March 28, 1969

The Daily Diary files represent a consolidated record of the President's activities. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

• Original typewritten diary (PDF)

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.

Appointments and Nominations

• Department of the Treasury (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 484, March 28, 1969)
  Announcement of Intention To Appoint Dorothy A. Elston as Treasurer of the United States and Mary Brooks as Director of the Bureau of the Mint.

Congress, Communications to

• Dwight David Eisenhower (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 486, March 28, 1969)
  The President's Message to Congress Informing Them of the Death of the 34th President of the United States.

Executive Orders

• Closing of Government Departments and Agencies as a Mark of Respect for General Eisenhower (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 502, March 28, 1969)
  Executive Order 11462.

Proclamations

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 485, March 28, 1969)
  Proclamation 3906.
• Dwight David Eisenhower (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 487, March 28, 1969)
  Proclamation 3907.

Statements by the President

• Dwight David Eisenhower (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 485, March 28, 1969)
  Statement by the President Announcing the Death of General Eisenhower.

Acts Approved by the President

• H.R. 8438 -- Public Law 91-6
  An Act to extend the time for filing final reports under the Correctional Rehabilitation Study Act of 1965 until July 31, 1969.

Checklist of White House Press Releases

The releases listed below, made public by the Office of the White House Press Secretary during the period covered by this issue, are not included in the issue.

• Press conference of David M. Kennedy, Secretary of the Treasury; Dorothy A. Elston, Treasurer of the United States; Mary Brooks, Director of the Bureau of the Mint; and Ronald L. Ziegler, Press Secretary to the President.

Nominations Submitted to the Senate

Does not include promotions of members of the Uniformed Services, nominations to the Service Academies, or nominations of Foreign Service Officers.

• DOROTHY A. ELSTON, of Delaware, to be Treasurer of the United States.
• MARY BROOKS, of Idaho, to be Director of the Mint for a term of 5 years.
• Lr. GEN. MARSHALL SYLVESTER CARTER, 018359, Army of the United States (major general, United States Army), to be placed on the retired list in the grade of lieutenant general under the provisions of title 10, United States Code, section 3962.
• Having designated REAR ADM. ARTHUR R. GRALLA, U.S. Navy, for commands and other duties determined by the President to be within the contemplation of Title 10, United States Code, Section 5231, I nominate him for appointment to the grade of vice admiral while so serving.
• VICE ADM. RAY C. NEEDHAM for appointment to the grade of vice admiral on the retired list in accordance with the provisions of Title 10, United States Code, Section 5233.
• RALPH R. BARTILSMEYER, of Illinois, to be Director of Public Roads.

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.

• Memorandum on Equal Employment Opportunity in the Federal Government
• Special Message to the Congress on the Death of General Eisenhower.
• Executive Order 11462—Providing for the Closing of Government Departments and Agencies on March 31, 1969, and For the Granting of Administrative Leave on March 28, 1969
• Proclamation 3907—Announcing the Death of Dwight David Eisenhower
• Proclamation 3906—The Twentieth Anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
• Statement on the Death of General Eisenhower.

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.

• Federal Register of Friday, March 28, 1969

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.

• Annotated News Summaries, Box 28, News Summaries - March 1969 [During this period, the Staff Secretary only removed pages from the News Summaries which contained President Nixon's handwriting, often leaving the document with no date. In addition to the individual document listed below, you should also consult the full folder for the month.]
  • Morning News Play, Friday, March 28, 1969

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)
  Friday, March 28.
  
  This was the day Dwight Eisenhower died.
  
  The morning was occupied with details and an NSC meeting. The afternoon had been left clear for personal time. President had me in quite a while before NSC - mainly on wanting to take stronger action on obscenity. Wants to move ahead with Justice on strong program, fast. Even decided he'd go to a play in New York where they take off clothes - and get up and walk out, to dramatize his feeling.
  
  After NSC, at about 12:20, he went into Oval Office with Mel Laird. At 12:25, I had just stepped out into the hall, ran into Tkach who said DDE had died. The two of us went into the Oval Office through the hall door. Tkach told the President – then turned and left the office. I went on in. President was at his desk, Laird in chair at the side. Laird started to say something - President asked if he'd heard Tkach, he hadn't. President told him. Both were quiet for a minute. Then President started talking about some funeral details. He then got up - said to have Rogers, Harlow and Kissinger come in - then stood looking out the window. I told Chapin to get the others. President then started to cry - just standing there. Then he walked slowly, still crying, into the little hall -stood there and sobbed - said "he was such a strong man," - went into little office for a few minutes. Then came back into Oval Office - others were there by then, standing awkwardly. President still had tears, and red eyes - talked with them aimlessly, then sat on the edge of the desk, half crying and described in detail his last visit to DDE. Harlow commented on how DDE had seen all his checkpoints - the nomination, the election, the wedding, the Inaugural, the President's success, and John's appointment as Ambassador. So he could go freely now. Rogers by now also has tears.
  
