October 31, 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.

• Special Message to the Congress Requesting Funds for the International Development Association and the Asian Development Bank
• Proclamation 4253—Proclamation Amending Part 3 of the Appendix to the Tariff Schedules of the United States With Respect to the Importation of Agricultural Commodities
• Statement on the Death of Paul Dudley White.

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 Wednesday, October 31, 1973

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

• House of Representatives: October 31, 1973
• Extensions of Remarks: October 31, 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 [20 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 31, 1973 (Tues nets, wires., Comment Separate)
  • Digest of Recent Comment, October 31, 1973

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 31, 1973
• Date search for October 31, 1973

All National Archives Units

• Text search for October 31, 1973
• Date search for October 31, 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 31 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. XV, Soviet Union, June 1972-August 1974

The October Arab-Israeli War and Kissinger's Trip to Moscow, July 1973-January 1974

• 151. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between Soviet Ambassador Dobrynin and Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, October 31, 1973, 6:02 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Telephone Conversations (Telcons), Box 28, Chronological File. Unclassified.

Vol. XXV, Arab-Israeli Crisis and War, 1973

Arab-Israeli Crisis and War, 1973

• 303. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, October 31, 1973, 1 p.m.

  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. Top Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Quandt. The meeting took place in Kissinger’s White House Office. Brackets are in the original.

Vol. E-15, Part 2, Documents on Western Europe, 1973-1976, Second, Revised Edition

Western Europe Regional, 1973-1976

• 37. Telegram 214396 From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Federal Republic of Germany, Washington, October 31, 1973, 1707Z

  Summary: Nixon responded to a message from Brandt concerning U.S.-West European relations in the aftermath of the October 1973 Middle East war.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 688, Country Files, Europe, Germany (Bonn) Oct 73–Dec 31, 73 (Feb 73–Dec 31, 73) (1 of 1). Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted in the White House; cleared by Springsteen and Gammon; and approved by Eagleburger. On October 26, Schlesinger, McCloskey, and Nixon publicly criticized the lack of West European support for the United States during the Middle East crisis; both Schlesinger and McCloskey made specific reference to the independent stance adopted by West Germany. (New York Times, October 27, 1973)

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-E1722 Photographer: Parish, William | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-E1722-, Swearing in William J. Fellner. 10/31/1973, unknown unknown.

Roll WHPO-E1723 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-E1723-, President Nixon with Henry Kissinger and Ismail Fahmi (Acting Foreign Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt). 10/31/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, Ismail Fahmi.

Roll WHPO-E1724 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-E1724-, President Nixon and Henry Kissinger seated informally in the Oval Office during a meeting with Ismail Fahmi, Acting Foreign Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt. 10/31/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, Ismail Fahmi.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E1724-09, President Nixon and Henry Kissinger seated in the Oval Office during a meeting with Ismail Fahmi, Acting Foreign Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt. 10/31/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, Ismail Fahmi.

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.

K - Informal Presidential Remarks

• WHCA-SR-K-110
  Photo opportunity/Departure of Acting Egyptian For. Min. Ismail Fahmy-South Lawn. (10/31/1973)
  
  Runtime: 1:00
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
• WHCA-SR-K-114
  Photo opportunity/Departure of William B. Saxbe-North Grounds [no remarks]. (10/31/1973)
  
  Runtime: 20:00
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

P - Formal Presidential Remarks

• WHCA-SR-P-731018
  Photo opportunity at departure of Senator William Saxbe with Saxbe. (10/31/1973)
  
  Runtime: 20:00
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
• WHCA-SR-P-731019
  Remarks by President Nixon during a photo opportunity with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ismail Fahmy. (10/31/1973, Oval Office, the White House)
  
  Runtime: 0:02:51
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA (no mult feed); Recorded by DLP (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-358
  Press briefing by Gerald Warren. (10/31/1973, White House Press Lobby)
  
  Runtime: 42:00:00
  
  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.

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-6632
  "Bill Moyers' Journal". An essay on Watergate
  Post-Newsweek Stations, Inc.
  Runtime: 01:05:06
• WHCA-6644
  Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 01:30:37
  
  9. Severaid: Commentary on the energy crisis. Time Code Start: 15:15. Keywords: petroleum, oil, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources. Network: CBS.
  
  10. Smith/Geer/Reasoner: White House tapes missing with Buzhardt and John Dean. Time Code Start: 17:38. Keywords: law officials, attorneys, lawyers, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: ABC.
  
  11. Smith/Donaldson: Reaction to missing White House tapes with Senator Ervin and Archibald Cox. Time Code Start: 21:38. Keywords: law officials, attorneys, lawyers, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: ABC.
  
  12. Smith/Jarriel: White House reaction to missing tapes. Time Code Start: 23:36. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: ABC.
  
  13. Reasoner/Landay: Senator Saxbe may be future Attorney General. Time Code Start: 24:52. Keywords: Senators, law officials, nominations, investigations, hearings. Network: ABC.
  
