Descriptive Summary
Access
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
Scope and Content of Collection
Indexing Terms
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Descriptive Summary
Title: John A. Scali Papers, White House Special Files, 1971-1973
Dates: 1971-1973
Collection Number: 3053883
Creator/Collector:
Scali, John A.
Extent: 3 linear feet, 6 linear inches; 8 boxes
Online items available
Repository:
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
Abstract: John Scali's responsibilities as Special Assistant to the President included advising on communications policy relating to
foreign affairs. The files include documentation of campaigns, foreign policy, and defense advice.
Language of Material: English
Access
Collection is open for research. Some materials may be unavailable based upon categories of materials exempt from public release
established in the Presidential Recordings and Materials Preservation Act of 1974.
Publication Rights
Most government records are in the public domain; however, this series includes commercial materials, such as newspaper clippings,
that may be subject to copyright restrictions. Researchers should contact the copyright holder for information.
Preferred Citation
John A. Scali Papers, White House Special Files, 1971-1973. Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
Acquisition Information
These materials are in the custody of the National Archives and Records Administration under the provisions of Title I of
the Presidential Recordings and Materials Preservation Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-526, 88 Stat. 1695) and implementing regulations.
Scope and Content of Collection
These files reflect John A. Scali's activities as Special Consultant to the President from 1971 to 1973. As a White House
consultant, Scali advised and reported directly to the President on communications policy relating to foreign affairs. He
also briefed small groups of newsmen and Congressmen on foreign policy. In his role as senior advisor to the President, Scali
traveled extensively with Nixon, including the Presidential trips to China and the Soviet Union. His tenure as a special consultant
ended in 1973, with his appointment as United States Representative to the United Nations.
The materials are arranged into one series:
Subject Files.
The Subject Files series consists of memoranda supplemented by correspondence, congressional testimony, talking papers, press
releases, notes, charts, clippings, reports, articles, photographs, and printed matter. The Colson action memos in this series
contain communications between Scali and Charles Colson. They concern Scali's role in the daily news planning operation as
well as his role in planning the President's schedule. The records concerning the 1972 Campaign relate to the advice Scali
gave to Colson's staff on how to gain the maximum impact of the President's foreign policy remarks and activities on the re-election
campaign.
Other records in the subject files also document Scali's responsibilities as Special Consultant. The Chinese Table Tennis
Team records reflect Scali's role as the President's personal representative in escorting the Chinese team around the United
States during its 1971 tour. Records pertaining to China, India-Pakistan, Lebanon, Soviet Union, and Vietnam also reflect
Scali's duties as an advisor to the President. Unclassified Defense Department photographs of the Soviet weapons systems introduced
into South Vietnam were removed from this series and transferred to the Audiovisual Collection of the Nixon Presidential Materials
Project. Electrostatic copies of these photographs have been inserted in the files.
Names that appear throughout the collection are Ronald L. Ziegler, Henry A. Kissinger, Alexander M. Haig, Charles Colson,
and H. R. Haldeman. Communications with Daniel Z. Henkin, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, with State Department
personnel show that Scali worked closely with other agencies.
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