September 6, 1972

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 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.

• Message to Prime Minister Golda Meir of Israel About the Deaths of Israeli Athletes at the Olympic Games in Munich, Germany

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, September 6, 1972

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

• Senate: September 6, 1972
• House of Representatives: September 6, 1972
• Extensions of Remarks: September 6, 1972

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 51, News Summaries - September 1972 [1 of 6] [Note: Due to the way News Summary products were compiled, you should also consult nearby days for potentially relevant materials.]
  • News Summary, Sept. 6, 1972, (Tuesday nets, wires, mags)
• President's Daily Schedule, Box 102, [President's Daily Schedule, Aug.-Sept. 1972] [1 of 2]
  • The President's Schedule, Wednesday - September 6, 1972

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)
  Wednesday, September 6.
  
  President met with Rogers and Kissinger first thing this morning on the Israeli hostage question. He wants Rogers to take the matter to the UN in order to keep Rogers busy. They didn't get into a discussion of Kissinger's tour, but Rogers apparently is still maneuvering around in various ways to screw that up, which is, of course, driving Henry up the wall. President is fortunately off the idea of going to the services but is talking about going to church at the time of the funeral without any prior announcement.
  
  He had Ehrlichman and Colson in. We discussed general campaign strategy, the need to keep McGovern answering, positive stuff on our side won't do this; we should pay no attention to his attacks, except at a low level to keep the record clear. Their attack on us will eventually seep through because they have the media with them. Clawson's right, Scali's wrong on this. We'll now see a total media support effort. The question as to how to combat is we have to attack McGovern where he's vulnerable. We should hit these points all the time. More people on welfare, they'll pay more to welfare people than to workers, they'll raise taxes because of the increase in government spending, they'll cause inflation, and ultimately a recession. Also, the social issue, particularly amnesty and marijuana, because it grabs the Catholic Democrats, and must be hit along with lifestyle, McGovern's type of people. On foreign policy, hit him as being totally naive, hitting his judgment. Keep them talking about Vietnam, repeat the bugout charge. Don't respond as we did last week. Go all out on the attack, where he's weak: on welfare, taxes, social, tie the radicals to him, and foreign policy, and the second strongest nation point. The main thing is attack and make him answer. Use flyers at McGovern meetings, and demand that he answer this, force him to respond to the attack, run an ad in the Wall Street Journal. The Democrats for Nixon hit McGovern's duplicity in his Wall Street Journal ad.
  
  We had a long meeting with Connally, he got into the IMF speech question. Connally makes the point the President should do it but should speak to the United States rather than to the IMF, talking about fighting inflation, increasing productivity, insisting on equality in order to create new jobs, and so on. He should keep hitting McGovern, because he'll get mean if we do. His only hope is overkill by us and sympathy on his side, which we've got to be careful of. We should hit the point that the nation is fed up with those who degrade it, tearing down, belittling, destroying. This would be a good speech for Agnew, or could be worked into the President's Alamo speech on the spirit of America.
  
  Connally makes a good pitch on tax reform, that when McGovern talks about it, we shouldn't talk about a new program, we should hit the specifics of what we've done. We've taken 9.5 million people off of the tax rolls at the low income level, we've reduced personal income taxes $19.5 billion dollars, we've reduced the excise tax, which is paid by individuals by $3.5 billion. We've raised corporation taxes $4.5 billion. We will reduce the property tax. There are two reform bills in '69-'71 are the most sweeping tax reform in this century, since the income tax started. We should hit McGovern's tax proposals as old proposals that were submitted to Lyndon Johnson and he thought they were so bad he wouldn't even send them to Congress. Connally raises the point that Gene McCarthy wants an FCC or public broadcasting spot, and that he would give a public endorsement to the President. He hates McGovern.
  
  President wants to set up a regular weekly meeting on Tuesday nights at Camp David, with Connally, Mitchell, MacGregor, and me. Connally then had his Democratic crew in. President met all of them, they were quite an impressive group. Then he covered a couple of odds and ends on news summary, strategy, and so forth, and left for the house fairly early.
  
