1. Home
  2. Research
  3. Almanac

October 4, 1973

Introduction

This almanac page for Thursday, October 4, 1973, 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 3, 1973

Next Date: Friday, October 5, 1973

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.

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 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

    All National Archives Units

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. XXII, Panama, 1973-1976

    Panama, 1973-1976

    • 20. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, October 4, 1973, 10:20 a.m.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Ambassador Bunker’s Correspondence, Lot 78D300, Box 3, General. Confidential. Drafted by Bell and Storey. Copies were sent to Bell and Sheffey. The meeting was held in Ambassador Bunker’s office at the Department of State.

    Vol. XXVII, Iran; Iraq, 1973-1976

    Iraq, January 1973-December 1974

    Vol. XXXV, National Security Policy, 1973-1976

    National Security Policy

    • 25. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, October 4, 1973

      Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser Files, Memoranda of Conversations, Box 2, October 4, 1973—Cabinet Meeting. Secret; Nodis. The meeting, held in the White House Cabinet Room from 9:05 to 10:34 a.m., was also attended by, among others: Agnew, Rush, Simon, Richardson, Weinberger, Ash, Laird, Colby, Stein, Scowcroft, Haig, Ziegler, Timmons, Harlow, Flanigan, Secretary of the Interior Rogers C.B. Morton, Secretary of Agriculture Earl L. Butz, and Secretary of Transportation Claude S. Brinegar. (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Central Files, President’s Daily Diary)

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

    Terrorism

    Vol. E-8, Documents on South Asia, 1973-1976

    India-Pakistan 1

    • 150. National Intelligence Analytical Memorandum 31–73, Washington, October 4, 1973

      The memorandum considered a broad range of political and economic factors that could have an effect on Indian-U.S. bilateral relations.

      Source: Central Intelligence Agency, NIC Files, Job 79–R01012A, Box 465, NIAM 31–73. Secret; Controlled Dissem. According to the cover sheet, the CIA, the intelligence organizations of the Departments of State and Defense, the NSA, the AEC, and the Treasury prepared this memorandum. All members of the U.S. Intelligence Board concurred in this estimate except the representative of the FBI, who abstained because the subject was outside the Bureau’s jurisdiction.

    Vol. E-11, Part 1, Documents on Mexico; Central America; and the Caribbean, 1973-1976

    Mexico

    • 61. Memorandum of Conversation, New York, October 4, 1973, 11:15 a.m.

      Summary: During a bilateral meeting, Kissinger and Rabasa discussed Echeverría’s Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States, illegal immigration, and regional matters.

      Source: Ford Library, NSC Latin American Staff Files, Country Files, Box 4, Mexico—Political, Military 1. Confidential. The meeting took place in the Secretary’s suite at the Waldorf Towers while Kissinger and Rabasa were in New York for an UNGA session. The Rodino Bill to which Kubisch referred during the discussion on illegal migration was legislation introduced in January 1973 by Representative Peter Rodino (D–NJ) that would have imposed sanctions on employers who hired undocumented workers. The personal letter that Rabasa delivered to Kissinger from Echeverria was not found.

    Vol. E-12, Documents on East and Southeast Asia, 1973-1976

    Indonesia and the East Timor Crisis

    • 100. Memorandum of Conversation, New York, October 4, 1973, 5:30–6 p.m., New York, October 4, 1973, 5:30-6 p.m.

      Kissinger and Malik discussed Indochina, foreign aid, and the Middle East.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 533, Country Files, Far East, Indonesia, Volume 4, 1 January 1973–. Secret; Exdis. The meeting was held in apartment 35A at the Waldorf Towers. Cleared by Hummel and approved by Bremer. Talking points for this meeting are ibid.

    Vol. E-14, Part 2, Documents on Arms Control and Nonproliferation, 1973-1976

    • 18. National Security Decision Memorandum 235, Washington, October 4, 1973

      Summary: Outlining U.S. policy on the transfer of highly enriched uranium to foreign countries, President Nixon decided that the United States would review any future requests for large quantities on a case-by-case basis, require recipients have security measures in place, weigh recipient adherence to the Nonproliferation Treaty, and not require that fuel fabrication or reprocessing occur in the United States or multinationally-owned facilities as a condition of the request. Nixon also directed the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission to obtain the views of the Secretary of State before making any “informal or formal commitments” regarding supplies and that any proposal should be referred to the President for consideration.

      Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Program Analysis Staff Files, Convenience Files, Box 31. Secret. A copy was sent to Rush. Scowcroft signed for Kissinger above Kissinger’s typed signature.

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

    Spain, 1973-1976

    • 194. Memorandum of Conversation, New York, October 4, 1973, 12:45-1:10 p.m.

