1. Home
  2. Research
  3. Almanac

November 30, 1971

Introduction

This almanac page for Tuesday, November 30, 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: Monday, November 29, 1971

Next Date: Wednesday, December 1, 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 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.

  • 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 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)
      Tuesday, November 30

      Staff meeting this morning with Ehrlichman and Shultz. Got into quite a discussion of Colson. Ehrlichman was upset, because Colson called to say the President had told him to develop legislative strategy against labor, with Ehrlichman to give him the staff to do it. Shultz then complained that he gets a note that Colson has talked with Scammon, who will work with us on the GNP figures, and Shultz thinks it's murder to have him in this because-- murder to have Shultz in it because they’re-- Connally in it-- Colson in it, because everyone thinks he's untrustworthy, also that he's out to get Hodgson, which is a problem. Ehrlichman then said that George Bell says he can't stay with Colson any longer.

      Then Shultz made the point that he thinks, regarding labor, we may be on the verge of a spectacular breakthrough, because our strategy, which was to neutralize the headquarters and woo the locals, is working and that now the headquarters are falling apart at the seams and Meany's power is waning, we're in very good shape. With this in mind, the worst thing we could do is allow Meany to get back on top, and any signals from the White House regarding anti-labor activities would do just that. He says that we can make our changes in labor via the NLRB and the Court, rather than going into taking them on by legislation.

      The President was concerned about some stories in the news summary that said that he had muted Connally and that we were pulling him back, and so forth. So he told me to call Connally in Rome and make the point to him, reassure him that these stories were totally without any foundation in fact. I did that. Connally seemed to appreciate the call very much and was most enthusiastic about the way today had gone with the group of ten. He said he had presided at the meeting, and Volcker had made most of the United States' presentation, and that he thinks we've finally gotten through to these people what the situation is. He hasn't arrived at any solution yet, but at least he's established the problem, which is real progress.

      Kissinger bounced in several times, really furious, because he found out Rogers had told Time—had called in Time and Newsweek and told them that the White House is driving him to an anti-Indian policy which he doesn't want. Also he's scheduled a Congressional briefing tomorrow where he's going to cover the Middle East situation, and he's giving a speech tomorrow night. He's told us nothing about it and won't show us the text—and this is to the Overseas Press Club—and so Henry thinks he's sneaking stuff through on him. He's all cranked up about it. He then came in while I was talking to the President and made the point that Rogers was going to make a public announcement to the Congressional group on the Israeli Phantoms and undercut the President on that. So Henry's back up in arms. He said that I should understand clearly, that if Rogers does do anything permanently detrimental, that he, Kissinger, will resign and that I shouldn't discount that as an idle threat. It's hard not to after the hundreds of times he's made the same point, however.

      MacGregor called this afternoon from the Hill to say that Butz looks better. He's now got Percy out strongly for him, and he thinks that the trend is going our way and that we may be able to make some headway. He also wanted to talk to the President, which he did, about his idea for free television time for all candidates. The President wasn't really serious about it, but apparently Clark's got something going on it now, and it may turn out to be a pretty good maneuver.

      End of November 30.

      [End of 37-hrhd-audiocassette-ac16b-19711130-pa]

      [Beginning of 37-hrhd-audiocassette-ac16b-19711130-GerogeMeanyInsert-pa]

      Special item. It occurs to me that I don't have the whole story of the Meany interlude in here, and that it would be a good idea to get it in, to get it established for the record. Going back to the whole thing, Shultz-- the President decided on Wednesday night, the 17th at about 7:00, that he would address the AF of L Convention and he'd like to do it on Thursday at noon; so we had Shultz call Meany to set that up. We waited around, as I think the record will show on the November 17 log that George couldn't get through to Meany until about 8:30 that night, because they couldn't find him in Miami, and when they did finally get him Meany made some crack to the effect of "George, I'm surprised at you. Those other people at the White House I would expect this of, but you ought to know better. Tomorrow's my day at the convention, and the President can't come. I have the schedule completely filled, and he's welcome to come any other time, but we can't work it out tomorrow." So George told him, "Thank you very much. I'll have to get back to you in the morning on what our plans will be, after I check out the schedule." Meany suggested that he could go 4:00 Thursday afternoon or any time that he wanted to on Friday. Then Thursday morning, the President agreed to go-- or actually he agreed Wednesday night, but bought the idea that we should wait until Thursday morning to confirm it. So Shultz called Meany Thursday morning and told him that the President was able to work it out to come down on Friday morning at 10:30, and if that was okay, that's what he'd do. Meany said that would be fine and, as Shultz says, assured him that they would extend all the "courtesies."