  End of September 6.
• Original audio recording (MP3)

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Nixon Library Holdings

• Text search for September 6, 1972
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All National Archives Units

• Text search for September 6, 1972
• Date search for September 6, 1972

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 06 September 1972

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. II, Organization and Management of U.S. Foreign Policy, 1969-1972

The Intelligence Community and the White House

• 282. Memorandum From the Director of the Net Assessment Group, National Security Council (Marshall) to the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig), Washington, September 6, 1972

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Name Files, Box 825, Marshall, Andrew, Vol. II. Top Secret. Haig initialed the memorandum and wrote on the first page: “Andy we still need to get together, hopefully Tues or Wed next week.”

Vol. V, United Nations, 1969-1972

High-Level Meetings; Miscellaneous Issues

• 44. Telegram From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State, New York, September 6, 1972, 1808Z

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, UN 6 KOR N. Confidential; Exdis. Repeated to Seoul, Tokyo, London, Moscow, and Hong Kong.

Vol. XVII, China, 1969-1972

Questions Pertaining to Tibet, 1969-1972

• 280. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Green) and the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Sisco) to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Johnson), Washington, September 6, 1972

  Source: Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Tibet, 1969–1976. Secret; Eyes Only. Sent through McAfee (INR). Concurred in by Van Hollen and Schneider (NEA) and Hummel and Jenkins (EA).

Vol. XXIII, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1969-1972

Proximity Talks and the Backchannel: Separate Department of State and White House Negotiating Tricks

• 307. Memorandum for the President’s Files by the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig), Washington, September 6, 1972

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Special Files, President’s Office Files, Box 77. Secret. The meeting took place in the Oval Office. There are tape recordings of this meeting and an earlier meeting. (Ibid., White House Tapes, Oval Office, Conversation Nos. 771–2 and 771–5) Transcripts are printed in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, volume E–1, Documents on Global Issues, 1969–1972, Documents 93 and 95.

Vol. XXXIX, European Security

Prelude to Negotiations, June 1972-November 1972

• 109. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Rogers and the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, September 6, 1972, 2:42 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Henry A. Kissinger Telephone Transcripts (Telcons), Box 15, Chronological File. No classification marking.

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

• 92. Memorandum From Samuel Hoskinson of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, September 6, 1972

  Kissinger was informed that the Israeli Olympic athletes were killed during a rescue mission attempted by West German security forces. Hoskinson suggested that there was very little that could be done to prevent terrorism.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 368, 1976 Olympics. Secret. Sent for action. Kissinger wrote: “Thanks, Sam” on the first page. Attached but not published was a memorandum for the President to use at a meeting with Rogers and Kissinger.

• 93. Conversation Between President Nixon and the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, September 6, 1972, 8:13 a.m.

  Prior to meeting with Secretary of State Rogers and the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs Haig at 8:30 a.m., the President and Kissinger discussed how to respond to the Munich Olympic massacre.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Tapes, Oval Office, Conversation 771-2. No classification marking. The editors transcribed the portion of the conversation published here specifically for this volume. At 8:32 a.m., Rogers and Haig joined the President and Kissinger; see Document 94.

• 94. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig) for the President’s File,, Washington, September 6, 1972, 8:30 a.m.

  The President, his Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger, Secretary of State Rogers, and Haig discussed how to respond to the deaths of 11 Israeli athletes in Munich.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 998, Haig Memcons, Jan-Dec, 1972. Secret. Drafted by Haig on September 11. Haig stated that the meeting began at 10 a.m., but according to the President’s Daily Diary it began at 8:30 a.m. (Ibid., White House Central Files)

• 95. Conversation Among President Nixon, the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), and White House Chief of Staff (Haldeman), Washington, September 6, 1972, 9:53 a.m.-12:38 p.m.

  Discussion of how to respond to the Munich Olympic terrorist incidents.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Tapes, Oval Office, Conversation No. 771-5. No classification marking. The editors transcribed the portion of the conversation published here specifically for this volume.

• 96. Memorandum From Samuel M. Hoskinson and Fernando Rondon of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, September 6, 1972

  Hoskinson and Rondon recommended that action against international terrorism should not be pursued in the United Nations at this time.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 368, 1976 Olympics. Secret. Sent for action. A handwritten note on the memorandum reads: “OBE.” There is no indication that Kissinger agreed or disagreed with any of the recommendations.

• 97. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon, Washington, September 6, 1972

  Rogers informed the President of the anti-terrorism initiatives he planned to take after the Municfh Olympics massacre.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, President’s Evening Reading: Lot 74 D 164. No classification marking.

Vol. E-13, Documents on China, 1969-1972

• 154. Memorandum of Conversation, New York, September 6, 1972, 7:20-7:45 p.m., New York, September 6, 1972, 7:20-7:45 p.m.

  Chinese Ambassador to the UN Huang Hua and NSC staff member Rodman briefly discussed President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger’s upcoming meeting with Huang. Huang provided Rodman with a message referencing the August 22 sinking of the PRC lifeboat and an additional message with regards to Senator Mansfield’s proposed trip to the People’s Republic of China.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 850, President’s File-China Trip, China Exchanges, June 25, 1972-Oct 17, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting was held at the PRC Mission at the UN. Tabs A and B are attached. A typed notation on the message at Tab A reads: “Handed to Rodman by Ambassador Huang, 9/6/72.”

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.

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

Old Executive Office Building

• 362-25; Unknown between 12:40 p.m. & 2:16 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator
• 362-26; Unknown between 12:40 p.m. & 2:16 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]; White House operator
• 362-27; Unknown between 2:16 p.m. & 2:50 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Butterfield, Alexander P.
• 362-28; Unknown between 2:16 p.m. & 2:50 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 362-29; Unknown between 2:16 p.m. & 2:50 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 362-30; Unknown between 2:16 p.m. & 2:50 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 362-31; 2:50 p.m. - 3:28 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Colson, Charles W.

Oval Office

• 770-1; 4:42 p.m. - 6:04 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Connally, John B.; White House operator; [Unknown person(s)]; Butterfield, Alexander P.; Berger, Benjamin; Berger, Dorothy; Sanchez, Manolo
• 771-1; Unknown between 7:53 a.m. & 8:13 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President)
• 771-2; 8:13 a.m. - 9:48 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.; Butterfield, Alexander P.; Rogers, William P.; Haig, Alexander M., Jr.; Ehrlichman, John D.; Ziegler, Ronald L.
• 771-3; Unknown between 9:48 a.m. & 9:53 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
• 771-4; Unknown between 9:48 a.m. & 9:53 a.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President)
• 771-5; 9:53 a.m. - 12:38 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Bull, Stephen B.; Colson, Charles W.; Ehrlichman, John D.; Sanchez, Manolo
• 771-6; Unknown between 12:38 p.m. & 3:30 p.m.; United States Secret Service agents; [Unknown person(s)]
• 771-7; Unknown between 3:30 p.m. & 3:47 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.
• 771-8; 4:00 p.m. - 6:04 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Connally, John B.; Ziegler, Ronald L.; Bull, Stephen B.; Gardner, Michael R.; Christian, George E.; Marks, Leonard H.; Jacobsen, Jake; Howell, Paul; Myers, Michael A.; Woodward, Warren; Paulucci, Jeno F.; France, William H. G.; Marsh, John O., Jr.; Vann, Lee A.; Frenzl, Stephen J.

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-D0301 Photographer: Grove, Andrew | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-D0301-, Deputy Special Assistant John E. Nidecker accepting a gift presentation from an unidentified man. 9/6/1972, Washington, D.C. unknown. Nidecker, unidentified man.

