October 23, 1973

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.

• Veto of the United States Information Agency Appropriations Authorization Bill.
• Executive Order 11742—Delegating to the Secretary of State Certain Functions with Respect to the Negotiation of International Agreements Relating to the Enhancement of the Environment
• Executive Order 11743—Modifying Proclamation 3279, as Amended, With Respect to the Oil Policy Committee

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 Tuesday, October 23, 1973

The Congressional Record is the official daily record of the debates and proceedings of the U.S. Congress.

• Senate: October 23, 1973
• House of Representatives: October 23, 1973
• Extensions of Remarks: October 23, 1973

Decided

• Dennett v. Hogan
• United States Immigration & Naturalization Service v. Hibi

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.

• News Summaries, Unmarked News Summaries, Box 62, News Summaries - October 1973 [15 of 20] [Note: Due to the way News Summary products were compiled, you should also consult nearby days for potentially relevant materials.]
  • News Summary, October 23, 1973, (Mon. pm nets and wires)

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.

• President's Speech File
  • Box 88, October 23-24, 1973, Drafts for Tapes Speech

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 23, 1973
• Date search for October 23, 1973

All National Archives Units

• Text search for October 23, 1973
• Date search for October 23, 1973

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 23 October 1973

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

• 238. Telegram From Secretary of State Kissinger to the Embassy in Jordan, En route, October 23, 1973, 0455Z

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 39, Kissinger Trip Files, HAK Trip—Moscow, Tel Aviv, London, HAKTO, SECTO, TOSEC, Misc., Oct. 20–23, 1973. Secret; Sensitive; Flash. Repeated to the Department of State. Sent also as telegram 208875 to Amman. (Ibid., Box 1175, Harold H. Saunders Files, Middle East Negotiations Files, 1973 Middle East War, 23 October 1973)

• 239. Telegram From the Embassy in Jordan to the Department of State, Amman, October 23, 1973, 1344Z

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1175, Harold H. Saunders Files, Middle East Negotiations Files, 1973 Middle East War, 23 October 1973. Secret; Flash; Exdis.

• 240. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Kissinger and the Minister of the Soviet Embassy (Vorontsov), Washington, October 23, 1973, 9:45 a.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Kissinger Telephone Conversations, Transcripts (Telcons), Chronological File, Box 23. No classification marking. The blank underscore indicates an omission in the original.

• 241. Message From Soviet General Secretary Brezhnev to Secretary of State Kissinger, Moscow, October 23, 1973

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 69, Country Files, Europe, USSR, Dobrynin/Kissinger, Vol. 20, [October 12–November 21, 1973]. No classification marking. A note on the message states that it was read by Minister Vorontsov to Secretary Kissinger on the telephone at 10:40 a.m. on October 23. Vorontsov spoke to Kissinger on the telephone at 9:47 a.m. and gave him the substance of Brezhnev’s message. (Ibid., Kissinger Telephone Conversations, Transcripts (Telcons), Chronological File, Box 23)

• 242. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Kissinger and the Israeli Ambassador (Dinitz), Washington, October 23, 1973, 11:04 a.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Kissinger Telephone Conversations, Transcripts (Telcons), Chronological File, Box 23. No classification marking.

• 243. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Kissinger and the Minister of the Soviet Embassy (Vorontsov), Washington, October 23, 1973, 11:25 a.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Kissinger Telephone Conversations, Transcripts (Telcons), Chronological File, Anatoli[y] Dobrynin File, Box 28. No classification marking.

• 244. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Kissinger and the Minister of the Soviet Embassy (Vorontsov), Washington, October 23, 1973, 11:32 a.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Kissinger Telephone Conversations, Transcripts (Telcons), Chronological File, Anatoli[y] Dobrynin File, Box 28. No classification marking.

• 245. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Kissinger and the Israeli Ambassador (Dinitz), Washington, October 23, 1973, noon

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Kissinger Telephone Conversations, Transcripts (Telcons), Chronological File, Box 23. No classification marking. The blank underscores indicate omissions in the original.