  Things then turned to plans and arrangements. President decided to go right to hospital to see Mrs. Eisenhower. Then found Pat Nixon had not been told, so he called her. Also talked to Tricia. Asked others in room to go with him to hospital. Had to wait until public announcement at 1245. Then we left. I rode in staff car. Pat Nixon and Tricia with President. Some people on streets, but most didn't know yet.
  
  At the hospital I stayed downstairs and used the time on the phone regarding arrangements. Set up details regarding timing, plan for Camp David this afternoon, guests for funeral, etc.
  
  I rode with Nixons on the way back. Pat Nixon strongly opposed going to Camp David, but President firm and had me argue for it. Swung Tricia over. Not Pat!
  
  Back at White House all regrouped in Oval Office for further discussion about foreign visitors, and overall plans. Some confusion, but all pretty well organized. No way to know how many coming.
  
  Interesting sidelight - before going to hospital had to sign proclamation, etc. Debate regarding which day for official mourning. President had previously decided on Sunday, others argued for Monday, so I changed the proclamation after he had signed it, and had him initial the change.
  
  Also we decided - and President approved - to let employees off for balance of day. Later found there's a law that prohibits President giving time off in honor of death of former government official. Got around it (after the fact) by using basis that DDE is five-star general and died in office, since it is a permanent rank. So we're legal.
  
  President asked to have Bebe come to Camp David - we called him. Then, in answer to my question, said I should go too. We left at about 4:00 (President in meantime talked to Rose - and had John Alexander, law partner, come in for a little while). Just President, Tkach, Manolo and Chuck Larson, the aide, were on the helicopter.
  
  At Camp David, President took me into Aspen for brief tour. Asked to have barber brought up (on chopper with Bebe). Then settled down, and I left for my cabin.
  
  He called me over to give him the texts of the proclamation, etc. Talked for a few minutes about arrangements. He was in sport jacket, sitting by the big window. Fire crackling.
  
  He called Julie, at the White House, to ask about time of TV specials. Mrs. Eisenhower was there and came on phone. Thought President was in his office. When he said he was at Camp David, she said that was Ike's favorite spot in the world and she was so glad the President was there. President explained he was working on eulogy, and wanted to get away. They had a fairly long and good chat, which obviously affected him emotionally.
  
  He asked me to have DDE's Guild Hall speech sent up. Discussed plans and changed them to drop meeting at Camp David tomorrow with Bunker and Goodpaster - will postpone to Sunday evening or Monday morning. Wants Rose and Ray to come up and work on speech. He said Ray's draft had some good ideas but he'd make a lot of changes. They'll stay overnight. He settled back to work so I left.
  
  I spent all the time - other than with President - on the phone working with White House staff on plans, etc.
  
  Chopper arrived with Bebe, barber - plus Chapin. Cole and Larry who came for the ride, and to bring some papers to sign. We took a tour of the camp while President got haircut. Then I went in with papers. Spent just a minute. He and Bebe were just starting a martini, and watching TV.
  
  We all left for White House. I'll go back up tomorrow with Rose and Ray, and take Chapin.
  
  Another day to remember.
• Handwritten diary entry (JPG)

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

• Text search for March 28, 1969
• Date search for March 28, 1969

All National Archives Units

• Text search for March 28, 1969
• Date search for March 28, 1969

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.

• President's Daily Brief of 28 March 1969

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

East-West Trade, 1969-1972

• 288. National Security Study Memorandum 35 , Washington, March 28, 1969

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, S/S Files: Lot 80 D 212, NSSM 35. Confidential.

Vol. VI, Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

• 48. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, March 28, 1969

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 505, Country Files, Far East, Cambodia, Vol. 1, 8–69. Secret; Exdis. Sent for action.

• 49. Minutes of National Security Council Meeting , Washington, March 28, 1969

  Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS 82, NSC Meetings, Jan–Mar 1969. Top Secret; Sensitive. These minutes were based on notes taken by Haig that were typed by a White House secretary; