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September 28, 1972

Introduction

This almanac page for Thursday, September 28, 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 27, 1972

Next Date: Friday, September 29, 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 Century Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles, California

  • 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.

    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.

    • Annotated and Unmarked News Summaries [Note: Although there was no News Summary on this date, due to the way News Summary products were compiled, you should also consult nearby days for potentially relevant materials.]

    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.

  • 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 28th. The President did the cancer meeting this morning and then we returned to Washington, a lot of time to talk on the plane. He was, reacted rather adversely to the New York Times endorsement, not surprisingly, that is, their endorsement of McGovern. He wants the Times now totally cut off as an enemy, which we all agree we ought to do. He talked a little about the grain deal and how to handle that, since the TV zoomed in on it pretty hard last night. He thinks that we should admit guilt, if there is some somewhere, that we, Butz should investigate it and act, suspending the people who were involved and get something done so we can get it off our backs.

      On the Al Smith dinner, he had a lot of instructions for the Vice President. He wants him to go to the Cardinal's reception ahead of time and shake hands with everyone, go early, sit through the whole dinner. His talk should be very light, non-substantive, non-political, friendly, and humorous. No blatant appeal to Jews or Catholics, don't praise the President, don't mention the election, lean over backward on the political side. If he does that, he'll be a great contrast to the McGovern method and should be very effective.

      We discussed the Ft. Wayne deal a little bit. That’s the personal information about McGovern's college caper. Mitchell told me yesterday in New York, that, or the day before, that Keith Beulan had the birth certificate photostat and, in fact, Mitchell had a copy of it, that was pulled out of the file. We're concerned now that Ken may have leaked this, which, of course, was contrary to all of his instructions, and the President was very concerned today that it not be used in any way. I've got to get back to Ken on it, see where that stands.

      Kissinger got back from Paris last evening and I talked to him on the phone, told him the President would call him if he wanted him to. Henry said no need to, that he couldn't talk on the phone, but he did have to meet with him when he got back to Washington, so we set up dinner on the Sequoia tonight, Kissinger, Haig and I with the President. Henry went through his whole status as of now, and he is convinced that the North Vietnamese do want to settle.

      -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      DECLASSIFIED - E.O. 13526, Sect. 3.4: by MS, NARA, June 12, 2013
      Audio Cassette 25, Side A, Withdrawn Item Number 7 [AC-25(A) Sel 6-1]
      Duration: 7 seconds

      The hang-up still is dumping Thieu.
      -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      And Henry has a proposal where we--, that he wants to go back with next week, when he's committed to go back for a three-day meeting. This time, to offer, what he wants to do is send Haig to Saigon tomorrow, have him meet with Thieu...

      -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      DECLASSIFIED - E.O. 13526, Sect. 3.4: by MS, NARA, June 12, 2013
      Audio Cassette 25, Side A, Withdrawn Item Number 7 [AC-25(A) Sel 6-2]
      Duration: 46 seconds

      …and get an agreement from Thieu to secretly agree to step down, sometime around January. And to agree to North Vietnam's idea of a government of concord, which we would change to a committee of reconciliation, which the North Vietnamese have remarkably proposed consist of twelve people, with any action requiring a unanimous vote, which, of course, they'll never get. Henry feels this will, all this is a face-saving move for North Vietnam. That they recognize that it can have no effect, and that this gives us our opening we've been looking for in a settlement.
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      He thinks we can move to an announcement of the settlement in sometime between the 20th and 30th of October, which would take effect in, with the cease-fire in place, and a start of the release of prisoners in November.

      -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      DECLASSIFIED - E.O. 13526, Sect. 3.4: by MS, NARA, June 12, 2013
      Audio Cassette 25, Side A, Withdrawn Item Number 7 [AC-25(A) Sel 6-3]
      Duration: 13 seconds

      And then, the Thieu step-down in January. That's remaining secret for the time being, though.
      -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Considerable discussion of this. The President had gone into the meeting prepared to tell Henry that he couldn't make a deal. He feels strongly that, as far as the election's concerned, we're much better off to maintain the present position. The part of Henry's argument that carried some weight, though, is the problem of how to deal with Vietnam after the election, and the clear point that we can't just sustain our present course forever; that we've got to go for a break, and that the break pre-election may be more likely than a break afterwards; and that this is the honorable settlement that we sought. It does not involve selling out South Vietnam to the Communists, and, therefore, is satisfactory to us, and we should follow it. It was left that that's what we'd do, after the President did considerable questioning of Haig and Kissinger as to how they would go about dealing with Thieu. Nobody feels that there's much better, much more than about an even chance of Thieu going along with it, but if he doesn't, they'll move to a plan two, which is basically the same thing, but...

      -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      DECLASSIFIED - E.O. 13526, Sect. 3.4: by MS, NARA, June 12, 2013
      Audio Cassette 25, Side A, Withdrawn Item Number 7 [AC-25(A) Sel 6-4]
      Duration: 9 seconds

      …without the Thieu step-down deal.
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      They feels sure that North Vietnam will reject this, but at least it puts us in the position of coming back with a counteroffer which will require a further meeting, carry the thing up to the latter part of October before the talks break off, which is good. We're in the ironic position of wanting to continue the talks as long as possible if we're not going to settle, but wanting to complete them as soon as possible if we do, because the closer the settlement comes to the election, now, the more it'll look like a political ploy, which in no way, which it is in no way, but it will be hard to sell that if we have to announce the settlement just before the election. Even so, it's worth doing as long as it doesn't involve the fact or appearance of a sellout, and they feel that can be avoided. It was interesting to see Henry turn the President around on this, on the grounds of the problem of how to deal with, of dealing with this after the election, since the President's approach to it was based on his thought that Henry was trying to get a settlement before the election for the value to us politically, which the President feels is negative rather than positive.

