October 26, 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.

• The President's News Conference

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 Friday, October 26, 1973

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

• Senate: October 26, 1973
• Extensions of Remarks: October 26, 1973

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 [17 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 26, 1973, (Thurs. nets, wires, papers)
• News Summaries, Unmarked News Summaries, Box 62, News Summaries - October 1973 [18 of 20]
  • Special Report: News Conference of Oct. 26, 1973

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 89, October 26, 1973, Press Conference

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 26, 1973
• Date search for October 26, 1973

All National Archives Units

• Text search for October 26, 1973
• Date search for October 26, 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 26 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

• 280. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Kissinger and President Nixon, Washington, October 26, 1973, 11:58 a.m.

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

• 281. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Kissinger and the Israeli Ambassador (Dinitz), Washington, October 26, 1973, 1:17 p.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. Also printed in Kissinger, Crisis, pp. 374–376.

• 282. Backchannel Message From President Nixon to Egyptian President Sadat, Washington, October 26, 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. A handwritten notation on the message states that it was sent for delivery at 4 p.m.

• 283. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Kissinger and President Nixon, Washington, October 26, 1973, 4:05 p.m.

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

• 284. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Kissinger and the Israeli Ambassador (Dinitz), Washington, October 26, 1973, 4:15 p.m.

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

• 285. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Kissinger and the White House Chief of Staff (Haig), Washington, October 26, 1973, 7:55 p.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.

• 286. Backchannel Message From Secretary of State Kissinger to the Egyptian Presidential Adviser for National Security Affairs (Ismail), Washington, October 26, 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. A handwritten note on the message states that it was received at 8:12 p.m. on October 26. According to Kissinger’s memoirs, it was sent at 7:55 p.m. (Years of Upheaval, p. 605)

• 287. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Kissinger and the Israeli Ambassador (Dinitz), Washington, October 26, 1973, 8:45 p.m.

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

• 288. Hotline Message From Soviet General Secretary Brezhnev to President Nixon, Moscow, October 26, 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; Specat. Received in the White House Situation Room at 11:35 p.m. In his memoirs, Kissinger noted that this message started to arrive shortly after 9 p.m. (Years of Upheaval, p. 607)

• 289. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Kissinger and the Israeli Ambassador (Dinitz), Washington, October 26, 1973, 10:58 p.m.

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

Vol. XXXVI, Energy Crisis, 1969-1974

October 6, 1973-March 22, 1974

• 229. Minutes of the Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting, Washington, October 26, 1973, 3:15 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. According to an attached list, the following people attended the meeting: Kissinger, Rush, Porter, Tarr, Kubisch, Casey, Sisco, Hummel, Ross, Springsteen, Pickering, Lord, Vest, and Katz.

• 230. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, October 26, 1973, 5:30 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1027, Presidential/HAK Memcons, Memcons, April–Nov 1973. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Saunders and Katz. The conversation took place in the Secretary’s conference room. In a telephone conversation after the meeting, Clements told Kissinger he thought the meeting was “just great. You played it beautifully.” Kissinger replied that Clements had been a “terrific help.” He added, “You have turned out to be right on the Saudi Arabians and I was not,” and that was not something often said to a Texan. Clements answered: “Every so often even a blind hog will pick up an acorn.” (Ibid., Kissinger Telephone Conversation Transcripts, Box 23, Chronological Files, October 1973)

Vol. E-3, Documents on Global Issues, 1973-1976

Space and Telecommunications

• 87. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Pickering) to the Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft), Washington, October 26, 1973

  Pickering discussed the potential ramifications of NASA’s pilot global crop survey proposal. In the event of a decision to proceed, Pickering recommended consultation with international organizations and interested governments, as well as guidance from the Under Secretaries Committee regarding implementation.
  
  Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 59, L/OA Files, Lot 99 D 369, Space, Remote Sensing, 1973. Secret. Drafted by Chapin (SCI/SAM); and cleared in S/PC, IO/UNP, PM/AE, INR/DDC/RPS, and L/UNA. Blakeburn signed for Pickering above Pickering’s typed signature. Fletcher’s letter to Shultz is Document 83.

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

Colombia

• 260. Telegram 8786 From the Embassy in Colombia to the Department of State, Bogota, October 26, 1973

  Summary: The Embassy assessed the Pastrana government’s prospects and Colombia’s problems in light of the upcoming presidential elections.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]. Confidential. Repeated to Cali, Medellín, and USCINCSO.

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-E1706 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-E1706-, Pat Nixon with AAUW Exchange Ladies. 10/26/1973, Washington DC unknown.

Roll WHPO-E1707 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-E1707-, President Nixon speaking at a Press Conference. 10/26/1973, Washington DC White House, East Room.

Roll WHPO-E1709 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-E1709-, President Nixon speaking at a Press Conference. 10/26/1973, Washington DC White House, East Room.

Roll WHPO-E1710 Photographer: Parish, William | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-E1710-, President Nixon speaking at a Press Conference. 10/26/1973, Washington DC White House, East Room.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E1710-13, President Nixon speaking at a Press Conference. 10/26/1973, Washington DC White House, East Room.

Roll WHPO-E1711 Photographer: Moore, Robert (Supervisor/Director, WHPO Photographic Laboratory) | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-E1711-, President Nixon speaking at a Press Conference. 10/26/1973, Washington DC White House, East Room.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E1711-11, President Nixon, seen from behind, speaking at a Press Conference. 10/26/1973, Washington DC White House, East Room. President Nixon, reporters.

Roll WHPO-E1712 Photographer: Moore, Robert (Supervisor/Director, WHPO Photographic Laboratory) | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-E1712-, President Nixon speaking at a Press Conference.. 10/26/1973, Washington DC White House.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E1712-18, President Nixon speaking at a Press Conference.. 10/26/1973, Washington DC White House.

Roll WHPO-E1713 Photographer: Moore, Robert (Supervisor/Director, WHPO Photographic Laboratory) | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-E1713-, President Nixon speaking at a Press Conference. 10/26/1973, Washington DC White House, East Room.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E1713-18A, President Nixon speaking at a Press Conference. 10/26/1973, Washington DC White House, East Room.

Roll WHPO-E1714 Photographer: Moore, Robert (Supervisor/Director, WHPO Photographic Laboratory) | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-E1714-, President Nixon speaking at a Press Conference. 10/26/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E1714-19A, President Nixon speaking at a Press Conference. 10/26/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room.

Roll WHPO-E1715 Photographer: Moore, Robert (Supervisor/Director, WHPO Photographic Laboratory) | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-E1715-, President Nixon speaking at a Press Conference. 10/26/1973, Washington DC White House.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E1715-03, President Nixon speaking at a Press Conference. 10/26/1973, Washington DC White House.

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.

P - Formal Presidential Remarks

• WHCA-SR-P-731017
  Remarks by President Nixon in a televised press conference. (10/26/1973, White House East Room)
  
  Runtime: 0:39:06
  
  Keywords: Presidential press conferences, presidential news conferences, interviews, media, Watergate, Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War, October War, 1973 Arab–Israeli War, Egypt, Syria, Israel, Middle East, Mideast
  
  Production credits: Mult feed supplied by CBS; Recorded by MBW (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-354
  Press briefing by John Scali. (10/26/1973, Department of Defense)
  
  Runtime: 55:20:00
  
  Keywords: 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.
• WHCA-SR-S-355
  Press briefing by Gerald Warren. (10/26/1973, White House Press Lobby)
  
  Runtime: 0:26:07
  
  Keywords: Briefings, press conferences, interviews, media, Middle East, Mideast, Arabian, Arabs, Yom Kippur War, October War, 1973 Arab-Israel War, Egypt, Syria, Israel, Soviet Union, USSR, Russia, Moscow, foreign relations, foreign policy, organization of nations,
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by CRB (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original. Technical notes: 1 hour, 10 minutes and 59 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-6623
  Presidential News Conference, with network news commentaries. William Simon.
  
  Runtime: 01:07:12
• WHCA-6629
  Weekly News Summary, Tape III.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 01:29:15
  
  19. Chancellor/Montgomery/Valeriani/Goralski: Ceasefire; Russian and Middle East connections; Secretary of Defense Schlesinger on. Time Code Start: 44:38. Keywords: Soviet Union, USSR, Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War, October War, 1973 Arab–Israeli War, Egypt, Syria, Israel, Middle East, Mideast, ceasefires. Network: NBC.
  
  20. Chancellor/Brinkley: NATO (N.A.T.O.) allies refuse U.S. help ; re-supply of Israel. Time Code Start: 49:55. Keywords: Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War, October War, 1973 Arab–Israeli War, Egypt, Syria, Israel, Middle East, Mideast N.A.T.O., North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Europe, international, world, military, war, defence, defense, organizations. Network: NBC.
  
  21. Chancellor/Roy/Levine: Secretary of Agriculture Butz denies political scandals; further on Secretary of Agriculture Butz. Time Code Start: 51:45. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, investigations, scandals. Network: NBC.
  
  22. Cronkite/Rather: President Nixon supporters and demonstrations at the White House. Time Code Start: 55:13. Keywords: Presidents, support, demonstrations, rally, protests, protesters, demonstraters, demonstrators, Vietnam War, anti-war, impeachment. Network: CBS.
  
  23. Cronkite/Fromson/Kalb: Soviet and U.S.; ceasefire; observers in the Middle East. Time Code Start: 57:03. Keywords: Russia, Soviet Union, USSR, Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War, October War, 1973 Arab–Israeli War, Egypt, Syria, Israel, Middle East, Mideast, ceasefires. Network: CBS.
  
  24. Cronkite/Schieffer: U.S. militatry alert; Secretary Secretary of Defense Schlesinger news conference. Time Code Start: 60:24. Keywords: military, cabinet, advisors, media, press conferences, news conferences, interviews. Network: CBS.
  
  25. Cronkite/Kalischer/Quint: United Nations (U.N.) observers in the Middle East. Time Code Start: 62:18. Keywords: organization of nations, intergovernmental alliance, Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War, October War, 1973 Arab–Israeli War, Egypt, Syria, Israel, Middle East, Mideast, observation officials. Network: CBS.
  
  26. Cronkite/Morton: Possible new Special Prosecutor. Time Code Start: 65:40. Keywords: law officials, attorneys, lawyers, appointments, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: CBS.
  
  27. Cronkite/Stahl: Secretary of Agriculture Butz denies political scandal. Time Code Start: 67:53. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, investigations, scandals, denials. Network: CBS.
  
  28. Cronkite/Kelly: Electrical shortage in New York because of Middle East oil cut-off. Time Code Start: 70:10. Keywords: energy, electricity, power plants, shortages, Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War, October War, 1973 Arab–Israeli War, Egypt, Syria, Israel, Middle East, Mideast, energy crisis, petroleum, oil supply, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing. Network: CBS.

• New York Times of October 26, 1973

• AP Images photos from October 26, 1973
• Getty Images photos from October 26, 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 26, 1973