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May 5, 1973

Introduction

This almanac page for Saturday, May 5, 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 4, 1973

Next Date: Sunday, May 6, 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.

    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.

    • 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. XV, Soviet Union, June 1972-August 1974

    Kissinger's Pre-Summit Trip to Moscow, May 1973

    • 104. Memorandum of Conversation, Zavidovo, May 5, 1973, 11:30 a.m.-1:55 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 75, Country Files—Europe—USSR, Kissinger Conversations at Zavidovo, May 5–8 1973. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting was held at Brezhnev’s office in the Politburo Villa at Zavidovo, the Politburo’s hunting preserve located outside of Moscow. Brackets are in the original.

    • 105. Memorandum of Conversation, Zavidovo, May 5, 1973, 7 p.m.-12:15 a.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 75, Country Files—Europe—USSR, Kissinger Conversations at Zavidovo, May 5–8 1973. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting was held at Brezhnev’s office in the Politburo Villa. Brackets are in the original.

    Vol. XXV, Arab-Israeli Crisis and War, 1973

    Arab-Israeli Crisis and War, 1973

    Vol. E-11, Part 1, Documents on Mexico; Central America; and the Caribbean, 1973-1976

    Mexico

    • 53. Telegram 3082 From the Embassy in Mexico to the Department of State, Mexico City, May 5, 1973, 2228Z

      Summary: After the kidnapping of Consul General Terrance Leonhardy by leftist militants in Guadalajara on May 4, Chargé d’Affaires Robert Dean reminded Mexican Foreign Secretary Emilio Rabasa of the U.S. Government’s policy of not acceding to terrorist demands.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]. Confidential; Immediate. In telegram 85770, May 5, the Department instructed Dean to reiterate U.S. policy on handling of kidnappings to Mexican officials. (Ibid., Central Files 1970–1973, PER Leonhardy, Terrance) Kissinger informed President Nixon of the kidnapping in a May 7 memorandum. (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Country Files, Box 788, Mexico, Vol. IV, 1973) A May 29 memorandum from Torrey to Kubisch provided a full account of the kidnapping. (Ibid., RG 59, Miscellaneous ARA Country Files, Lot 75D144, Mexico, 1973) In airgram A–531 from Mexico City, October 19, the Embassy reported that the Mexican Government had modified its policy towards political kidnapping cases, announcing that it would no longer negotiate with kidnappers. (Ibid., Central Files 1970–1973, POL 23–8 MEX)

  • 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-E0759 Photographer: Parish, William | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E0759-, Parapalegic Bowing Team. 5/5/1973, Washington, D.C. White House.

  • 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-6267
      "Agronsky & Company" AND "McCaffery At Large". Prime Minister Yew.
      NBC
      Runtime: 00:59:15
    • WHCA-6272
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:05:20

      13. Utley/Kiker: President Nixon's cover-up of Watergate, executive privilege. Time Code Start: 41:05. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: NBC.

      14. Utley/Bourgholtzer: Krogh/Pentagon papers trial, Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office robbery; Ehrlichman, Senator Ted Kennedy, Eisenhower. Time Code Start: 44:07. Keywords: Armed Forces, military, classified documents, secrets, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, psychiatrist Lewis Fielding. Network: NBC.

      15. Utley/Jameson: Relatives meet for MIAs (Vietnam missing in action). Time Code Start: 51:35. Keywords: Vietnam War, families, meetings, conferences, investigations,. Network: NBC.

      16. Utley/Jones: Cambodia. Time Code Start: 53:20. Keywords: Cambodia, Vietnam War. Network: NBC.

      17. Utley/Jones: Gas shortage. Time Code Start: 56:26. Keywords: energy crisis, petroleum, oil crisis, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing. Network: NBC.
    • WHCA-6273
      Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:00

      1. Mudd/Sargent/Graham: President Nixon's cover-up of Watergate; Egil Krogh/Ellsberg Pentagon papers trial: Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: Armed Forces, military, classified documents, secrets, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: CBS.

      2. Mudd/Schieffer: President Nixon in the Bahamas; profile of General Haig. Time Code Start: 04:28. Keywords: Presidents, travel, trips, Nixon trips, international, cabinet, advisors, military. Network: CBS.

      3. Mudd: Senator Ted Kennedy on Watergate. Time Code Start: 06:42. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)