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November 8, 1973

Introduction

This almanac page for Thursday, November 8, 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: Wednesday, November 7, 1973

Next Date: Friday, November 9, 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 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.

    President's Personal File

    The President's Personal File is essentially a President's secretary's file, kept by Rose Mary Woods, personal secretary to the President, for two purposes: (1) preserving for posterity a collection of documents particularly close to the President, whether because he dictated or annotated them, or because of the importance of the correspondent or the event concerned and (2) giving appropriate attention–letters of gratitude, invitations to White House social events, and the like–to members and important friends and supporters of the Nixon administration. This generalization does not describe all the varied materials of a file group which is essentially a miscellany, but it does identify the reason for the existence of the file group's core. 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. XXV, Arab-Israeli Crisis and War, 1973

    Arab-Israeli Crisis and War, 1973

    • 325. Telegram From the White House Chief of Staff (Haig) to Secretary of State Kissinger in Amman, Washington, November 8, 1973, 0423Z

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 41, Kissinger Trip Files, HAK Trip—Mideast, Islamabad, Peking, Tokyo, Seoul, TOHAK 1–69, Nov. 5–16, 1973. Top Secret; Immediate; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Sent through Scowcroft to Rodman for Kissinger.

    • 326. Telegram From the Embassy in Israel to Secretary of State Kissinger in Riyadh, Tel Aviv, November 8, 1973

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 41, Kissinger Trip Files, HAK Trip—Mideast, Islamabad, Peking, Tokyo, Seoul, TOHAK 1–69, Nov. 5–16, 1973. Secret; Cherokee; Nodis. The original is telegram Tohak 61/WH37285 from the White House to Secretary of State Kissinger, November 8, 1402Z, which copied telegram Tosec 233/220436 from the Department of State to the U.S. delegation in Riyadh and the White House, November 8, 1341Z. Tosec 233 quoted telegram 9045 from Tel Aviv, with a request to pass it to the Secretary in Riyadh.

    • 327. Telegram From the Embassy in Israel to the Department of State, Tel Aviv, November 8, 1973, 1414Z

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 139, Country Files, Middle East, Secretary Kissinger’s Trip to Middle East, November 5–10, 1973. Secret; Flash; Cherokee; Nodis; Exdis. Also sent Flash to the U.S. delegation in Riyadh and to Jidda.

    • 328. Paper by William B. Quandt of the National Security Council Staff, Washington, November 8, 1973

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1178, Harold H. Saunders Files, Middle East Negotiations Files, November 6–10, 1973. Secret. Submitted for inclusion in the President’s November 9 briefing.

    Vol. E-9, Part 2, Documents on the Middle East Region, 1973-1976

    Saudi Arabia

    • 96. Memorandum of Conversation, Riyadh, November 8, 1973, 10:35-11 p.m.

      Summary: Kissinger and newly-appointed Ambassador to Saudi Arabia James Akins met with Prince Fahd.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 139, Country Files, Saudi Arabia (3). Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Brackets are in the original. The meeting was held at the Royal Guest House in Riyadh. In a November 21 letter to Fahd, Kissinger also referred to the Arab embargo: “I continue to feel that it will be very difficult for us to be as helpful as we would like in the negotiations ahead if we remain under the threat of a continuing oil boycott.” (Ibid., Country Files, Kissinger Trip to Middle East, November 5–10, 1973) Kissinger also met with King Faisal on November 8 to discuss the war. See footnote 2, Document 238, in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. XXXVI, Energy Crisis, 1969–1974. Kissinger returned to Riyadh in December, meeting with both Faisal and Fahd on December 14. For that conversation, see ibid., Document 267.

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

    Cuba

    • 277. Telegram 220625 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Brazil, Washington, November 8, 1973, 1817Z

      Summary: Instructing Ambassador Crimmins to exchange views with the Brazilian Government on initiatives to relax OAS sanctions against Cuba, the Department noted that Venezuelan and Costa Rican proposals to allow the reestablishment of relations with Cuba were stalled but that the issue was likely to surface again.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]. Confidential. Drafted by McNeil; cleared by Jova, in draft by Watson, Hoffenberg, and Devine, and in substance by Gantz; and approved by Shlaudeman. All brackets are in the original except “[3.]”, added for clarity. In telegram 227685 to all American Republic diplomatic posts, November 19, the Department reported “the Cuban question was shunted aside” during the November 14–16 meeting of Latin American Foreign Ministers in Bogotá. (Ibid.)

