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September 4, 1973

Introduction

This almanac page for Tuesday, September 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: Monday, September 3, 1973

Next Date: Wednesday, September 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.

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. XXV, Arab-Israeli Crisis and War, 1973

    Arab-Israeli Crisis and War, 1973

    Vol. XXXVI, Energy Crisis, 1969-1974

    March 8-October 5, 1973

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

    Law of the Sea

    • 6. Airgram A–7576 From the Department of State to All Diplomatic Posts, Washington, September 4, 1973

      Acting Secretary Rush forwarded the final report of the U.S. Delegation to the July/August 1973 Seabed Committee Session, which also acted as a preparatory conference for the UNCLOS III.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–1973, POL 33–8, 9–17–73. Confidential. Drafted by Leitzell; cleared by Stevenson, S/FW–COA, L/OA, JCS, Defense, Interior, NOAA, NSF, CEQ, Treasury, and the Coast Guard; and approved by Moore. A copy was sent to Hong Kong.

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

    Western Europe Regional, 1973-1976

    • 32. Message From British Prime Minister Heath to President Nixon, London, September 4, 1973, 1240Z

      Summary: Heath discussed the state of U.S.-West European relations.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 431, Backchannel, HOTLINE CABOfc London 1972–. Secret; Immediate. The reference to Nixon’s message of August 3 is apparently a typographical error. Under cover of an August 3 memorandum, Sykes forwarded to Nixon an interim reply from Heath to Nixon’s July 26 message, in which Heath urged that they not permit “misunderstandings, on both sides of the Atlantic” to obscure their common goal “of reaffirming the purposes and vitality of the Atlantic relationship.” (Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Kissinger-Scowcroft West Wing Office Files, Box 23, United Kingdom (9))

  • 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 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-730904
      Swearing-in ceremony for William Colby as CIA Director with Colby. (9/4/1973)

      Runtime: 2:05

      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-280
      Press briefing by Gerald Warren. (9/4/1973, White House Press Center)

      Runtime: 39:25:00

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by RHS (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-6523
      "NBC Reports: An American White Paper - The Energy Crisis".
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:34:45
    • WHCA-6524
      "NBC Reports: The Energy Crisis: Oil".
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 01:30:25
    • WHCA-6535
      Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:30

      1. Reasoner/Jarriel: Colby sworn in as Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director with President Nixon. Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, national security, intelligence gathering, covert activities, spying, espionage. Network: ABC.

      2. Chancellor/Stern: White House tapes case now in Appeals Court. Time Code Start: 02:19. 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.

      3. Chancellor/Mackin/Valeriani: Los Angeles, California Ellsberg Grand Jury nears indictments; Colby sworn in as Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director (President Nixon); New York Post financial report of President Nixon's homes. Time Code Start: 04:10. Keywords: Armed Forces, military, classified documents, secrets, Watergate, investigations, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals, Pentagon papers, Lewis Fielding, Presidents, real estate, finances, swearing in ceremony. Network: NBC.

      4. Cronkite/Chase/Duval/Plante/Kilpatrick: Food prices down from July. Time Code Start: 07:20. Keywords: food, prices, costs, increases, shortages. Network: CBS.

      5. Cronkite/Rather: Presidential veto likely; Colby sworn in as Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director with President Nixon. Time Code Start: 11:02. Keywords: Presidents, bills, laws, vetoes, appointees, swearing in ceremony, national security, intelligence gathering, covert activities, spying, espionage. Network: CBS.

      6. Cronkite/Kalb: Arab oil; the U.S. and the Israel arms delivery. Time Code Start: 12:01. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, Arabian, Arabs, Israeli, aid, war, energy, petroleum, drilling, oil supply, oil supplies, imports. Network: CBS.

      7. Cronkite: Polls about Watergate; GOP (Republican) freshman Congressmen learn voter's thoughts on Watergate. Time Code Start: 14:31. Keywords: Watergate, hearings, burglary, impeachment, resignations, investigations, public opinions, polls, approval ratings, Gallup poll, Harris poll, Republicans, House of Representatives. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)