• 246. Hotline Message From Soviet General Secretary Brezhnev to President Nixon, Moscow, October 23, 1973

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 69, Country Files, Europe, USSR, Dobrynin/Kissinger, Vol. 20, [October 12–November 21, 1973]. Top Secret; Sensitive; Spec Cat; Eyes Only. A notation indicates that this is a translation of USSR 01, 231600Z October 1973. Brackets are in the original. In his memoirs, Kissinger wrote that he received this message at 12:36 p.m. (Years of Upheaval, p. 572)

• 247. Hotline Message From Soviet General Secretary Brezhnev to President Nixon, Moscow, October 23, 1973

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 70, Country Files, Europe, USSR, Exchange of Notes Between Dobrynin & Kissinger, Vol. 7. Top Secret; Sensitive; Spec Cat; Eyes Only. A notation indicates that this is a translation of USSR 02, 231807Z October 1973. In his memoirs, Kissinger wrote that he received this message at 2:26 p.m. (Years of Upheaval, p. 573)

• 248. Backchannel Message From Egyptian President Sadat to President Nixon, Washington, October 23, 1973

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 132, Country Files, Middle East, Egypt/Ismail, Vol. VII, October 1–31, 1973. Secret; Sensitive. Sent at 9:15 p.m. Cairo time.

• 249. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Kissinger and the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft), Washington, October 23, 1973, 4:20 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Kissinger Telephone Conversations, Transcripts (Telcons), Chronological File, Box 23. No classification marking.

• 250. Minutes of the Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting, Washington, October 23, 1973, 4:35 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts of Secretary of State Kissinger’s Staff Meetings, 1973–77: Lot 78 D 443, Box 1, Secretary’s Staff Meetings. Secret; Nodis. The original bears numerous editorial marks—insertions and brackets marking text to be deleted—which have not been incorporated into the text printed here except where they correct mistakes or provide clarity. No revised text of the minutes has been found.

• 251. Message From Secretary of State Kissinger to Soviet General Secretary Brezhnev, Washington, October 23, 1973

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 69, Country Files, Europe, USSR, Dobrynin/Kissinger, Vol. 20, [October 12–November 21, 1973]. Secret. A handwritten notation at the top of the page reads: “Rec’d Moscow 0141Z, 10/23/73, dispatched from WH at 5:15 pm, 10/23.”

• 252. Backchannel Message From President Nixon to Egyptian President Sadat, Washington, October 23, 1973

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 132, Country Files, Middle East, Egypt/Ismail, Vol. VII, October 1–31, 1973. No classification marking. Sent in a message from Kissinger to Ismail. In his memoirs, Kissinger wrote that the reply to Sadat was sent late Tuesday (October 23) afternoon. (Years of Upheaval, p. 574)

• 253. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Kissinger and the Soviet Ambassador (Dobrynin), Washington, October 23, 1973, 8:35 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Kissinger Telephone Conversations, Transcripts (Telcons), Anatoli[y] Dobrynin File, Box 28. No classification marking.

Vol. XXXIII, SALT II, 1972-1980

SALT II, 1972-1980

• 42. Memorandum From Helmut Sonnenfeldt of the National Security Council Staff to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, October 23, 1973

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 890, SALT, SALT TWO–I–Geneva, Sept. 1973. Secret; Personal; Exclusively Eyes Only; Outside the System. Sent for urgent action. A note by Scowcroft on the memorandum indicates it was seen by Kissinger and that the message to Johnson was on Kissinger’s desk for signature on October 26.

Vol. XXXVI, Energy Crisis, 1969-1974

October 6, 1973-March 22, 1974

• 224. Message From Prince Fahd of Saudi Arabia to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), JIdda, October 23, 1973

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 139, Country Files, Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Nov–Dec 1973. Secret; Sensitive.