      Summary: Kissinger and Rodo discussed the Year of Europe, Spain, and Gibraltar.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1027, Presidential/HAK Memoranda of Conversation, Memcons—HAK + Presidential, April–November 1973 (2 of 5). Secret. The meeting took place in the Waldorf Towers. Attached but not published is an undated translation of a letter from Franco to Nixon; and an unofficial translation of an undated Spanish memorandum on Gibraltar. In telegram 179849 to Madrid, September 11, the Department reported that Springsteen gave a copy of the U.S. draft Declaration of Principles to Sagaz on September 5. (Ibid., Box 706, Country Files, Europe, Spain, Vol. IV, January 1972–(June 1974) (2 of 2)) In telegram 186211 to Madrid, September 19, the Department reported that on September 18, Sagaz gave Stabler a note indicating that the Spanish Government, having studied the draft declaration, “would be ready to subscribe to the principles contained” therein. (Ibid.)

  • 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

  • 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-E1582 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1582-02-05, President Nixon and Vice President Agnew attending a cabinet meeting. 10/4/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, Spiro Agnew, Kenneth Rush, Deputy Secretary of Defense. William E. Simon, Deputy Secretary of Treasury. James R. Schlesinger, Secretary of Defense. Elliot L. Richardson, Attorney General. Rogers C. B. Morton, Secretary of the Interior. .Earl L. Butz, Secretary of Agriculture. Claude S. Brinegar, Secretary of Transportation. Roy L. Ash, Director of the OMB. Caspar W. Weinberger, Secretary of HEW. James T. Lynn, Secretary of HUD. Richard F. Schubert, Under Secretary of Labor. Anne Armstrong, Counsellor. Melvin R. Laird, Counsellor. Bryce N. Harlow, Counsellor. John K. Tabor, Under Secretary of Commerce. William E. Colby, Director of the CIA. John T. Dunlop, Director of the Cost of Living Council. Herbert Stein, Chairman of the the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) . Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Executive Director of the Domestic Council. Robert E. Hampton, .Chairman of the U.S. Civil Service Commission White House Staff. Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Assistant. Ronald L. Ziegler, Assistant. William E. Timmons, Assistant. Raymond K. Price, Jr., Special Consultant. Maj. Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft, Deputy Assistant. David N. Parker, Special Assistant. John A. Love, Director of the Energy Policy Office. Peter M. Flanigan, Assistant.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1582-06-09, President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. 10/4/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, Adm. George W. Anderson, Jr., Chairman. William O. Baker, Leo Cherne, John S. Foster, Jr. Robert W. Galvin, Gordon Gray, Edward H. Land, Mrs. Clare Boothe Luce, Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller (R-New York), Edward Teller, Wheaton B. Byers, Executive Secretary, PFIAB. Cdr. Lionel H. Olmer, Special Assistant to Mr. Byers. Maj. Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft, Deputy Assistant. William E. Colby, Director of the CIA.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1582-10-20, Top education leaders meet. 10/4/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. National Congress of Parents and Teachers Association: Mrs. Lillie E. Herndon, President. Mrs. Grace Baisinger, Legislative Representative. American Association of School Administrators: William Austin, President Paul Salmon, Executive Secretary. Council of Chief State School Officers: Leonard J. DeLayo, President. Byron Hansford, Executive Secretary. National Education Association: Helen Wise, President. Terry Herndon, Executive Secretary. National Association of State Boards of Education: Richard Bye, President-elect. David Tronsgard, Executive Secretary. National School Boards Association: Mrs. Barbara Reimers, President. Harold Webb, Executive Director. Caspar W. Weinberger, Secretary of HEW. Frank C. Carlucci, Under Secretary of HEW. Sidney P. Marland, Jr., Assistant Secretary of HEW. John R. Ottina, Commissioner of Education, HEW. Charles B. Saunders, Deputy Secretary of HEW. Paul O'Neill) Associate Director of OMB. James H. Cavanaugh, Associate Director of the Domestic Council. Kenneth R. Cole Jr., Executive Director of the Domestic Council.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1582-14, President Nixon meets with top education leaders. 10/4/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, National Congress of Parents and Teachers Association: Mrs. Lillie E. Herndon, President. Mrs. Grace Baisinger, Legislative Representative. American Association of School Administrators: William Austin, President. Paul Salmon, Executive Secretary. Council of Chief State School Officers: Leonard J. DeLayo, President. Byron Hansford, Executive Secretary. National Education Association: Helen Wise, President. Terry Herndon, Executive Secretary. National Association of State Boards of Education: Richard Bye, President-elect. David Tronsgard, Executive Secretary. National School Boards Association: Mrs. Barbara Reimers, President. Harold Webb, Executive Director. Caspar W. Weinberger, Secretary of HEW. Frank C. Carlucci, Under Secretary of HEW. Sidney P. Marland, Jr., Assistant Secretary of HEW. John R. Ottina, Commissioner of Education, HEW. Charles B. Saunders, Deputy Secretary of HEW. Paul O'Neill, Associate Director of OMB. James H. Cavanaugh, Associate Director of the Domestic Council. Kenneth R. Cole Jr., Executive Director of the Domestic Council.