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

  • 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-E1750 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1750-04A-06A, Deputy Special Assistant John E. Nidecker religious prayer breakfast. 11/8/1973, Washington, D.C. unknown.

    Roll WHPO-E1751 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1751-, Mike Farrell standing with astronauts. 11/8/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Exterior.

    Roll WHPO-E1752 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1752-, President Nixon seated at his Oval Office desk during a meeting with Kentucky Senator Marlow Cook, Chairman of the Advisory Group on Puerto Rico. 11/8/1973, Washington D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Marlow W. Cook.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1752-13A, President Nixon seated at his Oval Office desk during a meeting with Kentucky Senator Marlow Cook, Chairman of the Advisory Group on Puerto Rico. 11/8/1973, Washington D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Marlow W. Cook.

    Roll WHPO-E1753 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1753-, President Nixon and Pat Nixon at a Nevada Society Dinner during which the First Lady was presented with one of three Nevada Outstanding Woman of the Century Awards. 11/8/1973, Washington D.C. Sheraton Park Hotel. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, possibly Nevada State Society President Chester Smith who introduced President Nixon at the dais, unidentified officials.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1753-20A, President Nixon, Pat Nixon, and Nevada State Society President Chester Smith at a Nevada Society Dinner during which the First Lady was presented with one of three Nevada Outstanding Woman of the Century Awards. 11/8/1973, Washington D.C. Sheraton Park Hotel. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, probably Nevada State Society President Chester Smith.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1753-22A, First Lady Pat Nixon gives President Nixon a hug and kiss while officials stand and applaud at a Nevada Society Dinner during which the First Lady was presented with one of three Nevada Outstanding Woman of the Century Awards. 11/8/1973, Washington D.C. Sheraton Park Hotel. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, probably Nevada State Society President Chester Smith.

    Roll WHPO-E1754 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1754-06, Julie Eisenhower attending Soviet Youth photograph exhibition and viewing large photographs of Pat Nixon and President Nixon on an exhibit wall. 11/8/1973, Washington D.C. Kennedy Center. Julie Nixon Eisenhower, unidentified officials (possibly executives from the Kennedy Center).

  • 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.

    C - First Lady

    • WHCA-SR-C-152
      Remarks by Pat Nixon to Nevada State Society honoring 3 "Women for the Century" at the Sheraton Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. (11/8/1973, Washington, D.C.)

      Runtime: 0:20:11

      Keywords: Feminism, Feminist movement, women's rights, Womens Liberation, equality, equal rights, gender, civil rights, activists, women

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

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

    P - Formal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-P-731104
      Remarks by President Nixon and others to Nevada State Society honoring Pat Nixon, Eve Adams, Helen Bentley as Women of the Century, in the Sheraton Park Hotel. (11/8/1973, Sheraton Park Hotel, Washington, DC)

      Runtime: 1:39:27

      Keywords: Feminism, Feminist movement, women's rights, Womens Liberation, equality, equal rights, gender, civil rights, activists, women

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

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

    S - White House Press Office Briefings (continuation of the L-series)

    • WHCA-SR-S-367
      Press briefing by Ronald Ziegler. (11/8/1973, White House Press Lobby)

      Runtime: 1:11:00

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

      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-368
      Briefing by John Love. (11/8/1973, EOB Conference Room (450))

      Runtime: 1:30:00

      Keywords: Briefings, public briefings, statements to the press (see also 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-6653
      "Take It From Here". CBS news Correspondants, Richard Nixon.
      [Undetermined, CBS?]
      Runtime: 00:31:00
    • WHCA-6654
      "Panorama".
      WTTG
      Runtime: 01:00:43
    • WHCA-6659
      Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:30

      14. Reasoner/Seamans: Middle East agreement. Time Code Start: 34:36. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, war. Network: ABC.

