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May 4, 1973

Introduction

This almanac page for Friday, May 4, 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: Thursday, May 3, 1973

Next Date: Saturday, May 5, 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 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.

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.

    • Annotated and Unmarked News Summaries [Note: Although there was no News Summary on this date, due to the way News Summary products were compiled, you should also consult nearby days for potentially relevant materials.]

  • 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. XXI, Chile, 1969-1973

    "That Chilean Guy May Have Some Problems": The Downfall of Salvador Allende, January-September 1973

    Vol. XXXIX, European Security

    Opening Negotiations, December 1972-July 1973

  • 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-E0756 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0756-, White House visitor. 5/4/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, outside.

    Roll WHPO-E0757 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0757-, Mike Farrell presentation. 5/4/1973, unkown

    Roll WHPO-E0758 Photographer: Parish, William | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0758-, Mr. Charles DiBonao. 5/4/1973, unknown

  • 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-096
      Mike Farrell speaks to a group of visitors in the Family Theater. (5/4/1973, Family Theater)

      Runtime: 15:00

      Keywords: Briefings, private briefings

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by MJP (initials of WHCA engineer)

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
    • WHCA-SR-S-097
      Press briefing by Ronald Ziegler. (5/4/1973, 4 Ambassadors Press Center)

      Runtime: 34:17:00

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

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by FMO (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-6272
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:05:20

      1. Smith/Dick Shoemaker/Artist Bill Lignante: Ellsberg Pentagon papers trial Attorney Weinglass asks dismissal, Judge Byrne compromised by Ehrlichman's FBI job offer; Watergate Gallup Poll results. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: Armed Forces, military, classified documents, secrets, Watergate, courts, trials, Vietnam War, Indochina War, bombings, judges, Presidents, bribes, public opinions, polls, approval ratings. Network: ABC.

      2. Smith/Tomlinson/Donaldson/Jarriel: Segretti; Gallup Poll; H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman; General Haig is new Chief of Staff. Time Code Start: 02:26. Keywords: public opinions, polls, approval ratings, Dirty Tricks, political sabotage, trials, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, Presidential elections, campaigns. Network: ABC.

      3. Smith: Commentary on Watergate. Time Code Start: 09:58. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: ABC.

      4. Chancellor/Bergholtzer: Watergate; Pentagon Papers connection; E. Howard Hunt planned burglary at White House; Segretti indicted today; Senator Jackson. Time Code Start: 11:50. Keywords: Dirty Tricks, political sabotage, trials, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, Presidential elections, campaigns, Ellsberg. Network: NBC.

      5. Chancellor/Kiker: General Haig to be Chief of White House staff. Time Code Start: 19:53. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, military, officials, appointments. Network: NBC.

      6. Chancellor/Stern: Haldeman and Ehrlichman testify on Capitol Hill; Gallup poll on Watergate. Time Code Start: 21:46. Keywords: advisors, counsels, attorneys, lawyers, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, officials, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, public opinions, polls, approval ratings. Network: NBC.

      7. Chancellor: Kissinger in Moscow ; unemployment up at 5%. Time Code Start: 24:27. Keywords: officials, travel, trips, Russia, Soviet Union, USSR. Network: NBC.

      8. Cronkite/Graham/Rather: Watergate; Pentagon Papers connection; White House authorized burglary claims E. Howard Hunt. Time Code Start: 25:17. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, Vietnam War, bombings, Ellsberg, Russo, Armed Forces, military, classified documents, secrets, spying, espionage. Network: CBS.

      9. Cronkite/Morton/Schorr/Strawser: Segretti indicted; comment by Senator Jackson; John Dean; Haldeman and Ehrlichman. Time Code Start: 28:48. Keywords: Dirty Tricks, political sabotage, trials, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, Presidential elections, campaigns. Network: CBS.

      10. Cronkite/Rather/Schieffer: General Haig is Chief of White House Staff. Time Code Start: 32:57. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, military, officials, appointments. Network: CBS.

      11. Cronkite: Doctor claims President Nixon's medical records burgled. Time Code Start: 37:14. Keywords: Presidents, health, history, documents, theft. Network: CBS.

      12. Cronkite/Dick: Watergate; Cuban exile connection. Time Code Start: 37:40. Keywords: refugees, immigration, Cuban, flights, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)