential family dogs Irish Setter King Timahoe and Yorshire terrier Pasha watch. 5/24/1971, Key Biscayne, Florida Key Biscayne, beach. Julie Nixon Eisenhower, David Eisenhower, King Timahoe, Pasha.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-6381-12A, Julie and David Eisenhower fishing in the ocean while standing near the shore at the beach, holding fishing rods, while the Presidential family dogs Irish Setter King Timahoe and Yorkshire terrier Pasha watch. 5/24/1971, Key Biscayne, Florida Key Biscayne, beach. Julie Nixon Eisenhower, David Eisenhower, King Timahoe, Pasha.

  • 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-4387
      Common Cause: "Speak Out On The WAR". Pat Nixon.
      NBC
      Runtime: 0:30
    • WHCA-4395
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:30

      17. Reasoner: Public opinion polls on the Vietnam war, President Nixon popularity. Time Code Start: 41:44. Keywords: public opinions, polls, approval ratings, Gallup poll, Harris poll, Presidents, Vietnam War. Network: ABC.

      18. Reasoner: Commentary on food and drink in politics. Time Code Start: 42:34. Keywords: food, meat, agriculture, animal products, dairy products, dining. Network: ABC.

      19. Chancellor: Gallup poll on President Nixon, the Vietnam war; White House reaction. Time Code Start: 44:36. Keywords: Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam War, public opinions, polls, approval ratings, Gallup poll, Harris poll. Network: NBC.

      20. Cronkite/Schorr: Congressional Black Caucus and President Nixon's administration (Leonard Garment, Special Counsel to the President). Time Code Start: 45:04. Keywords: Presidents, House of Representatives, meetings, African Americans, leaders. Network: CBS.

      21. Cronkite: White House reaction to Gallup poll on war, President Nixon. Time Code Start: 47:28. Keywords: Presidents, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam War, public opinions, polls, approval ratings, Gallup poll, Harris poll. Network: CBS.

      22. Cronkite: Julie Nixon Eisenhower to teach underprivileged kids. Time Code Start: 47:54. Keywords: Presidents, families, women, children, education. Network: CBS.
    • WHCA-4398A
      Network News Excerpts on Vietnam Drug Problem [Weekly News Summary]. Robert Finch, Goralski, McGee, John Chancellor, Harry Reasoner, Sam Donaldson.
      All networks
      Runtime: 00:34:07

      2. McGee: Robert Finch on numbers of Vietnam Veterans addicted to drugs. Time Code Start: 03:10. Keywords: Vietnam War, veterans, pharmaceuticals, medicines, drugs, drug abuse, narcotics, heroin, marijuana, alcohol, alcoholism, addicts, addiction. Network: NBC.

      3. Goralski: First of a three-part study on Vietnam veterans and drugs- part one, a therapy center in Palo Alto, CA. Time Code Start: 03:40. Keywords: Vietnam War, veterans, pharmaceuticals, medicines, drugs, drug abuse, narcotics, heroin, marijuana, alcohol, alcoholism, addicts, addiction, prevention, programs. Network: NBC.

Context (External Sources)