announcing his taking of personal command of the endeavor. December 4 – The government announces the withholding of 689 million in federal welfare payments as part of an effort to dislocate those not needing the program from those eligible. December 26 – Former President Harry S. Truman dies 1973 January 1 – The Labor Department states its choice to raise guidelines on income for the determining of who is eligible for federal programs and specifies the raise as US$193 higher. January 2 – The Pentagon states American bombers possibly damaged a North Vietnam hospital and the a civilian airport in Hanoi following the Hanoi-Haiphong area bombing. January 3 – Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler states members of Congress should consider the possibility of convincing the North Vietnamese of their interest in acting against peace efforts. January 4 – President Nixon holds a meeting with military and diplomatic advisors in the Oval Office for discussions on Vietnam and the upcoming Paris peace talks. January 5 – President Nixon meets with Democratic and Republican congressional leaders for a breakfast to inform them the US should know whether a quick settlement in Vietnam is possible after the Paris peace talks. January 6 – The House and Senate jointly officiate the re-election of President Nixon and Vice President Spiro Agnew to a second term during a ceremony. January 8 – United States Secretary of Defense Melvin R. Laird says 5,000 men will be drafted between March 1 and July 1 during an appearance before Congress. January 9 – The Defense Department denies allegations made in a Saigon report that the US had resumed preemptive reaction air strikes over North Vietnam. The White House announces President Nixon's acceptance of the resignation of Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission Miles Kirkpatrick. January 11 – President Nixon reveals Phase 3 in a message to Congress which eliminates a majority of wage and price controls. January 12 – The White House says Cabinet members will resume testifying before Congress and their upcoming appearances will be at convenience. January 14 – President Nixon sends United States Army General Alexander Haig to meet with President of South Vietnam Nguyễn Văn Thiệu. January 16 – White House Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler says United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger will not return to the Paris peace talks ahead of the following week. South Vietnamese sources state President Nixon intends to declare a