      We went ahead on that basis and went down to Florida Thursday night, so the President would be there in time to do the speech Friday morning. We found out shortly before we were ready to go over to Miami that they were not going to play Hail to the Chief; that the President was seated in the second row on the platform; that Meany had attempted the night before to get the Executive Council not to sit on the platform, but they had overruled him; that there were strong orders given to all members not to show any discourtesy to the President, but also not to show any approval. And as the log states, that's exactly what happened, and as a result of that, the whole flap built up. One fascinating afterthought, or after note, is that Colson came up, a couple of weeks later, with a photograph that the Teamsters took of the piano with a violin on it, by the stage, with the sheet music to Hail to the Chief on the piano. So, obviously, they had intended to play it and then canceled it, which sort of shoots down Meany's point that he made at one stage, that they didn't have the music.

      End of special item.
    • 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

  • Visit the White House Tapes finding aid to learn about the taping system's operation and archival processing.

    Oval Office

    White House Telephone

  • 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-7872 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7872-02-14, President Nixon sitting in the Oval Office armchairs with Robert Finch, Counselor and Henry Kissinger. 11/30/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Robert H. Finch, Henry A. Kissinger.

    Roll WHPO-7873 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7873-01A-17A, President Nixon sitting in Oval Office armchairs with Robert Finch, Counselor, Herb Klein, Director of Communications and Henry Kissinger, discussin Finch's trip to South America. 11/30/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Robert H. Finch, Henry A. Kissinger, Herbert G. Klein, press corps members.

    Roll WHPO-7874 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7874-03-10, Close-up portrait of Frank Herringer seated at his desk. 11/30/1971, Washington, D.C. unknown. Frank Herringer.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7874-11-21, Close-up portrait study of Stan Anderson sitting at his desk. 11/30/1971, Washington, D.C. unknown. Stan Anderson.

    Roll WHPO-7875 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7875-01A-04A, Henry Kissinger announcing dates for President Nixon's trip to China, flanked by Ron Ziegler. 11/30/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Press Room. Kissinger, Ziegler, press corps members.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7875-05A-09A, Press corps members recording and listening to Henry Kissinger's announcement of dates for President Nixon's trip to China. 11/30/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Press Room. Kissinger, Ziegler, press corps members.

    Roll WHPO-7876 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7876-01A-16A, Henry Kissinger announcing dates for President Nixon's trip to China, flanked by Ron Ziegler. 11/30/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Press Room. Henry Kissinger, Ronald Ziegler, press corps members.

    Roll WHPO-7877 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7877-03-09, 11-16, Julie Eisenhower holding a circular wood framed Presidential Seal needlepoint that she embroidered. 11/30/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, unknown room, Yellow Oval Room. Julie Nixon Eisenhower.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7877-10, Julie Eisenhower sewing a needlepoint of an elephant. Visible behind her on the wall is a round convex mirror framed in ornate dark wood carvings, topped with an eagle. 11/30/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, unknown room. Julie Nixon Eisenhower.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7877-14, Julie Eisenhower holding a circular wood framed Presidential Seal needlepoint that she embroidered. 11/30/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Yellow Oval Room. Julie Nixon Eisenhower.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7877-17-24, Julie Eisenhower receiving a present from with several men, including a blind man, and showing a picture and a map. 11/30/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Map Room. Julie Eisenhower, unidentified men.

