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September 21, 1972

Introduction

This almanac page for Thursday, September 21, 1972, 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, September 20, 1972

Next Date: Friday, September 22, 1972

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.

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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.

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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 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)
    Thursday, September 21.

    The President had a fairly full day of appointments and odds and ends, cleaning up prior to the travel tomorrow. Got into a discussion on political strategy. On the press question of whether a landslide is not good for Nixon because it would discourage youth, who would feel that the system hadn't responded and at best they'd be more turned off, and he feels we should hit the press back on this on the point that they feel that a landslide was so bad in 1964 when it was on the other side. It shows that people are getting away from Party line and they're not misguided by the media. They're showing the ability that they have to make the right decision.

    Got into some discussion on post-election ideas, the importance of appointing Catholics, Italians, Poles and Democrats to top jobs. Also Labor people. Wants to be sure we get the names of top Democrats from Connally and wants to get George Christian on our staff if we can. He feels we should not keep Flanigan, except possibly as chairman of a commission. He doesn't have the subtlety to work in the White House. Also Klein and Finch must go. Finch, of course, is anyway. On Supreme Court appointments, they're to be all conservative. The next one is to be a Catholic, the best ethnic we can get, or the Fordham Dean. Then we need a woman. He's not concerned about Jews on either the Cabinet or the Court, any of the courts, but will keep Stein and Kissinger. As a guideline, we should work for Catholics, Labor, ethnic, Democrats. Not blacks, not Jews. He says he'll give Volpe Ambassador to Rome, if he wants it. No Democrat is to be appointed to anything unless he supported the President. In other words, it's only our Democrats that are to be considered at all.

    Rogers called to report that he had talked to Teddy Kennedy. There was concern before his call that Kennedy was calling to say he was going to go to Stockholm or Paris to pick up the POW families and avoid their doing a military debriefing, and so on. But Rogers called after his meeting with Teddy, and that Teddy had come to him as head of the Refugee Committee and said that he wanted to send a group to North Vietnam of doctors, nutrition experts, and so on, to see what's needed to rehabilitate North Vietnam after the war. He says he won't do it until after the election because it would be considered political otherwise, and that he'll make no statement on it before the election, but he has talked to some individual people. That he was telling Bill this just for his information, not asking for support on it or anything like that. Bill mentioned to him that he guessed he'd be hitting the stump pretty soon, and Teddy laughed and said I'm awfully busy, I have a lot of work that we ought to do here and I'd sure like to avoid it if I can.

    End of September 21.
  • 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

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. VIII, Vietnam, January-October 1972

The Parties Move Toward Agreement, July 19-October 7, 1972

Vol. XV, Soviet Union, June 1972-August 1974

Economic Normalization and Soviet Jewish Emigration, September-December 1972

Vol. XX, Southeast Asia, 1969-1972

Philippines

Vol. XXIV, Middle East Region and Arabian Peninsula, 1969-1972; Jordan, September 1970

Persian Gulf States

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

Vol. E-5, Part 1, Documents on Sub-Saharan Africa, 1969-1972

Uganda

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

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

Cabinet Room

Old Executive Office Building

Oval Office

White House Telephone

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-D0428 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

  • Frame(s): WHPO-D0428-, President Nixon standing with Senator J. Glenn Beall, Jr., Congressmen Charles Gubser, Otis Pike, and Robert Nolan of the Fleet Reserve Association. 9/21/1972, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, J. Glenn Beall, Jr., Charles Gubser, Otis Pike, Robert Nolan.

Roll WHPO-D0429 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

  • Frame(s): WHPO-D0429-, President Nixon signing the bill H.R. 10670, for retired military survivor benefits, while Melvin Laird and others look on. 9/21/1972, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, Melvin Laird, unidentified Congressman and Senators.
  • Frame(s): WHPO-D0429-09, President Nixon signing the bill H.R. 10670, for retired military survivor benefits, while Melvin Laird and others look on. 9/21/1972, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, Melvin Laird, unidentified Congressman and Senators.

Roll WHPO-D0430 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

  • Frame(s): WHPO-D0430-, President Nixon shaking hands with Congressman William Chappell, Jr. 9/21/1972, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, William Chappell, Jr.

