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December 31, 1969

Introduction

This almanac page for Wednesday, December 31, 1969, 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: Tuesday, December 30, 1969

Next Date: Thursday, January 1, 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 San Clemente, California

  • 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.

    Awards and Citations

    Bill Signings

    Proclamations

    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 has designated George M. Stafford of Valley Falls, Kans., to be Acting Chairman of the Interstate Commerce Commission.

  • 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

  • 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. XII, Soviet Union, January 1969-October 1970

    Expansion of the Kissinger-Dobrynin Channel and Further Discussions on the Middle East, December 11, 1969-July 28, 1970

    Vol. XIX, Part 2, Japan, 1969-1972

    December 1969-March 1971: Relations After the First Nixon-Sato Summit

    • 37. Intelligence Note From the Deputy Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (Denney) to Secretary of State Rogers, Washington, December 31, 1969

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 14 JAPAN. Limited Official Use. On December 31 Kissinger sent Nixon an evaluation of the Japanese election, based upon an analysis he received from Lindsey Grant of the NSC Operations Staff. The memorandum stated that the vote was an endorsement of Sato and the American alliance and noted; “It should be easier for Sato to deliver on the textile issue.” It concluded, “if we move imaginatively, we can now build a partnership with Japan that could shape Pacific relations for a decade.” (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 534, Country Files, Far East, Japan, Vol. II, 10/69 to 6/70)

    Vol. XX, Southeast Asia, 1969-1972

    Philippines

    Vol. XXIV, Middle East Region and Arabian Peninsula, 1969-1972; Jordan, September 1970

    Persian Gulf States

    The Two Yemens

    Vol. XXXIV, National Security Policy, 1969-1972

    Chemical and Biological Warfare, Safeguard Phase II, the Draft

    • 115. National Security Study Memorandum 85 , Washington, December 31, 1969

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 365, Subject Files, NSSMs, Nos. 43–103. Secret. Copies were sent to Helms and Wheeler.

    Vol. XXXVI, Energy Crisis, 1969-1974

    February 20, 1969-February 19, 1970

    Vol. XLI, Western Europe; NATO, 1969-1972

    Spain

    • 287. Response to National Security Study Memorandum 46 , Washington, December 31, 1969

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–147, National Security Study Memoranda, NSSM 46. Secret. The report is 36 pages long. NSSM 46 is Document 279.

    Vol. E-2, Documents on Arms Control and Nonproliferation, 1969-1972

    Chemical and Biological Warfare; Geneva Protocol; Biological Weapons Convention

    • 173. National Security Study Memorandum 85 , Washington, December 31, 1969

      The President informed the Secretaries of State and Defense, and the Directors of Arms Control and the Office of Science and Technology that, in compliance with NSSM 59, he had directed the preparation of a study on all aspects of U.S. policy and programs with respect to toxins. The report was due January 16.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 365, Subject Files, NSSMs (43–103.) Secret. A copy was sent to Helms and Wheeler.

    Vol. E-10, Documents on American Republics, 1969-1972

    Mexico

    • 447. Letter From the Ambassador in Mexico (McBride) to Secretary of State Rogers, Mexico City, December 31, 1969. , Mexico City, December 31, 1969

      Ambassador McBride offered an assessment of United States-Mexican relations during 1969 and speculated on potential for anti-American sentiment brought on by U.S. import restrictions on Mexican tomatoes and differences over border industries.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL MEX–US. Confidential. McBride signed Bob above his typeset signature. In a January 20, 1970 letter, Rogers assured McBride that the Department of State would strike a proper balance between the conflicting claims of important domestic interests and friends abroad.” (Ibid.)

  • 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-2711 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2711-, President Nixon seated at his San Clemente office desk during a meeting with staff members. 12/31/1969, San Clemente, California Western White House, Presidential Office. President Nixon, John Ehrlichman, Ron Ziegler, H.R. Haldeman.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2711-09A, President Nixon seated at his San Clemente office desk during a meeting with staff members. 12/31/1969, San Clemente, California Western White House, Presidential Office. President Nixon, John Ehrlichman, Ron Ziegler, H.R. Haldeman.

    Roll WHPO-2763 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2763-, Vice President Agnew tours a rice institute. 12/31/1969, Philippines rice institute. Spiro Agnew.

    Roll WHPO-2764 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2764-, Vice President Agnew presents a moon rock to Phillippine President Ferdinand Marcos. (Related term: moon dust). 12/31/1969, Manila, Philippines Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, President Ferdinand Marcos.

  • 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.

    B - Vice-Presidential (Agnew and Ford)

    • WHCA-SR-B-034
      Presentation of moon rocks to Marcos-Manila, Philippines. (12/31/1969)

      Runtime: 18:21

      Keywords: NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, space program, astronauts

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
    • WHCA-SR-B-035
      Briefing by International Rice Institute to the VP-Briefing Rm., IRRI. (12/31/1969)

      Runtime: 18:21

      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-3605
      Weekly News Summary on V.P. Agnew's Asian trip. Vice President Spiro Agnew, Bill Gill.
      All networks
      Runtime: 00:33:00

      2. Bill Gill on Vice President Agnew in Manila, Philippines. Time Code Start: 03:34. Keywords: Vice Presidents, travel, trips, Asia, Southeast Asia, Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Australia. Network: ABC.

Context (External Sources)