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November 20, 1973

Introduction

This almanac page for Tuesday, November 20, 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: Monday, November 19, 1973

Next Date: Wednesday, November 21, 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.

  • 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.

  • 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. XXII, Panama, 1973-1976

    Panama, 1973-1976

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

    Arab-Israeli Crisis and War, 1973

    Vol. XXXVI, Energy Crisis, 1969-1974

    October 6, 1973-March 22, 1974

    • 243. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, November 20, 1973, 5 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1027, Presidential/HAK MemCons, Memcons, April–Nov 1973. Confidential. Drafted by Katz. Cleared by Saunders and approved in S by Eagleburger on December 3. The meeting was held in the Secretary’s Conference Room. Attached but not printed is an unattributed, undated handout, presumably from the oil companies, entitled “Impact of Reduced Arab Oil Production/Embargoes.”

    Vol. XXXVIII, Part 2, Organization and Management of Foreign Policy; Public Diplomacy, 1973-1976

    Organizing for Defense, Economic, and Global Issues

  • 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-E1833 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1833-, Bennet presented with award. 11/20/1973, Washington DC White House.

    Roll WHPO-E1834 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1834-03-08, American Airlines in front of plane. 11/20/1973, Memphis, Tennessee airport.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1834-09-24A, President Nixon arriving for meeting with GOP governors. 11/20/1973, Memphis, Tennessee unknown.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1834-25A-30A, President Nixon meeting with GOP governors. 11/20/1973, Memphis, Tennessee unknown.

    Roll WHPO-E1835 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1835-03-17, President Nixon arriving for a meeting with GOP Republican Governors. 11/20/1973, Memphis, Tennessee unknown.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1835-18-31, President Nixon meeting with GOP Republican Governors. 11/20/1973, Memphis, Tennessee unknown.

    Roll WHPO-E1836 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1836-, Crew of Airforce One celebrating a birthday. 11/20/1973, Memphis, Tennessee Airforce One, interior.

    Roll WHPO-E1837 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1837-, President Nixon departure. 11/20/1973, Memphis, Tennessee airport.

    Roll WHPO-E1838 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1838-02A-15A, President Nixon speaking. 11/20/1973, Memphis, Tennessee unknown.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1838-17A-29A, Pat Nixon visiting with Girl Scouts in Memphis, Tennessee. 11/20/1973, Memphis, Tennessee unknown. Pat Nixon.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1838-30A-32A, President Nixon in Memphis, Tennessee, shaking hands with people in a crowd. 11/20/1973, Memphis, Tennessee 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.

    K - Informal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-K-122
      Press plane recording of PRESUS with crowds-Memphis, TN. (11/20/1973)

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

    P - Formal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-P-731112
      Remarks by President Nixon to crowd at Republican Governors' Conference at the Holiday Inn in Memphis. (11/20/1973)

      Runtime: 4:06

      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-6671
      President Nixon's Speech to the National Association of Realtors.
      CBS
      Runtime: 00:40
    • WHCA-6672
      Presidential visit to Memphis, Tennessee.
      NBC
      Runtime: 0:30
    • WHCA-6676
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:30

      22. Reasoner/Wordham: Governors Conference; energy crisis with Secretary of Interior Morton. Time Code Start: 48:46. Keywords: Governors, conferences, meetings, gas, gasoline, gas shortage, gasoline shortage, oil, oil shortage, energy crisis, petroleum, oil supply, fuel, shortages, rationing, cabinet, advisors. Network: ABC.

      23. Smith/Jackson: Fuel allocations; airlines. Time Code Start: 50:50. Keywords: gas, gasoline, gas shortage, gasoline shortage, oil, oil shortage, energy crisis, petroleum, oil supply, fuel, shortages, rationing, businesses, aviation industry, commercial airlines, aircraft, planes, jets, airliners. Network: ABC.

      24. Smith: Overseas energy problems. Time Code Start: 53:32. Keywords: European, gas, gasoline, gas shortage, gasoline shortage, oil, oil shortage, energy crisis, petroleum, oil supply, fuel, shortages, rationing. Network: ABC.

      25. Reasoner/Jarriel: Governors Conference with President Nixon. Time Code Start: 54:09. Keywords: Presidents, speeches, Governors, conferences, meetings. Network: ABC.

      26. Smith/Donaldson: Representative Gerald Ford's nomination; Watergate case Special Prosecutor Jaworski before Senate Committee. Time Code Start: 57:45. Keywords: law officials, attorneys, lawyers, appointments, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: ABC.

      27. Smith: Saxbe nomination as Attorney General. Time Code Start: 59:58. Keywords: Senators, law officials, nominations, investigations, hearings. Network: ABC.

      28. Reasoner: Commentary on Arab oil. Time Code Start: 60:34. Keywords: Arabian, Arabs, Middle East, Mideast, meetings, gas, gasoline, gas shortage, gasoline shortage, oil, oil shortage, energy crisis, petroleum, oil supply, fuel, shortages, rationing. Network: ABC.

      29. Chancellor/Brokaw/Delaney: Governors conference in Memphis, Tennessee with President Nixon, John Love and Secretary of Interior Rogers Morton. Time Code Start: 62:39. Keywords: Vice Presidents, speeches, Governors, conferences, meetings, cabinet, advisors. Network: NBC.

      30. Brinkley: The energy crisis. Time Code Start: 67:28. Keywords: gas, gasoline, gas shortage, gasoline shortage, oil, oil shortage, energy crisis, petroleum, oil supply, fuel, shortages, rationing [needs review, Brinley story on memory of JFK for this date]. Network: NBC.

      31. Chancellor/Nessen: Gerald Ford's Vice President nomination with Senator Cannon. Time Code Start: 69:07. Keywords: Vice Presidents, appointments, nominations, investigations. Network: NBC.

      32. Chancellor/Duke: Watergate case Special Prosecutor Jaworski before Senate committee (film). Time Code Start: 70:40. Keywords: law officials, attorneys, lawyers, appointments, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: NBC.

      33. Chancellor/Jones: Robert Vesco extradition hearings in the Bahamas (film). Time Code Start: 72:20. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals, financiers, banking, investments, securities, frauds, stocks, bonds, sales, Presidential elections, donations, contributions, gifts, money, funding. Network: NBC.

      34. Chancellor: Senator Mansfield remembers former President Kennedy (JFK). Time Code Start: 74:51. Keywords: Presidents, Sentaors, interviews, documentaries, John F. Kennedy, history. Network: NBC.

      35. Cronkite/Duvall: The Governors Conference with Secretary Morton. Time Code Start: 77:05. Keywords: Vice Presidents, speeches, Governors, conferences, meetings, cabinet, advisors. Network: CBS.

      36. Cronkite/Rather: President Nixon at Governors Conference in Memphis, Tennessee. Time Code Start: 79:19. Keywords: Vice Presidents, speeches, Governors, conferences, meetings. Network: CBS.

      37. Cronkite/Culhane: Poll on the President Nixon performance. Time Code Start: 82:12. Keywords: Presidents, public opinions, polls, approval ratings, Gallup poll, Harris poll. Network: CBS.

      38. Cronkite/Morton: Gerald Ford's nomination for VP (film). Time Code Start: 85:21. Keywords: Vice Presidents, appointments, nominees, nominations, confirmations, candidates, hearings, investigations. Network: CBS.

      39. Sevareid: Commentary on the stock market. Time Code Start: 86:25. Keywords: stock markets, investments, securities, Wall Street, Dow Jones, New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, finances, recession, inflation, money. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)