Roll WHPO-D0431 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

  • Frame(s): WHPO-D0431-, President Nixon signing the bill H.R.2, establishing the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, as Frank Slatinshek, Richard Wilbur, F. Edward Hebert, Charles Bennett, Melvin Laird, Leslie Arends, Durward Gorham Hall, Dr. Louis Rousselot, officials and Congressmen look on. 9/21/1972, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Frank Slatinshek, Richard Wilbur, F. Edward Hebert, Charles Bennett, Melvin Laird, Leslie Arends, Durward Gorham Hall, Dr. Louis Rousselot.
  • Frame(s): WHPO-D0431-03A, President Nixon signing the bill H.R.2, establishing the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, as Frank Slatinshek, Richard Wilbur, F. Edward Hebert, Charles Bennett, Melvin Laird, Leslie Arends, Durward Gorham Hall, Dr. Louis Rousselot, o. 9/21/1972, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Frank Slatinshek, Richard Wilbur, F. Edward Hebert, Charles Bennett, Melvin Laird, Leslie Arends, Durward Gorham Hall, Dr. Louis Rousselot.

Roll WHPO-D0432 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

  • Frame(s): WHPO-D0432-, President Nixon standing with author Frank van der Linden. 9/21/1972, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Frank van der Linden.

Roll WHPO-D0455 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

  • Frame(s): WHPO-D0455-, President Nixon standing with Rep. Casey. 9/21/1972, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Robert Casey.

Roll WHPO-D0464 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

  • Frame(s): WHPO-D0464-, Pat Nixon greeting individuals in a receiving line at an American Cancer Society function. 9/21/1972, Los Angeles, California unknown. Pat Nixon, American Cancer Society awardees, officials, guests.
  • Frame(s): WHPO-D0464-19A, Pat Nixon presenting an award to a recipient while actor Gene Kelly looks on at an American Cancer Society function. 9/21/1972, Los Angeles, California unknown. Pat Nixon, Gene Kelly, American Cancer Society awardee.

Roll WHPO-D0465 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

  • Frame(s): WHPO-D0465-, Pat Nixon at a campaign rally. 9/21/1972, Riverside, California outdoor area, Rose Garden Village. Pat Nixon, unidentified men, women, and children.

Roll WHPO-D0466 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

  • Frame(s): WHPO-D0466-, Pat Nixon greeting residents at various sites. 9/21/1972, Riverside, California living areas, Rose Garden Village. Pat Nixon, unidentified men and women.

Roll WHPO-D0467 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

  • Frame(s): WHPO-D0467-, Pat Nixon greeting women inside and on a dais, unveiling a plaque, outside. 9/21/1972, Riverside, California unidentified room, outside area, Rose Garden Village. Pat Nixon, unidentified men and women.
  • Frame(s): WHPO-D0467-14, Pat Nixon, outside, unveiling a memorial plaque in honor of Hannah M. Nixon with the assistance of two unidentified people. 9/21/1972, Riverside, California unidentified room, outside area, Rose Garden Village. Pat Nixon, unidentified man and woman.

Roll WHPO-D0469 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

  • Frame(s): WHPO-D0469-04A-08A, Pat Nixon speaking at a podium during an American Cancer Society function. 9/21/1972, Los Angeles, California unknown. Pat Nixon, American Cancer Society officials, guests.

Roll WHPO-D0491 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

  • Frame(s): WHPO-D0491-03-20, Julie Eisenhower at the North Dakota United Indian Trade School (American Indian). 9/21/1972, Bismarck, North Dakota United Indian Trade School rooms. Julie Eisenhower, unidentified children and adults.
  • Frame(s): WHPO-D0491-21-36, Julie Eisenhower at the President Nixon campaign headquarters in Bismarck, ND. 9/21/1972, Bismarck, North Dakota lobby, outside, headquarters. Julie Eisenhower.

Roll WHPO-D0492 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

  • Frame(s): WHPO-D0492-, Julie Eisenhower speaking at an outdoor assembly and visiting classrooms. 9/21/1972, Bismarck, North Dakota outside, classrooms, United Indian Trade School. Julie Eisenhower, unidentified adults and children.

Roll WHPO-D0493 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

  • Frame(s): WHPO-D0493-01-12, Julie Nixon Eisenhower visits the United Indian Trade School in Bismarck (American Indian). 9/21/1972, Bismarck, North Dakota United Indian Trade School, headquarters, airport. Julie Eisenhower, unidentified adults and children.
  • Frame(s): WHPO-D0493-13-16, Julie Nixon Eisenhower visits President Nixon's Bismarck, North Dakota campaign headquarters. 9/21/1972, Bismarck, North Dakota United Indian Trade School, headquarters, airport. Julie Eisenhower, unidentified adults and children.
  • Frame(s): WHPO-D0493-17-19, Julie Nixon Eisenhower greeting people as she prepares to depart from the Bismarck, North Dakota airport. 9/21/1972, Bismarck, North Dakota United Indian Trade School, headquarters, airport. Julie Eisenhower, unidentified adults and children.

Roll WHPO-D0506 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

  • Frame(s): WHPO-D0506-00-05, Vice President Agnew addressing an assembly in Nashville during a campaign trip. 9/21/1972, Nashville, Tennessee convention-type hall. Spiro Agnew, officials, guests, unidentified men.
  • Frame(s): WHPO-D0506-08-18, Vice President Agnew and an an unidentified staff member seated on his plane Air Force Two (AF2) during a campaign trip. 9/21/1972, enroute Air Force Two (AF2), interior. Spiro Agnew, unidentified men.

Roll WHPO-D0508 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

  • Frame(s): WHPO-D0508-, Vice President Agnew greeting crowds, addressing a large assembly, meeting around a conference table, and shaking individuals' hands during a campaign trip. 9/21/1972, Nashville, Tennessee unknown. Agnew, crowd, guests, unidentified men.

Roll WHPO-D0509 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

  • Frame(s): WHPO-D0509-, Vice President Agnew arriving at the airport, speaking to an assembly, seated on a platform with an unidentified man, and leaving by airplane during a campaign trip. 9/21/1972, Nashville, Tennessee airport, unidentified sites. Spiro Agnew, officials, guests, unidentified man.

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.

G - Cabinet Officer Briefings

  • WHCA-SR-G-189
    Press Briefing by Secretary of the Interior Rogers Morton, Barbara Franklin, and Professor Whitman, with Ronald Ziegler. (9/21/1972, White House Press Lobby)

    Runtime: 62:52:00

    Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by JMM (initials of WHCA engineer)

    Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

P - Formal Presidential Remarks

  • WHCA-SR-P-720913
    Remarks by President Nixon at bill signing ceremony with ML. (9/21/1972)

    Runtime: 3:01

    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-5784
    Weekly News Summary, Tape III.
    ALL NETWORKS
    Runtime: 1:00

    1. Reasoner: Vietnam war casualty list shows no U.S. troop deaths for week, 1st time since March, 1965; South Vietnam, President Thieu completes tour of northern fronts,. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: Vietnam War, killed in action, KIA, fatalities, casualties, Presidents, travel, trips. Network: ABC.

    2. Reynolds: McGovern campaigning in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Time Code Start: 00:45. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates. Network: ABC.

    3. Reasoner/Gill: Vice President Agnew on the wheat deal. Time Code Start: 03:58. Keywords: Vice Presidents, statements, speeches, media, press conferences, news conferences, interviews, American, Soviet Union, USSR, Russia, food, grains, sales. Network: ABC.

    4. Sherwood: First Lady Pat Nixon campaigning. Time Code Start: 06:40. Keywords: Presidents, families, wife, Presidential elections, campaigns. Network: ABC.

    5. Reasoner: Commentary on verities; changes that really didn't occur after 1960s new thinking, marriage counselor swamped with marriage problems of the unwed-but-living-together, co-habitation sans wedlock, marijuana,. Time Code Start: 09:18. Keywords: lifestyles, criticisms, psychology, drugs, smoking, permissiveness, disappointments. Network: ABC.

    6. Chancellor/Jones: Death toll in Vietnam; Quang Tri. Time Code Start: 11:03. Keywords: Vietnam War, Killed in Action, KIA, troops, death tolls, fatalities, casualties. Network: NBC.

    7. Chancellor/Valeriani: McGovern in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and New York. Time Code Start: 15:09. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates. Network: NBC.

    8. Kiker: First Lady Pat Nixon campaigning. Time Code Start: 17:47. Keywords: Presidents, families, wife, Presidential elections, campaigns. Network: NBC.

    9. Cronkite/Dunning/Dick: Killed in Action (KIA), Saigon, Vietnam, POWs. Time Code Start: 20:18. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War, Killed in Action, troops, death, fatalities, casualties, POWs, Vietnam War. Network: CBS.

    10. Cronkite/Kalb: McGovern on defense. Time Code Start: 26:03. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates. Network: CBS.

    11. Cronkite/Schorr: Watergate bugging trial won't be aired in court before election, Criminal case in recess, Civil trial halted; Justice Department and Nixon admininistration criticized. Time Code Start: 29:25. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, trials, recesses, scandals, Presidential elections, campaigns, headquarters, bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, investigations, recordings. Network: CBS.

    12. Cronkite/McLaughlin: First Lady Pat Nixon campaigning in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming; Old Faithful geyser filmed, Idaho Falls, Idaho) Rally held at Nixon campaign headquarters. Time Code Start: 31:46. Keywords: Presidents, families, wife, travel, trips, First Lady trips, domestic, Presidential elections, campaigns, National Parks,. Network: CBS.

    13. Chase: Mrs. McGovern in Iowa. Time Code Start: 33:26. Keywords: Senators, families, wife, travel, Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)

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.

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.