  14. Smith/Schoumacher:International Telephone & Telegraph (ITT Corporation) and Kliendeinst with Senator Bayh and Archibald Cox. Time Code Start: 26:54. Keywords: law officials, firings, courts, trials, investigations, prosecutions, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, Watergate, hearings, burglary, impeachment, resignations, recordings. Network: ABC.
  
  15. Smith/Kaplow: Israel's Prime Minister Golda Meir arrives in U.S.. Time Code Start: 29:14. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, Israeli, war, Prime Ministers. Network: ABC.
  
  16. Smith: Commentary on the missing tapes. Time Code Start: 31:36. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: ABC.
  
  17. Chancellor/Graham/Brokaw: Missing White House tapes with John Dean and Butterfield. Time Code Start: 32:57. Keywords: attorneys, lawyers, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: NBC.
  
  18. Chancellor/Kiker: The missing tapes with Archibald Cox. Time Code Start: 40:54. 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.
  
  19. Chancellor/Cuke: Saxbe for Attorney General nomination and his opinion of the missing tapes. Time Code Start: 43:00. Keywords: law officials, attorneys, lawyers, nominees, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: NBC.
  
  20. Chancellor/Valeriani: Middle East peace talks. Time Code Start: 45:29. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, Israeli, Egyptian, Israeli, Arabs, war, treaty, treaties, negotiations. Network: NBC.
  
  21. Brinkley: Missing White House tapes. Time Code Start: 47:17. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: NBC.
  
  22. Cronkite/Benton: Missing White House tapes. Time Code Start: 48:28. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: CBS.
  
  23. Cronkite/Rather: Excuses for missing tapes. Time Code Start: 52:40. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: CBS.
  
  24. Cronkite/Kalb: U.S. alert called off; Secretary of State Kissinger meets with Israel's Prime Minister Golda Meir. Time Code Start: 53:59. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, Israeli, war, Prime Ministers, cabinet, advisors, travel, trips, meetings. Network: CBS.
  
  25. Cronkite/Sheahan: Middle East ceasefire. Time Code Start: 57:11. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, war, ceasefires. Network: CBS.
  
  26. Cronkite/Quint: More on Middle East ceasefire. Time Code Start: 58:37. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, war, ceasefires. Network: CBS.
  
  27. Cronkite/Rabel: Contributions to Senator Gurney. Time Code Start: 60:45. Keywords: Senators, elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates, gifts, donations, money, funding, fundraising, finances. Network: CBS.
  
  28. Cronkite: International Telephone & Telegraph (ITT Corporation) case with Kliendienst. Time Code Start: 62:49. Keywords: International Telephone & Telegraph, communications, world, corporations, conglomerates, campaign funding, investigations, hearings. Network: CBS.
  
  29. Cronkite/Stahl: The White War on the President. Time Code Start: 63:33. Keywords: Presidents, criticisms. Network: CBS.
  
  30. Cronkite/Severaid: Commentary on Gerald Ford nomination hearings. Time Code Start: 65:00. Keywords: Vice Presidents, appointments, nominations, investigations. Network: ABC.
  
  31. Smith/Jarriel: President Nixon appoints Saxbe as Attorney General designate; Bork appoints Jaworski as Special Prosecutor in Watergate case. Time Code Start: 68:30. Keywords: law officials, attorneys, lawyers, appointments, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: ABC.
  
  32. Smith/Wordham: Jaworski news conference on appointment as Special Prosecutor in Watergate case. Time Code Start: 71:43. Keywords: law officials, attorneys, lawyers, appointments, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: ABC.
  
  33. Smith/Donaldson/Geer: Reaction to Jaworski appointment as Special Prosecutor in Watergate case. Time Code Start: 74:01. Keywords: law officials, attorneys, lawyers, appointments, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: ABC.
  
  34. Reasoner/Schoumacher: White House tapes; U.S. Agent Zumwalt testifies at Grand Jury. Time Code Start: 77:17. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: ABC.
  
  35. Reasoner: Senator Goldwater speaks on President Nixon's credibility; Clark MacGregor testifies at Senate Watergate hearings. Time Code Start: 79:26. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: ABC.
  
  36. Smith/Clark: Gerald Ford confirmation hearings. Time Code Start: 80:34. Keywords: Vice Presidents, appointments, nominations, investigations. Network: ABC.
  
  37. Reasoner/Kaplow: Middle East ceasefire; Israel's Prime Minister Golda Meir meets with President Nixon. Time Code Start: 84:58. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, Israeli, war, Prime Ministers, Presidents, meetings, ceasefires. Network: ABC.
  
  38. Reasoner: Commentary on digging out. Time Code Start: 87:24. Keywords: vague description, needs review, per Vanderbilt database there are no digging out references in 12 Reasoner topic segments for this program. Network: ABC.

• New York Times of October 31, 1973

• AP Images photos from October 31, 1973
• Getty Images photos from October 31, 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 31, 1973