• 225. Minutes of the Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting, Washington, October 23, 1973, 4:35 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts of Secretary of State Kissinger’s Staff Meetings, 1973–1977, Box 720, Secretary’s Staff Meetings, 9/73–10/73. Secret. There was no list of attendees.

Vol. E-11, Part 2, Documents on South America, 1973-1976

Peru

• 291. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, October 23, 1973, 5 p.m.

  Summary: Kubsich and García Bedoya discussed regional issues and investment and fisheries disputes.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files, 1970–1973, POL PERU–US. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Frechette on October 29; cleared by Weber and Kubisch. The meeting took place in Kubisch’s office. The text of Kubisch’s speech can be found in the Department of State Bulletin, November 12, 1973, pp. 608–613. Belcher informed the Department that even though Velasco had threatened to expropriate the Cerro corporation, he had not. In addition, the Cerro corporation, in Belcher’s words, “using what appears to us extreme language,” had stated that the Peruvian Government had negotiated in bad faith and refused to sell its assets to the Peruvians. (Telegram 7065 from Lima and Telegram 190532 to Lima, both September 25; ibid., Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number])

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.

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-E1689 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-E1689-, President Nixon and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger discuss Arab-Isaeli War. 10/23/1973, Washington DC White House, Oval Office.

Roll WHPO-E1690 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-E1690-, President Nixon discusses Arab-Israeli War with Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. 10/23/1973, Washington DC White House, Oval Office.

Roll WHPO-E1691 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-E1691-, White House Gardens. Flowers and flower beds in bloom. 10/23/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Grounds, Garden areas.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E1691-05A, The White House Rose garden. White roses, yellow and orange Chrysanthemums in bloom. View looking at the back entrance to the Oval office porch. 10/23/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Grounds, Garden areas.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E1691-10A, The White House Rose garden. White roses, yellow and orange Chrysanthemums in bloom. 10/23/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Grounds, Garden areas.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E1691-17A, The White House Rose garden reflecting pool and small water fountain. Statue of a young girl holding a potted plant looking down into the pool. Potted yellow Chrysanthemums in bloom sit at the border edges. 10/23/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Grounds, Garden areas.

Roll WHPO-E1692 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-E1692-, Pat Nixon hosts reception for Medical Assistants. 10/23/1973, Washington DC White House, Blue Room.

Roll WHPO-E1693 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-E1693-, Ronald Ziegler, Alexander Haig and Wright brief reporters. 10/23/1973, Washington Dc White House, Press Room. Ronald Ziegler, Alexander Haig, Wright, reporters from the White House Press Corps.

Roll WHPO-E1708 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-E1708-, President Nixon speaking at a Press Conference. 10/23/1973, Washington DC White House, East Room.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E1708-05A, President Nixon speaking at a Press Conference. 10/23/1973, Washington DC White House, East Room.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E1708-23A, President Nixon speaking at a Press Conference. 10/23/1973, Washington DC White House, East 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.

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

• WHCA-SR-S-346
  Press briefing by Elliot Richardson (taken from live television on NBC News). (10/23/1973, Department of Justice)
  
  Runtime: 1:08:53
  
  Keywords: Press conference, news conferences, interviews, media, statements, speeches, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations, bugging, bugs, wire
  
  Production credits: Recorded by JBA (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
• WHCA-SR-S-347
  Briefing (for sound) by Alexander Haig and Charles Alan Wright. (10/23/1973, White House Press Lobby)
  
  Runtime: 1:06:57
  
  Keywords: Briefings, press conferences, interviews, media, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveill
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by MBW (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original. Technical notes: 31 minutes and 34 seconds of silence at end of recording removed from access copies.