Roll WHPO-D0302 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-D0302-, Rev. Bob Harrington and Jack Allen standing on the South Lawn and in a room. 9/6/1972, Washington, D.C. South Lawn, room, White House. Bob Harrington, Jack Allen.

Roll WHPO-D0303 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-D0303-, President Nixon shaking hands and taking group portraits with members of Connally's staff, Democrats for President Nixon. 9/6/1972, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Connally, Connally's staff.

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.

D - First Family

• WHCA-SR-D-038
  Julie Nixon Eisenhower's remarks concerning the United Fund. (9/6/1972, none listed)
  
  Runtime: 9:45
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by CRB (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

L - White House Press Office Briefings

• WHCA-SR-L-014
  Press briefing. (9/6/1972, White House Press Lobby)
  
  Runtime: 14:00
  
  Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media
  
  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-5740
  "Dinah's Place".
  ABC
  Runtime: 00:28:47
• WHCA-5741
  CBS Reports: "Mr. Justice Douglas".
  NBC, CBS
  Runtime: 01:00:37
• WHCA-5742
  "A Public Affair: Election '72".
  ABC
  Runtime: 0:30
• WHCA-5743
  "Martin Agronsky: Evening Edition".
  NBC, CBS
  Runtime: 00:29:36
• WHCA-5744
  Nixon Arrival at Homestead AFB,, McCain Speech.
  ABC
  Runtime: 01:01:50
• WHCA-5750
  Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 01:30:00
  
  18. Smith/Koppel: (Secretary of State Rogers) to organize world against terrorist activities. Time Code Start: 62:30. Keywords: terrorism, Middle East, Mideast, Arab, world, sports, games, teams, contests, competitions, Olympians, Germany, Israelis, kidnappings, shootings, murder, death, hijackings, aircraft, airliners. Network: ABC.
  
  19. Reynolds: McGovern in Los Angeles commenting on death of Israelites in Munich (at the Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany (XX Olympiad)). Time Code Start: 65:00. Keywords: world, sports, games, Olympics, West Germany, Munich Massacre, Arabian, Arabs, Israelis, Black September, PLO, Palestinian Liberation Organization, terrorism, terrorists, kidnappings, shootings, murder, death, hijackings, aircraft, airliners. Network: ABC.
  
  20. Snell: McGovern working for endorsement from Governor George Wallace. Time Code Start: 67:30. Keywords: Governors, Presidential elections, campaigns, primaries, candidates, reports, assassinations, shootings. Network: ABC.
  
  21. Smith: Commentary on psycho terrorists. Time Code Start: 70:44. Keywords: terrorism, militants, bombings, violence, sabotage, shootings, kidnappings, death, assassinations, terrorism. Network: ABC.
• WHCA-5751
  Weekly News Summary, Tape III.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 01:00:05
  
  1. Cronkite/Kalb: George McGovern and President Nixon comment on Munich; Secretary of State Rogers at air piracy meeting (at the Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany (XX Olympiad)). Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: sports, games, Olympics, West Germany, Munich Massacre, Arabian, Arabs, Israelis, Black September, PLO, Palestinian Liberation Organization, terrorism, terrorists, kidnappings, shootings, murder, death, hijackings, aircraft, airliners. Network: CBS.
  
  2. Cronkite/Schorr: Common Cause sues Republicans to disclose campaign fund donors. Time Code Start: 03:09. Keywords: political parties, Republicans, GOP, lawsuits, Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, funding, finances, investigations. Network: CBS.
  
  3. Sevareid: Commentary on terrorism striking at vulnerable humanitarian societies, giving in encourages more acts of terror. Time Code Start: 06:36. Keywords: terrorists, activists, psychology, fanatical groups, militants, bombings, violence, sabotage, shootings, kidnappings, death, assassinations. Network: CBS.

• New York Times of September 6, 1972

• AP Images photos from September 6, 1972
• Getty Images photos from September 6, 1972

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.

• September 1972 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• September 6, 1972