    Roll WHPO-E1583 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1583-, President Nixon with Fred Malek. 10/4/1973, Washington DC White House. President Nixon, Fred Malek.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-E1583-02-22, President Nixon meets with the Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. 10/4/1973, Washington DC White House. President Nixon, Adm. George W. Anderson, Jr., Chairman. William O. Baker, Leo Cherne, John S. Foster, Jr. Robert W. Galvin, Gordon Gray, Edward H. Land, Mrs. Clare Boothe Luce, Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller (R-New York), Edward Teller, Wheaton B. Byers, Executive Secretary, PFIAB. Cdr. Lionel H. Olmer, Special Assistant to Mr. Byers. Maj. Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft, Deputy Assistant. William E. Colby, Director of the CIA.

  • 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-100
      Photo opportunity with Caspar Weinberger & Cabinet-Cabinet Rm. (10/4/1973)

      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-318
      Press briefing by Caspar Weinberger. (10/4/1973, [not listed])

      Runtime: 22:03

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by ABC (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-6568
      "The Regis Philbin Show" with guest Fred Malek. President Richard Nixon.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 0:15
    • WHCA-6576
      Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:00

      8. Reasoner/Kashwahra: Gas dealers in Los Angeles, California. Time Code Start: 18:57. Keywords: energy, petroleum, oil supply, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources, businesses. Network: ABC.

      9. Smith: Gallop poll - American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) says impeach President Nixon. Time Code Start: 21:33. Keywords: Presidents, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, impeachment, public opinions, polls, approval ratings, Gallup poll, Harris poll. Network: ABC.

      10. Smith/Schoumacher: White House tapes. Time Code Start: 22:04. 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/Reynolds: Senate hearing with Benz. Time Code Start: 24:04. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: ABC.

      12. Reasoner/Tomlinson: Lieutenant Calley's appeal. Time Code Start: 26:11. Keywords: Indochina War, Vietnam War, Lt. Calley, My Lai Massacre, military trials, massacres, war crimes, atrocities, mass murders, civilians deaths, shootings. Network: ABC.

      13. Smith/Bell: War powers limited inside Red China. Time Code Start: 28:02. Keywords: People's Republic of China, politics. Network: ABC.

      14. Reasoner: Commentary on name changes of large company. Time Code Start: 30:45. Keywords: Businesses, executives, unemployment, titles, trademarks, brand names. Network: ABC.

      15. Chancellor/Delaney: Illegal bugging in Florida by GOP (Republican). Time Code Start: 32:43. Keywords: Republicans, political parties, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, investigations, recordings, Republicans, Republican Party. Network: NBC.

      16. Chancellor/Levine: Wholesale prices down. Time Code Start: 38:17. Keywords: wage and price controls, freezes, prices, costs, increases, decreases, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money. Network: NBC.

      17. Chancellor/Nessen: Vice President Agnew investigation. Time Code Start: 39:32. Keywords: Vice Presidents, resignations, terminations, taxes, investments, investigations, hearings. Network: NBC.

      18. Chancellor/Graham: American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) says impeach President Nixon, White House tapes. Time Code Start: 41:47. Keywords: Presidents, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, impeachment, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings. Network: NBC.

      19. Chancellor: Limitation of war powers with Representative Fasecell and Senator Jacob Javitts. Time Code Start: 44:03. Keywords: Presidents, power to wage war. Network: NBC.

      20. Brinkley: Commentary on war powers. Time Code Start: 45:52. Keywords: International, military, weapons, wars, power to wage war. Network: NBC.

      21. Chancellor/Goralski: Lieutenant Calley's case before courts again. Time Code Start: 47:42. Keywords: Indochina War, Vietnam War, Lt. Calley, My Lai Massacre, military trials, massacres, war crimes, atrocities, mass murders, civilians deaths, shootings. Network: NBC.

      22. Cronkite/McLauglin: Wholesale prices drop. Time Code Start: 49:45. Keywords: wage and price controls, freezes, prices, costs, increases, decreases, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money. Network: CBS.

      23. Cronkite/Schanke: Vice President Agnew investigation. Time Code Start: 52:53. Keywords: Vice Presidents, resignations, terminations, taxes, investments, investigations, hearings. Network: CBS.

      24. Cronkite/Schorr: Watergate hearings with Benz. Time Code Start: 54:20. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, impeachment, resignations. Network: CBS.

      25. Cronkite: American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) says impeach President Nixon; war powers. Time Code Start: 57:19. Keywords: Presidents, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, impeachment. Network: CBS.

      26. Cronkite/Anderson: American killed in Chile. Time Code Start: 58:05. Keywords: South American, coup d’etat, putsch, military takeovers, military junta, civil wars, General Augusto Pinochet. Network: CBS.

      27. Cronkite/Hottelet: Jewish situation in Austria. Time Code Start: 61:45. Keywords: Soviet Union, Russia, USSR, Jews, Jewish, Hebrew, Judaism, Austrian. Network: CBS.

      28. Severaid: News leaks in the Vice President Agnew investigation. Time Code Start: 63:08. Keywords: Vice Presidents, resignations, terminations, taxes, investments, investigations, hearings. Network: CBS.
    • WHCA-W-289
      Proceedings of the Senate Watergate Committee Hearings. Testimony of Martin Kelly
      WTTG
      Runtime: 01:05:45

Context (External Sources)