      15. Reasoner/Kaplow: Secretary of State Kissinger goes sightseeing in Egypt and Jordan. Time Code Start: 37:48. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, war, cabinet, advisors, travel, trips, Egyptian, Jordanian, tourism. Network: ABC.

      16. Smith/Clark: President Nixon's energy message to Congress. Time Code Start: 39:45. Keywords: Presidents, speeches, House of Representatives, petroleum, oil supply, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources. Network: ABC.

      17. Reasoner/Miller/Schoumacher: Truckers against reduced speed limits. Time Code Start: 43:45. Keywords: laws, protests, trucks, truckers, truck drivers, cargo transportation, hauling, costs, transportation, traffic, limits, safety issues, accidents prevention, speed limitations. Network: ABC.

      18. Smith/Schoumacher: Watergate tapes; Rose Mary Woods and Halden. Time Code Start: 48:24. Keywords: Presidents, personal secretaries, employees, women, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: ABC.

      19. Smith/Geer: Richardson on Archibald Cox; Watergate case Special Prosecutor Jaworski. Time Code Start: 50:42. Keywords: law officials, attorneys, lawyers, appointments, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: ABC.

      20. Reasoner: Commentary on energy crisis. Time Code Start: 53:00. Keywords: petroleum, oil, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources. Network: ABC.

      21. Chancellor/Dancy: Preliminary peace plan set for Middle East; Secretary of State Kissinger. Time Code Start: 54:47. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, Middle East, Mideast, Israeli, Egyptian, Israeli, Arabs, war, treaty, treaties, negotiations. Network: NBC.

      22. Chancellor/Stern: Haldeman; Rose Mary Woods speaks with Sirica on White House taping practices. Time Code Start: 58:51. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, advisors, counsels, attorneys, lawyers, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: NBC.

      23. Chancellor/Scherer: Watergate case Special Prosecutor Jaworski at Senate hearings. Time Code Start: 61:33. Keywords: law officials, attorneys, lawyers, appointments, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: NBC.

      24. Chancellor/Goralski: President Nixon's Energy Conservation Bill. Time Code Start: 65:54. Keywords: Presidents,. Network: NBC.

      25. Chancellor/Neil/Hunt: Oil cutback and speed limits. Time Code Start: 67:10. Keywords: energy, petroleum, drilling, oil supply, oil supplies, imports, shortages, sales, costs, increases, traffic, limits, safety issues, accidents prevention, speed limitations. Network: NBC.

      26. Brinkley: Commentary; President's power to wage war; Constitution specifically gives Congress the power to declare war. Time Code Start: 70:13. Keywords: Presidents, Act of War, legislation, laws. Network: NBC.

      27. Cronkite/Morton: AFL-CIO withdraws support for President Nixon. Time Code Start: 72:19. Keywords: labor, unions, American Federation of Labor, Congress of Industrial Organizations, endorsements. Network: CBS.

      28. Cronkite/Graham: Rose Mary Woods and Haldeman on tapes case. Time Code Start: 73:40. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, advisors, counsels, attorneys, lawyers, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: CBS.

      29. Severaid: Commentary on the energy crisis. Time Code Start: 75:17. Keywords: petroleum, oil, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources. Network: CBS.

      30. Cronkite/Schorr: Richardson on Archibald Cox's firing; Watergate case Special Prosecutor Jaworski. Time Code Start: 75:55. Keywords: law officials, attorneys, lawyers, appointments, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: CBS.

      31. Cronkite/Fenton/Kalb: Middle East Agreement; Secretary of State Kissinger. Time Code Start: 78:12. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, war, cabinet, advisors, truces, peace, treaty, treaties. Network: CBS.

      32. Cronkite: The Vietnam War is starting again. Time Code Start: 80:58. Keywords: Vietnam War. Network: CBS.

      33. Cronkite/Herman/Pierpoint: Federal cutback in use of fuel and electricity with Secretary Dent. Time Code Start: 81:23. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, energy, fuels, petroleum, oil supply, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)