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June 9, 1971

Introduction

This almanac page for Wednesday, June 9, 1971, 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, June 8, 1971

Next Date: Thursday, June 10, 1971

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.

    Digitized versions can be found at HathiTrust.

  • 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

Any selection of archival documents will necessarily be partial. You should use the documents and folders identified below as a starting place, but consult the linked collection finding aids and folder title lists and the collections themselves for context. Many documents to be found this way do not lend themselves to association with specific dates, but are essential to a complete understanding of the material.

  • 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.

  • 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, June 9th. The President spent most of the day in the EOB with no fixed schedule other than a couple of things at 12:00.

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      DECLASSIFIED - E.O. 13526, Sect. 3.4: by MS, NARA, June 12, 2013
      Audio Cassette 9, Side A, Withdrawn Item Number 6 [AC-9(A) Sel 2]
      Duration: 13 seconds

      He called over first thing this morning to say he will not do the Okinawa reversion signing ceremony with the Japanese, which State has laid on for Thursday.
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      Apparently he jumped Henry on this, first thing this morning.

      Late morning, he had Ehrlichman and me over and got into quite a discussion on priorities. He is very anxious to get Mrs. Nixon identified with the Right to Read thing and to get the voluntary action people going on two or three key projects where it is known that something is happening, like their measles vaccination which they got some pretty good mileage out of. He wants to get some more like that and get them to do some big things, but a few of them, not just get themselves organized. He also told Ehrlichman to sit down and pick out the three main issues that really matter. He commented that revenue sharing only matters if it is tied to tax reduction, and welfare reform only if it relates to getting people off of welfare. He emphasized that we shouldn't be concerned if it is something we will actually accomplish and pointed out that JW--, JFK was doing all of his progress building on phony issues. But, rather, we should look in terms of how we create issues. We need an enemy. We need controversy. We need to do something that will build those things. Drugs and law enforcement may be one, especially since we're so weak in our standing in the polls on those. He doesn't want to make unemployment an issue, but he does need to bring it down. He makes the point again that out of all the things we've done, nothing comes through clearly. The Cabinet officers have no, have established no image of themselves.

      Ehrlichman raised the point that he wants to do some polling and analysis and get out the whole question of fear; and thinks that the questions in the polls are not asked right. For instance, on crime, he thinks we have got to bring the issue back on allaying the fear of crime; that we've accomplished this. People aren't as afraid now as they were when we came in; they're not afraid about the war; they're not afraid about the crime in the streets; they're not afraid about the riots on the campuses; they're not afraid about the cities burning, etcetera. But they don't know why they are not so much afraid, and we have got to get that point across.

      The President told John, on the domestic stuff, to scrape away all the crap and just pick three issues that will give us sharp image. He also makes the point that we have got to be on either one side or the other; we can't be neither.

      He said that Connally argues that we should go for reorganization as a political issue just so we can be against things the way they are, but the President doesn't feel that's really taking hold. He raised the question of the importance of environment as an issue. And Ehrlichman pushed hard, on the basis of their poll, that it is and, that on the basis of the demographics, this is the way to reach new people that now are not for us. And we need to look at where the interest is there.

      On politics he discussed polling some, doesn't want to do the state-by-state polls until fall, but wants a plan ready to go on them, particularly to analyze the Wallace question, because on a national basis, the Wallace fallout is equal between us and any Democratic opponent. But we need to see it by individual states, where it may make a very substantial difference. Also he feels, politically, we may have to take a harder line with both business and labor that we are not gaining much by trying to play to either one of them. Then he gets to the need of building our establishment, working towards finding people around the country who want to be on our side, and get them built up as a new establishment of political scientists, educators, businessmen, etcetera, rather than playing to the existing establishment.

      He raised the Teddy Kennedy question again, makes the point that we've got to do some long-range planning regarding him, on the basis that he, that it may very well go his way; and if so, there will be great pressures to forget Chappaquiddick, which is of course his most vulnerable point, and that we can't let be forgotten.

      We got into a little discussion on foreign trips. The President made the point he will not go to Canada at all this year, although we had already tentatively scheduled a visit in the fall.

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      DECLASSIFIED - E.O. 13526, Sect. 3.4: by MS, NARA, June 12, 2013
      Audio Cassette 9, Side A, Withdrawn Item Number 7 [AC-9(A) Sel 3]
      Duration: 5 seconds

      This is a reaction to Trudeau's slamming us while he was in Russia and Europe. He feels that a trip to Canada won't do us any good and that on that basis we should not even consider doing one.
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      And I think that basically makes sense. The only trips he will consider are the one to Midway this month and then the two to Moscow and China in the future, as we work them out. He doesn't want to do any other trips to get in the way of those. He originally also included Europe for the Big Four meeting but, after the Russian Summit, but agreed with my contention that it would be better to bring the European leaders into Washington and hold the meeting here rather than the President going to them.

      Tonight he took Pat, Tricia, and Julie out on the Sequoia for dinner for Tricia's last dinner with the family before the wedding, since tomorrow night is her bridesmaids' dinner, Friday night is the rehearsal dinner, and Saturday is the wedding.

