October 21, 1972

The Daily Diary files represent a consolidated record of the President's activities. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

• Original typewritten diary (PDF)

The President's day began at Camp David, Maryland

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.

• Radio Address on the Philosophy of Government.
• Statement About Signing the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act
• Statement About Six Bills Affecting the District of Columbia
• Statement on Signing the Federal Environmental Pesticide Control Act of 1972.
• Memorandum of Disapproval of the National Environmental Data System and Environmental Centers Act of 1972.

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.

• Federal Register of Saturday, October 21, 1972

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)
• 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

• Text search for October 21, 1972
• Date search for October 21, 1972

All National Archives Units

• Text search for October 21, 1972
• Date search for October 21, 1972

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.

• President's Daily Brief of 21 October 1972

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. IV, Foreign Assistance, International Development, Trade Policies, 1969-1972

Commodities and Strategic Materials, 1969-1972

• 444. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Eliot) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, October 21, 1972

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 286, State, Volume 16. Secret; Exdis.

Vol. IX, Vietnam, October 1972-January 1973

Breakthrough in Paris Blocked in Saigon, October 8-23, 1972

• 35. Backchannel Message From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig), Saigon, October 21, 1972, 0904Z

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 25, HAK Trip Files, HAK Paris/Saigon Trip Hakto, October 16–23, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only.

• 36. Backchannel Message From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig), Saigon, October 21, 1972, 1107Z

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 25, HAK Trip Files, HAK Paris/Saigon Trip Hakto, October 16–23, 1972. Top Secret; Flash; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only.

• 37. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between President Nixon and the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig), October 21, 1972, 5:10 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 998, Alexander M. Haig Chronological File, Haig Telcons, 1972 (1 of 2). No classification marking. Nixon was at Camp David; v was in Washington.

• 38. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between President Nixon and the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig), October 21, 1972, 5:18 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 998, Alexander M. Haig Chronological File, Haig Telcons, 1972 (1 of 2). No classification marking. Nixon was at Camp David; Haig was in Washington.

• 39. Backchannel Message From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) in Saigon, Washington, October 21, 1972, 2235Z

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 25, HAK Trip Files, HAK Paris/Saigon Trip Tohak, October 16–23, 1972 (1 of 2). Top Secret; Flash; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Sent via Lord.

Vol. E-1, Documents on Global Issues, 1969-1972

U.S. Policy Towards Terrorism, Hijacking of Aircraft, and Attacks on Civil Aviation: The Olympic Attack and the Anti-Terrorism Initiatives, September−December 1972

• 112. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Eliot) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, October 21, 1972

  The Department reported on a setback to U.S.-supported terrorism items at the UN General Assembly.
  
  Source: National Archives. RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 23-8. Confidential. Drafted by Armitage and cleared by De Palma, Bettauer, and Meyer. M.J. Habil signed for Eliot.

Vol. E-4, Documents on Iran and Iraq, 1969-1972

Iran 1972

• 226. Telegram 6317 From the Embassy in Iran to the Department of State, Tehran, October 21, 1972, 1520Z

  The Shah responded to the US plea for F–5As by agreeing to relinquish 32 aircraft for delivery to Vietnam, subject to early replacement.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, DEF 19–8 US-IRAN. Top Secret; Flash; Nodis. Passed Immediate to Saigon.

Iraq 1972

• 326. Memorandum From the U.S. Interests Section in Baghdad to the Department of State, Baghdad, October 21, 1972

  Arthur Lowrie of the new U.S. Interests Section recommended that Washington await Iraqi overtures towards improving relations.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, NEA/ARN, Office of Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq Affairs, Lot file 75D442, Box 13, POL REL, Iraq-US, 1972. Confidential. A handwritten notation reads “Some very good comments on Iraq.”

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.

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

Camp David Hard Wire

• 223-6; Unknown between 8:10 a.m. & 12:06 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Sanchez, Manolo
• 223-7; Unknown between 11:26 a.m. & 12:06 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 223-8; Unknown between 12:29 p.m. & 12:45 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 223-9; Unknown between 12:29 p.m. & 12:45 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 223-10; Unknown between 4:30 p.m. & 5:39 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David Operator
• 223-11; 5:39 p.m. - 5:47 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]; Haig, Alexander M., Jr.
• 223-12; 7:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David Operator
• 223-13; 7:26 p.m. - 7:26 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David Operator
• 223-14; Unknown between 10:24 p.m., 10/21 & 12:22 a.m., 9/10; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David Operator

Camp David Study Table

• 151-2; Unknown between 4:30 p.m. & 5:39 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David Operator
• 151-3; 5:39 p.m. - 5:47 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.
• 151-4; 7:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David Operator
• 151-5; 7:26 p.m. - 7:26 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David Operator
• 151-6; Unknown between 10:24 p.m., 10/21 & 12:22 a.m., 6/29; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Camp David Operator

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-D0767 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-D0767-02, Unidentified security agent officer standing near a cabin at Camp David. 10/21/1972, Camp David, Maryland Laurel Lodge, grounds. President Nixon, unidentified man.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D0767-03-06, Dark pictures of President Nixon delivering a radio address from Camp David. 10/21/1972, Camp David, Maryland Laurel Lodge, grounds. President Nixon, unidentified man.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D0767-08-11, President Nixon walking on the grounds of Camp David, viewed through a window form the outside. 10/21/1972, Camp David, Maryland Laurel Lodge, grounds. President Nixon, unidentified man.

