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December 29, 1970

Introduction

This almanac page for Tuesday, December 29, 1970, 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, December 28, 1970

Next Date: Wednesday, December 30, 1970

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.

    Bill Signings

    Acts Approved by the President

    Digest of Other White House Announcements

    Following is a listing of items of general interest which were announced in the press but not made public as formal White House press releases during the period covered by this issue. Appointments requiring Senate approval are not included since they appear in the list of nominations submitted to the Senate, below.

    • The President today announced the appointment of Edmund G. (Pat) Brown, former Governor of California, to be a Commissioner of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Commission.
    • A delegation from Father Flanagan's Boys' Town called on the President at the White House.

  • 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

  • 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.

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

    Managing the Department of State

    • 328. Memorandum From the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Administration (Macomber) to the President’s Assistant (Flanigan), Washington, December 29, 1970

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Special Files, Staff Member and Office Files, Flanigan, Box 13, Ambassadors—Broad Memoranda. No classification marking. In a January 19, 1971, follow-up memorandum to Flanigan Macomber stated: “the percentage chart figures on career and non-career Chiefs of Mission in the last four Administrations reflect the total number of Ambassadors appointed during each of these Administrations. Thus, if a non-career Ambassador was replaced after brief service by another non-career person the figures would reflect two non-career appointments and a resultant distortion in the percentage figures. I think a 70%–30% split in career appointees at post is just about right, and that is where we are at the moment.” (Ibid.)

    Vol. IV, Foreign Assistance, International Development, Trade Policies, 1969-1972

    Trade and Commerce, 1969-1972

    Vol. V, United Nations, 1969-1972

    Committee of 24

    Vol. XIII, Soviet Union, October 1970-October 1971

    "A Moment of Unusual Uncertainty": Meeting Between Nixon and Gromyko, October 12-December 31, 1970

    • 79. Letter From President Nixon to Secretary of State Rogers, Washington, December 29, 1970

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Rogers’ Office Files: Lot 73 D 443, Box 25, WPR—President Nixon. No classification marking. According to Kissinger’s copy, Nixon dictated the letter to Rose Mary Woods. Kissinger initialed the copy; Haig also wrote on the copy: “absolutely no distribution.” (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 490, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin/Kissinger, 1970, Vol. 3)

    Vol. XL, Germany and Berlin, 1969-1972

    Germany and Berlin, 1969-1972

    • 156. National Security Study Memorandum 111, Washington, December 29, 1970

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 365, Subject Files, National Security Study Memoranda (NSSM’s) Nos. 104–206. Secret; Nodis. No drafting information appears on the memorandum. A copy was also sent to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Sonnenfeldt forwarded the text as an attachment to a December 18 memorandum to Kissinger; see footnote 1, Document 153.

    Vol. E-7, Documents on South Asia, 1969-1972

    Afghanistan, 1969-1972

    • 337. Letter From the Ambassador to Afghanistan (Neumann) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Sisco), Kabul, December 29, 1970

      Neumann assessed the role played by King Zahir in Afghan politics and weighed the prospects for using the limited U.S. presence in Afghanistan to offset the preponderant Soviet influence.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, NEA Files: Lot 73 D 69, Afghanistan. Confidential. Sisco added a handwritten note on the first page which reads: “DM I could not get thru the length of this. JJS” It is not clear to whom the note was addressed. Neumann sent a copy of this letter to Kissinger. On February 17, 1971, Kissinger responded with a letter to Neumann in which he praised Neumann’s “perceptive” assessment and noted “I found your description of the King’s balancing act a useful approach to the kind of political situation you are watching.” (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 591, Country Files, Middle East, Afghanistan) Sisco sent a telegram to Neumann on January 26, 1971, in which he indicated that it would not be possible to schedule a visit by King Zahir during the coming year. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 7 AFG)

  • 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 of many of these transcripts can be found on the Yale University Library website.