      End of September 28th.
    • 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. 

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    Nixon Library Holdings

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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. XX, Southeast Asia, 1969-1972

    Thailand

    Vol. E-10, Documents on American Republics, 1969-1972

    Guatemala

    • 364. Memorandum From William J. Jorden of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, September 28, 1972., Washington, September 28, 1972

      National Security Council staff member Jorden informed President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger that the Guatemalan Government had captured and executed the top leadership of the country’s Communist Party.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 785, Country Files, Latin America, Guatemala, Vol. I. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Sent for information. The memorandum was sent through Haig and Kissinger initialed the document. Attached but not published is a September 27 CIA Intelligence Information Cable, TDCS DB–315/08103–72. In telegram 4337 from Guatemala City, September 29, the Embassy reported that the PGT’s top leadership had disappeared, concluding that the danger of retaliatory action by the extreme left increased so it was tightening security precautions. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 12 GUAT)

  • 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.

    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-D0547 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-D0547-, Pat Price standing with a tour group. 9/28/1972, Washington, D.C. Diplomatic Entrance stairs, White House. Pat Price, tourists.

    Roll WHPO-D0571 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-D0571-, President Nixon receiving a plaque from Dr. A. Hamblin Letton, President of the American Cancer Society. 9/28/1972, Los Angeles, California Biltmore Hotel. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, A. Hamblin Letton, Frank Rauscher, R. Lee Clark, guests.

    Roll WHPO-D0572 Photographer: Moore, Robert (Supervisor/Director, WHPO Photographic Laboratory) | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-D0572-, President Nixon greeting officials, receiving a plaque, and addressing guests at the Seventh National Cancer Conference. 9/28/1972, Los Angeles, California Biltmore Hotel. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, A. Hamblin Letton, Frank Rauscher, R. Lee Clark, officials, guests.

    Roll WHPO-D0573 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-D0573-02-09, President Nixon receiving a plaque at the Seventh National Cancer Conference. 9/28/1972, Los Angeles, California Biltmore Hotel; tarmac, Los Angeles International Airport. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, A. Hamblin Letton, officials, policemen.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-D0573-10-14, President Nixon saying goodbye to officials and reviewing a line of motorcycle policemen. 9/28/1972, Los Angeles, California Biltmore Hotel; tarmac, Los Angeles International Airport. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, A. Hamblin Letton, officials, policemen.

  • 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-720925
      Remarks by President Nixon to Am. Cancer Institute in LA. (9/28/1972)

      Runtime: 15:28

      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-5792
      "Today" Show excerpt. Julie Nixon Eisenhower.
      NBC
      Runtime: 00:13:40
    • WHCA-5795
      Weekly News Summary, Tape III.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:30

      2. Reasoner/Donaldson/Koppel: POWs to arrive in New York tonight. Time Code Start: 11:53. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War, releases, arrivals. Network: ABC.

      3. Smith/Clark: Peace Talk rumors; Lavelle hearings. Time Code Start: 15:30. Keywords: Vietnam War, Air Force, military officials, bombings, Sentate, hearings, investigations, retirement, hearings, investigations. Network: ABC.

      4. Reasoner/Jarriel: (President Nixon) in California. Time Code Start: 18:40. Keywords: Presidents, travel, trips, Nixon trips, domestic, Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates. Network: ABC.

      5. Smith/Matney: (McGovern) news conference criticizes crime stats. Time Code Start: 21:04. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates, anti-crime, security, police, crime prevention, statistics. Network: ABC.

      6. Reasoner: (Shriver) and (Ambrose) in Milwaukee. Time Code Start: 22:57. Keywords: Vice Presidents, Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates. Network: ABC.

      7. Reasoner/Shoumacher/Koppel: POWs arriving in New York. Time Code Start: 25:18. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War, releases, arrivals. Network: ABC.

      8. Reasoner/Shoumacher/Koppel: More on the POWs. Time Code Start: 29:30. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War. Network: ABC.

      9. Chancellor/Utley/Quinn: POWs to arrive in U.S. tonight. Time Code Start: 34:03. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War, releases, arrivals. Network: NBC.

      10. Chancellor/Goralski: Unauthorized bombing by Navy. Time Code Start: 38:07. Keywords: Vietnam War, bombings. Network: NBC.

      11. Chancellor/Stern: Crime statistics with Kleindienst. Time Code Start: 40:27. Keywords: bills, laws, House of Representatives, anti-crime, offences, infractions, criminals, criminality, law breaking. Network: NBC.

      12. Chancellor/Valeriani: (McGovern) press conference. Time Code Start: 43:23. Keywords: media, press conferences, news conferences, interviews. Network: NBC.

      13. Chancellor/Mackin: (President Nixon) campaign. Time Code Start: 45:18. Keywords: Presidents,. Network: NBC.

      14. Cronkite/Morton: (McGovern) press conference. Time Code Start: 48:28. Keywords: media, press conferences, news conferences, interviews. Network: CBS.

      15. Cronkite/Schorr: Crime statistics with (Kleindienst, McGovern). Time Code Start: 50:51. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates, anti-crime, security, police, crime prevention, statistics. Network: CBS.

      16. Cronkite/DrinkwaterL POWs reaction to release. Time Code Start: 53:03. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War, releases, arrivals. Network: CBS.

      17. Cronkite/Lawrence/Collins: POWs arriving in New York. Time Code Start: 60:40. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War, releases, arrivals. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)