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October 14, 1971

Introduction

This almanac page for Thursday, October 14, 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: Wednesday, October 13, 1971

Next Date: Friday, October 15, 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.

  • 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.

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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)
      Thursday, October 14.

      President had no schedule today. It was set aside for unscheduled meetings with Connally, Kissinger, etcetera, getting ready for Henry's trip and following up on economic policy. He, nonetheless, spent the morning in the Oval Office, not conducting those meetings, but instead meeting with me, then with Ziegler in and out, with Colson, and with Ehrlichman. He discussed some of the Senate problems for instance, the corn situation is up for need for a decision, and he said to have Ehrlichman get the decision made and then the President would call Senator Curtis in and tell him about it. He wants MacGregor to set that up. He's particularly determined not to succumb to Jack Miller's demand for a meeting. He also wants to avoid meeting with the Senate candidates and wants the Attorney General to pick up on that. He raised some concern about the Mansfield Amendment. His feeling is that we should go now on a House vote while it's hot, rather than waiting, as some of the strategists think we should do because they're afraid we may not be able to hold the vote.

      The Colson meeting mainly was a follow-up on what we're doing on the Efron book. The President’s determined that we not let that die. He then got into some political discussion, specifically the Kennedy rise vs. Muskie, which does seem to be taking place now. Apparently Lou Harris had quite a few comments on this whole thing in his meeting with Chuck and the President yesterday.

      Later this afternoon, the President had Henry and me over to the EOB for a discussion of the China trip. He went into the whole question of Pat Nixon going, making the point that people contact is more important than meetings in terms of public reaction here, and that Pat would be one way to get some good people pictures. So he wants Henry to raise the PN question. If she goes, then the President doesn't have to go out into the people. If not, he will have to. If she goes, she goes solely as a prop. No Mrs. Rogers along, or anything like that. Later, Henry summed it up that, at some point, he would discuss this with Chou alone, making the point of the enormous interest in America in Chinese people, and so on, that Mrs. Nixon would be going to Russia, but that we recognize the problem and we want them to be honest with us. This is an opportunity to convey the human side of the Chinese to the American people. Then Kissinger is to feel his reaction and not press it on him.

      The President said at the beginning of the meeting, he wanted his schedule cut to three days and to stay in one city only, just Peking. He then expanded that to four, and then agreed to move it to five and to consider doing one other city for one day, maybe on the way out—hopefully, not overnight, unless the Chinese want it, and will give us publicity and get us on television and mean a big public reception. He points out that on TV the American President received by a million Chinese is worth a hundred times the effect of the communiqué, and that we're not to miss an opportunity for the Chinese to give a good welcome. There must be masses of Chinese people somewhere, and we must have some chance for pictures with the people. Or try-- Henry is to try to find some way to get color into the trip. He should point out to them the receptions the President received in Yugoslavia and Romania. He says sightseeing, no; Great Wall, no; people, yes.

      Then he talked about the press and said in order: first, we have to have the ground station; second, the most important thing is TV, even if that means no writing press at all; third is the writing press; at the bottom of the list are the individual papers, then the magazines, then the wires. He talked about having to go to one pool on TV if necessary. In terms of our interest, TV and the wires are more important than Secret Service and WHCA. The President said he needs Monzon, and no one else, to take care of him. There should be only one doctor. Not one for the press. Then he grudgingly decided that we'll have to take women secretaries, but they will attend nothing, unless Mrs. Nixon is there, in which case, Rose can go. The only ones who have to attend public functions or formal functions are Kissinger, Rogers, and the President. We talked about the question of Mosbacher, and Henry says he'll resign if he doesn't get to go. The President took that on head-on at first, but then backed down, and I think we'll probably agree to let him go when we get right down to it.

      End of October 14.
    • 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

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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. III, Foreign Economic Policy; International Monetary Policy, 1969-1972

    International Monetary Policy, 1969-1972

    Vol. V, United Nations, 1969-1972

    Chinese Representation in the United Nations

    Vol. XX, Southeast Asia, 1969-1972

    Philippines

    • 241. Telegram From Secretary of State Rogers to the Department of State, New York, October 14, 1971, 2059Z

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 7 PHIL. Secret. Received at 2210Z. Repeated to Manila and Saigon. Part II of III. Part I on the issue of Chinese representation in the United States and Part II on Nixon’s proposed trips to Beijing and Moscow are ibid.

    Vol. XXIII, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1969-1972

    Proximity Talks and the Backchannel: Separate Department of State and White House Negotiating Tricks

    • 258. Telegram From the Department of State to the Interests Section in Egypt, Washington, October 14, 1971, 2216Z

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 658, Country Files, Middle East, Middle East Nodis/Cedar/Plus, Vol. IV. Secret; Priority; Nodis; Cedar Plus. Drafted by Sterner; cleared by Sisco, Davies, and Atherton; and approved by Rogers. Repeated to Tel Aviv and USUN.

    Vol. XLI, Western Europe; NATO, 1969-1972

    Italy

    Vol. E-7, Documents on South Asia, 1969-1972

    Afghanistan, 1969-1972

    • 350. Telegram Secto 157 From Secretary of State Rogers to the Department of State, New York, October 14, 1971, 1924Z

      Secretary Rogers and Foreign Minister Shafiq discussed the Afghan economy as affected by drought, debt rescheduling, and the problem of illegal drugs.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 7 AFG. Confidential. Also numbered USUN 3497. Repeated to Kabul and Moscow. Rogers was in New York for the autumn meeting of the UN General Assembly.

    Vol. E-10, Documents on American Republics, 1969-1972

    Cuba

    Vol. E-10, Documents on American Republics, 1969-1972

    Jamaica

    Vol. E-13, Documents on China, 1969-1972

    • 33. Memorandum for the Record, Paris, October 14, 1971, 6 p.m., Paris, October 14, 1971, 6 p.m.

      Military Attaché Walters gave interpreter Tsao the names of President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger’s entourage for his upcoming visit to China. Tsao, in turn, discussed his admiration for the United States, especially its print media.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President’s File-China Trip, China Exchanges, July 1971-Oct 20, 1971. No classification marking.

    Vol. E-16, Documents on Chile, 1969-1973

    Cool and Correct: The U.S. Response to the Allende Administration, November 5, 1970-December 31, 1972

    • 87. Intelligence Note Prepared in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, Washington, October 14, 1971

      Summary: This paper discussed the waning popularity of the UP and suggested Allende would use the issue of compensation for the expropriation of the U.S. copper companies to bolster his support among the Chilean people.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 1 CHILE. Secret; No Foreign Dissem. Drafted by Jorgenson.

  • 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

Context (External Sources)