    Roll WHPO-7878 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7878-02-07, 09, 11-13, Julie Eisenhower holding a circular wood framed Presidential Seal needlepoint that she embroidered. 11/30/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, unidentified room,. Julie Nixon Eisenhower.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7878-08, Julie Eisenhower holding a circular wood framed Presidential Seal needlepoint that she embroidered. Visible behind her is a gold fireplace mantle clock topped by a cherub or cupid holding a javelin, and the porthole portrait painting of General George Washington in military uniform by Rembrandt Peale. 11/30/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Yellow Oval Room. Julie Nixon Eisenhower.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7878-13, Julie Eisenhower holding a circular wood framed Presidential Seal needlepoint that she embroidered. Visible behind her is a standing American flag. 11/30/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Yellow Oval Room. Julie Nixon Eisenhower.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7878-14-23, Julie Eisenhower receiving a gift from several unidentified men, one of them is blind. 11/30/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Map Room. Julie Eisenhower, unidentified men.

    Roll WHPO-7879 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7879-02-16, President Nixon sitting at his desk with Hobart Lewis, President and Chief Executive Officer of "Readers Digest," and David Reed, Roving Editor for "Readers Digest.". 11/30/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Hobart D. Lewis, David Reed.

    Roll WHPO-7880 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7880-02-36, Ron Ziegler and Henry Kissinger briefing the press about President Nixon's upcoming trip to China. 11/30/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Press Room. Ronald Ziegler, Henry Kissinger, press corps members.

    Roll WHPO-7881 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-7881-02-36, Ron Ziegler and Henry Kissinger briefing the press about President Nixon's upcoming trip to China. 11/30/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Press Room. Ronald Ziegler, Henry Kissinger, press corps members.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-7881-27A, Ron Ziegler and Henry Kissinger briefing the press about President Nixon's upcoming trip to China. 11/30/1971, Washington, D.C. White House, Press Room.

  • 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.

    H - White House Staff Member Recordings

    • WHCA-SR-H-471
      Press briefing by Ronald Ziegler and Henry Kissinger. (11/30/1971, Press Center, White House)

      Runtime: 50:00:00

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

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

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
    • WHCA-SR-H-472
      Press briefing by Ronald Ziegler regarding China trip. (11/30/1971, Press Center, White House)

      Runtime: [Nonelisted]

      Keywords: People's Republic of China, Trips, Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media

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

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

    P - Formal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-P-711119
      Interview with Readers Digest. (11/30/1971)

      Runtime: 56:54:00

      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-4844
      "Eisenhower Medical Center Dedication".
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 00:59:41
    • WHCA-4845
      "Everything You Wanted To Know About Phase II".
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:29:21
    • WHCA-4846
      "Perspective: 'The Aged' ".

      Runtime: 00:29:05
    • WHCA-4849
      Weekly News Summary , Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:30

      31. Reasoner/Jarriel: China itinerary announced. Time Code Start: 64:00. Keywords: People's Republic of China. Network: ABC.

      32. Reasoner/Sherwood: Representative McCloskey a 1972 hopeful. Time Code Start: 65:48. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates. Network: ABC.

      33. Reasoner/Shoumacher: War material coming home to be used for peace. Time Code Start: 69:40. Keywords: weapons, machines, recycling. Network: ABC.

      34. Chancellor: President Nixon's planned trip to China. Time Code Start: 71:35. Keywords: Presidents, travel, trips, Nixon trips, international, People's Republic of China. Network: NBC.

      35. Chancellor/Casella: China today. Time Code Start: 72:27. Keywords: People's Republic of China. Network: NBC.

      36. Mudd/Burdet: Economic meeting in Rome. Time Code Start: 77:39. Keywords: economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, unemployment, prices, reports. Network: CBS.

      37. Mudd/Rather: President Nixon's planned China trip. Time Code Start: 79:36. Keywords: Presidents, travel, trips, Nixon trips, international, People's Republic of China. Network: CBS.

      38. Sevareid: Commentary on the aging (elderly). Time Code Start: 81:03. Keywords: senior citizens, elderly, aging issues. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)