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-6615
  "Elliot Richardson's Press Conference".
  CBS
  Runtime: 01:05:41
• WHCA-6616
  "Elliot Richardson's Press Conference", with commentaries. FTN: Donald Alexander; "MTP": Rep. John Rhodes; "I&A": Rep. Wilbur Mills.
  CBS, NBC, ABC
  Runtime: 00:10:20
• WHCA-6617
  N-PACT Special Washington D.C. October 23, 1973 "The Saturday Night Massacre". The "Saturday Night Massacre"
  CBS
  Runtime: 01:05:37
• WHCA-6618
  Special - "The President Relents". The "Saturday Night Massacre"
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 00:36:11
• WHCA-6619
  Special - "The White House Tapes and the Nixon Decision". The "Saturday Night Massacre"
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 00:34:25
• WHCA-6627
  Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 1:30
  
  25. Smith/Schoumacher/Jarriel: Tapes released to Judge Sirica. Time Code Start: 68:26. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: ABC.
  
  26. Smith/Donaldson: Impeachment proceedings. Time Code Start: 73:20. Keywords: Presidents, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, impeachment. Network: ABC.
  
  27. Smith/Zimmerman: Richardson press conference. Time Code Start: 76:20. Keywords: media, press conferences, news conferences, interviews. Network: ABC.
  
  28. Smith/Kaplow: Secretary of State Kissinger and Vietnamese negotiator Le Duc Tho receive Nobel Peace Prize. Time Code Start: 78:35. Keywords: world, awards, medals, diplomats, diplomacy, meetings, cabinet, advisors, Paris Peace Talks, Vietnam War, treaty, treaties, negotiations. Network: ABC.
  
  29. Reasoner: Commentary on Golan Heights. Time Code Start: 79:00. Keywords: Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War, October War, 1973 Arab–Israeli War, Egypt, Syria, Israel, Middle East, Mideast. Network: ABC.
  
  30. Chancellor/Stern/Brokaw: President Nixon turns over tapes; Attorney Alan Wright; Campaign contributions. Time Code Start: 80:56. Keywords: law officials, attorneys, lawyers, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: NBC.
  
  31. Chancellor/Schorr/Duke/Kiker: White House tapes. Time Code Start: 88:25. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: NBC.
• WHCA-6628
  Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 1:30
  
  1. Chancellor/Hunt: Utley: Middle East war; ceasefire; military aid United Nations (U.N.) security council. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War, October War, 1973 Arab–Israeli War, Egypt, Syria, Israel, Middle East, Mideast, organization of nations, intergovernmental alliance, ceasefires. Network: NBC.
  
  2. Chancellor/Brinkley: Commentary on the public and the White House. Time Code Start: 05:11. Keywords: Presidents, public opinions. Network: NBC.
  
  3. Cronkite/Graham: President Nixon turns over tapes; Attorney Alan Wright. Time Code Start: 06:47. Keywords: law officials, attorneys, lawyers, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: CBS.
  
  4. Cronkite/Rather: Impeachment; General Haig on film. Time Code Start: 09:10. Keywords: Presidents, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, impeachment. Network: CBS.
  
  5. Cronkite/Morton: Impeachment; General Haig on film. Time Code Start: 12:00. Keywords: Presidents, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, impeachment. Network: CBS.
  
  6. Cronkite/Mudd: Richardson's press conference. Time Code Start: 14:30. Keywords: media, press conferences, news conferences, interviews. Network: CBS.
  
  7. Cronkite/Kalb: Middle East war ceasefire; Israel's Prime Minister Golda Meir. Time Code Start: 17:55. Keywords: Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War, October War, 1973 Arab–Israeli War, Egypt, Syria, Israel, Middle East, Mideast, Israeli, Prime Ministers, leaders, Presidents, meetings, ceasefires. Network: CBS.
  
  8. Cronkite/Quint: Middle East battle reports. Time Code Start: 20:17. Keywords: Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War, October War, 1973 Arab–Israeli War, Egypt, Syria, Israel, Middle East, Mideast. Network: CBS.
  
  9. Cronkite/Serveraid: Commentary on President Nixon and the tapes. Time Code Start: 23:24. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: CBS.

• New York Times of October 23, 1973

• AP Images photos from October 23, 1973
• Getty Images photos from October 23, 1973

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 1973 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• October 23, 1973