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May 30, 1974

Introduction

This almanac page for Thursday, May 30, 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 29, 1974

Next Date: Friday, May 31, 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 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.

  • 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. XXVII, Iran; Iraq, 1973-1976

    Iraq, January 1973-December 1974

    • 251. Telegram From the Interests Section in Baghdad to the Department of State, Baghdad, May 30, 1974, 1247Z

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 603, Country Files—Middle East, Iraq, Vol. I. Confidential; Priority; Exdis. Niehuss sent the substance of this telegram to Kissinger on May 30, for inclusion in the President’s Friday briefing. (Ibid., Box 1231, Harold H. Saunders Files, Chronological Files, 5/16/74– 5/31/74)

    Vol. E-14, Part 2, Documents on Arms Control and Nonproliferation, 1973-1976

    • 52. Paper Prepared by an Interagency Working Group, Washington, May 30, 1974

      Summary: Prepared in response to requests for an updated version of NSSM 156, the paper examined background information on Indian nuclear development and presented several options to prevent further nuclear proliferation in the region.

      Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Program Analysis Staff Files, Convenience Files, Box 11, VPWG (NPT), Nov. 15, 1974 (2). Secret; Sensitive. All brackets are in the original except those indicating text omitted by the editors. Transmitted to Kissinger under a May 31 covering memorandum from Sober, Acting Chairman of the NSC Interdepartmental Group for the Near East and South Asia. According to the covering memorandum, Kissinger had requested the study on May 18. NSSM 202 is Document 50.

  • 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 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-617
      Press briefing by John T. Sawhill. (5/30/1974, EOB 160)

      Runtime: 33:00:00

      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.
    • WHCA-SR-S-618
      Press briefing by Gerald Warren. (5/30/1974, White House Press Lobby)

      Runtime: 44:22:00

      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.
    • WHCA-SR-S-619
      Press briefing by James St. Clair. (5/30/1974, EOB Conference Room (450))

      Runtime: 35:21:00

      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-6973
      Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:35:00

      10. Smith/Donaldson: Subpoenas and Representativer Rodino. Time Code Start: 21:10. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: ABC.

      11. Smith/Jarriel: President Nixon's attorney St. Clair speaks on impeachment. Time Code Start: 24:32. Keywords: attorneys, lawyers, Presidents, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, impeachment. Network: ABC.

      12. Reasoner/Seamans: Secretary of State Kissinger in Middle East. Time Code Start: 26:31. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, war, cabinet, advisors, travel, trips, truces, treaty, treaties, negotiations. Network: ABC.

      13. Chancellor/Scherer: Judiciary committee subpoenas White House tapes again and sends letter of condemnation to President Nixon, with Representative Rodino. Time Code Start: 29:48. 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.

      14. Chancellor/Stern: More on the doctrine of executive privilege w/President Nixon's attorney St. Clair's comment on Watergate Federal Judge Gesell cases. Time Code Start: 32:25. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: NBC.

      15. Chancellor/Quinn: More on the upcoming trip to the Middle East; Secretary of State Kissinger in Cairo, Egypt; Israel's former Prime Minister Golda Meir in Israel commenting on agreement. Time Code Start: 35:57. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, Israeli, war, Prime Ministers, cabinet, advisors, Egyptian, travel, trips, leaders, truces, treaty, treaties, negotiations. Network: NBC.

      16. Cronkite/Morton: Summary of Watergate actions today. Time Code Start: 39:06. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: CBS.

      17. Stahl: President Nixon's attorney St. Clair comments on Ellsberg Penatgon Papers trial. Time Code Start: 42:47. Keywords: Watergate, law officials, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: CBS.

      18. Rather: Comments on President Nixon's position to new subpoena with President Nixon's attorney St. Clair. Time Code Start: 43:55. Keywords: Presidents, reactions, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: CBS.

      19. Cronkite/Jones: Vice President Gerald Ford comments on his inconsistency on Presidential support. Time Code Start: 46:40. Keywords: Vice Presidents, speeches, statements. Network: CBS.

      20. Cronkite/Bradley: Middle East settlement; Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir details agreement before Israeli cabinet; Israel and Syria to exchange POWs beginning Saturday, interview with military physician Dr. Samuel Tsur, Israeli soldier Jay ENGLEMAN. Time Code Start: 49:16. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, war, travel, trips, truces, treaty, treaties, negotiations. Network: CBS.

      21. Sevareid: Commentary on Middle East settlement. Time Code Start: 52:15. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, war, travel, trips, truces, treaty, treaties, negotiations. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)