Roll WHPO-D0768 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-D0768-, A security person walking on the grounds at Camp David, viewed through a window looking out. 10/21/1972, Camp David, Maryland grounds. unidentified man.

Roll WHPO-D0769 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-D0769-03-06, President Nixon seated in the Aspen Den room at Camp David. 10/21/1972, Camp David, Maryland Aspen Den Lodge, Den. President Nixon.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D0769-07-17, President Nixon walking on the grounds of Camp David near Aspen Den Lodge. 10/21/1972, Camp David, Maryland Aspen Den Lodge, grounds. President Nixon.

Roll WHPO-D0770 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-D0770-05-12, Vice President Agnew and Judy Agnew at a campaign gathering in Illinois. Agnew speaking from a podium. 10/21/1972, Illinois unidentified site. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, unidentified persons, audience, officials.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D0770-13-19, Vice President Agnew on a plane (Air Force Two (AF2) with unidentified persons. 10/21/1972, midflight airplane interior. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, unidentified persons, audience, officials.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D0770-20-32, Vice President Agnew speaking to a large gathering during a campaign stop. 10/21/1972, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. unidentified site. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, unidentified persons, audience, officials.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D0770-33-37, Vice President Agnew and others back on a plane (Air Force Two (AF2) during a campaign trip. 10/21/1972, midflight airplane interior. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, unidentified persons, audience, officials.

Roll WHPO-D0771 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-D0771-06-08, Young Republicans and others on a plane. 10/21/1972, air unknown. unidentified persons.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D0771-09, Vice President Agnew and Judy Agnew are greeted upon arrival at the Chicago airport during a campaign trip. 10/21/1972, Chicago, Illinois airport. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, officials, rock group, audience.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D0771-10-28, Vice President Agnew at a rock concert, in the audience and on stage during a campaign trip in Chicago. 10/21/1972, Chicago, Illinois unidentified site. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, officials, rock group, audience.

Roll WHPO-D0772 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-D0772-03-06, Vice President Agnew at a campaign rally. 10/21/1972, unknown site unidentified site. Spiro Agnew, officials, audience, reporters.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D0772-07-15, Vice President Agnew speaking at a press conference and answering questions during a campaign stop in Chicago. 10/21/1972, Chicago, Illinois unidentified site. Spiro Agnew, officials, audience, reporters.

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-663
  Briefing by John D. Ehrlichman. (10/21/1972, Camp David)
  
  Runtime: 10:00
  
  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 ATF (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

P - Formal Presidential Remarks

• WHCA-SR-P-721013
  Remarks by President Nixon in a live radio speech on his philosophy of government. (10/21/1972, Camp David, Maryland)
  
  Runtime: 0:13:55
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA and CBS (probably pool feed); Recorded by SB (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-5849
  Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 01:34:11
  
  13. Utley/Kiker/Dancy: George McGovern attacked in Pennsylvania; George McGovern campaigning in Pennsylvania, Vice President Agnew campaigning. Time Code Start: 42:23. Keywords: Vice Presidents, travel, trips, Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates. Network: NBC.
  
  14. Utley/Troute/Streithorst: Kissinger and President South Vietnam's President Thieu talks; Vietnam war. Time Code Start: 47:58. Keywords: South Vietnam, Presidents, speeches, statements, Vietnam War. Network: NBC.
  
  15. Utley: Film of McGovern being attacked. Time Code Start: 51:40. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates. Network: NBC.
  
  16. Mudd/Kalb: Kissinger to Saigon, Vietnam. Time Code Start: 53:00. Keywords: Vietnam War. Network: CBS.
  
  17. Mudd/Pierpoint: Administration is worried about the economy (Ehrlichman). Time Code Start: 55:23. Keywords: advisors, counsels, attorneys, lawyers, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, unemployment, prices. Network: CBS.
  
  18. Mudd/Morton: McGovern campaigning with Muskie. Time Code Start: 57:51. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates. Network: CBS.
  
  19. Mudd/Serafin: Vice President Agnew on Watergate, campaigning in Illinois. Time Code Start: 60:34. Keywords: Vice Presidents, Presidential elections, campaigns, speeches, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: CBS.

• New York Times of October 21, 1972

• AP Images photos from October 21, 1972
• Getty Images photos from October 21, 1972

The Vanderbilt Television News Archive is the world's most extensive and complete archive of television news. They have been recording, preserving and providing access to television news broadcasts of the national networks since August 5, 1968.

• October 1972 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• October 21, 1972