Audiovisual Holdings

  • 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-5402 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5402-02A-27A, President Nixon signing the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) of 1970. Standing nearby during the ceremony are George Shultz, I. W. Abel, Heath Larry, Jr., James D. Hodgson, Bill Steiger, William Saxbe, Laurence Hirsch Silberman, , Elliott Richardson, Dominick Daniels, Harrison Williams, George Meany, Rocco Siciliano, Virgil B. Day. 12/29/1970, Washington, D.C. Department of Labor Interdepartmental Auditorium. President Nixon, George Shultz, I. W. Abel, Heath Larry, Jr., James D. Hodgson, Bill Steiger, William Saxbe, Laurence Hirsch Silberman, , Elliott Richardson, Dominick Daniels, Harrison Williams, George Meany, Rocco Siciliano, Virgil B. Day, unidentified audience members.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5402-02A-27A, President Nixon signing the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) of 1970. Standing nearby during the ceremony are George Shultz, I. W. Abel, Heath Larry, Jr., James D. Hodgson, Bill Steiger, William Saxbe, Laurence Hirsch Silberman, , Elliott Richardson, Dominick Daniels, Harrison Williams, George Meany, Rocco Siciliano, Virgil B. Day. 12/29/1970, Washington, D.C. Department of Labor Interdepartmental Auditorium. President Nixon, George Shultz, I. W. Abel, Heath Larry, Jr., James D. Hodgson, Bill Steiger, William Saxbe, Laurence Hirsch Silberman, , Elliott Richardson, Dominick Daniels, Harrison Williams, George Meany, Rocco Siciliano, Virgil B. Day, unidentified audience members.

    Roll WHPO-5403 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5403-03-20, President Nixon meeting in the Oval Office with Reverend John Farrald and a large group of Honor Students from Flanagan's Boys Town in Nebraska. 12/29/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Boys Town honor students, Reverend John Farrald.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5403-19A, President Nixon meeting in the Oval Office with Reverend John Farrald and a large group of Honor Students from Flanagan's Boys Town in Nebraska. 12/29/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Boys Town honor students, Reverend John Farrald.

    Roll WHPO-5404 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5404-00A-03A, President Nixon meeting in the Oval Office with Reverend John Farrald and a large group of Honor Students from Flanagan's Boys Town. Nebraska. 12/29/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Boys Town honor students, Reverend John Farrald.

  • 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.

    G - Cabinet Officer Briefings

    • WHCA-SR-G-070
      Press briefing by Secretary of Labor James D. Hodgson, with Senator Jacob Javits (R-NY). (12/29/1970, Interdepartmental Auditorium, Washington, D.C.)

      Runtime: 0:10:52

      Keywords: Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by NBC; Recorded by WJN (initials of WHCA engineer)

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

    P - Formal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-P-701223
      Signing ceremony in Interdepartmental Auditorium for Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). (12/29/1970, Interdepartmental Auditorium, Washington, DC)

      Runtime: 0:16:02

      Keywords: Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)

      Production credits: WJN (initials of recorder)

      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-4061
      "Today" Show.
      ABC
      Runtime: 1:00:00
    • WHCA-4062
      "Science 1970 - A Year End Report: 'The Environment - A Design for Living' ".
      ABC
      Runtime: 1:00
    • WHCA-4063
      "The Correspondent's Report", Part II. William D. Ruckelshaus.
      NBC
      Runtime: 1:00
    • WHCA-4072
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:00

      12. Smith/Donaldson: 91st Congress. Time Code Start: 27:51. Keywords: House of Representatives. Network: ABC.

      13. Smith: Conversation with President Nixon. Time Code Start: 30:02. Keywords: Presidents, media, press conferences, news conferences, interviews, television, TV. Network: ABC.

      14. Reasoner/Bergman: Defoliants. Time Code Start: 30:25. Keywords: Vietnam War, Agent Orange, herbicides, defoliation, plant killers, poisons, chemical warfare, Operation Ranch Hand. Network: ABC.

      15. Chancellor: Cambodian restrictions. Time Code Start: 36:35. Keywords: Cambodia, Vietnam War. Network: NBC.

      16. Chancellor/Briggs: Defoliants. Time Code Start: 38:22. Keywords: Vietnam War, Agent Orange, herbicides, defoliation, plant killers, poisons, chemical warfare, Operation Ranch Hand. Network: NBC.

      17. Collingwood/Morton: Congress. Time Code Start: 42:38. Keywords: House of Representatives. Network: CBS.

      18. Kaplow: President Nixon and Congress. Time Code Start: 43:56. Keywords: Presidents, House of Representatives. Network: NBC.

      19. Collingwood/Pappas: Defoliants. Time Code Start: 44:41. Keywords: Vietnam War, Agent Orange, herbicides, defoliation, plant killers, poisons, chemical warfare, Operation Ranch Hand. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)