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      Deed of gift - Privacy withdrawal re-reviewed and released by MS, NARA, October 23, 2013
      Audio Cassette 9, Side A, Withdrawn Item Number 9
      Duration: 6 seconds

      We got into the Drown problem for another hour or so today, with still no solution.
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      End of June 9th.
    • Original audio recording (MP3)

  • 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.

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    Nixon Library Holdings

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

    International Development Policy, 1969-1972

    • 140. Memorandum From Secretary of the Treasury Connally to President Nixon, Washington, June 9, 1971

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 195, AID, 1/1/71-12/31/71. No classification marking. Another copy of this memorandum bears a handwritten note that reads: “Sent via Special Messenger 6/9/71–11:30 am.” (Washington National Records Center, Department of the Treasury, Secretary’s Memos: FRC 56 74 A 17, Memo to the President May-August 1971)

    East-West Trade, 1969-1972

    Vol. VII, Vietnam, July 1970-January 1972

    The Consequences of Operation Lan Som 719 and the Search for a Settlement, April 8-October 6, 1971

    • 216. Minutes of a Meeting of the Senior Review Group, Washington, June 9, 1971, 3:33-4:42 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–112, SRG Minutes, Originals, 1971. Top Secret; Sensitive; Nodis. The meeting took place in the Situation Room of the White House. All brackets are in the original.

    Vol. XI, South Asia Crisis, 1971

    South Asia Crisis, 1971

    • 68. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Irwin to President Nixon, Washington, June 9, 1971

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, SOC 10 PAK. Secret. Drafted by Deputy Assistant AID Administrator Curtis Ferrar (AA/NESA), and Alexander S.C. Fuller (NEA/PAF) and cleared by Spengler, Townsend Swayze of the Office of South Asian Affairs (AID/NESA), Van Hollen, and Sisco.

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

    "One of Two Routes": Soviet-American Relations and Kissinger's Secret Trip to China, April 23-July 18, 1971

    • 253. Conversation Between President Nixon and the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, June 9, 1971

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Tapes, Conversation 255–30. No classification marking. The editors transcribed the portions of the tape recording printed here specifically for this volume. According to the President’s Daily Diary, Nixon met Kissinger in the Executive Office Building on June 9 from 9:24 to 10:29 a.m. (Ibid., White House Central Files)

    • 254. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, June 9, 1971

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 491, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin/Kissinger, 1971, Vol. 6 [part 2]. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only; [codeword not declassified]. Printed from an uninitialed copy. A map showing the movement of the Soviet submarine tender, May 20–25, is attached but not printed. Although no drafting information appears on the memorandum, Haig forwarded a draft at Kissinger’s request on June 9. (Ibid., Kissinger Office Files, Box 128, Country Files, Latin America, Chronology of Cuban Submarine Base Episode, 1970, 1971 [2 of 2])

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

    April-October 1971: Change and Reassessment

    • 76. Airgram From the Embassy in Japan to the Department of State, Tokyo, June 9, 1971

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL JAPAN–US. Confidential. Drafted by William C. Sherman, a political officer at the embassy on June 8. Deputy Chief of Mission Richard Sneider approved its contents, and Meyer cleared it in draft.

    Vol. XX, Southeast Asia, 1969-1972

    Thailand

    Vol. XXI, Chile, 1969-1973

    Cool and Correct: The U.S. Response to the Allende Administration, November 5, 1970-December 31, 1972

    Vol. E-5, Part 2, Documents on North Africa, 1969-1972

    Morocco

    • 114. Airgram A–117 From the Embassy in Morocco to the Department of State, Rabat, June 9, 1971

      In this 4 page airgram, the Embassy commented on the proposal for a reorientation of U.S. policy in Morocco submitted by Foreign Service Officer Edward Djerejian posted in Casablanca. The bulk of the discussion focused on Djerejian’s two fundamental assumptions that the United States was overcommitted and that radical change was inevitable.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 1 MOR-US. Secret. Drafted on June 7 by Parker and approved by Rockwell. Repeated to Casablanca and Tangier. The Embassy sent the original proposal to the Department as Rabat A–97, May 19. (Ibid.)

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

    American Republics Regional

    • 41. Memorandum From the Acting Secretary of State (Irwin) to President Nixon, Washington, June 9, 1971., Washington, June 9, 1971

      Acting Secretary of State Irwin reported on efforts by some Caribbean and South American countries to nationalize the bauxite industry and steps being taken by the Department of State to respond to the situation.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 798, Country Files, Latin America, Latin America General, Volume 4, January–June 1971. Secret. In Airgram Kingston A–90, the U.S. Embassy in Jamaica reported that the rise of Black Power in the Caribbean and increased economic nationalism in Jamaica might push the Jamaicans toward nationalization of the bauxite industry, Document 414. In Intelligence Memorandum 1839/69, August 6, 1969, the CIA reported on the rise of black radicalism in the Caribbean. (Ibid., Box 786, Country Files, Latin America, Jamaica, Vol. 1)

  • 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.

Audiovisual Holdings

Context (External Sources)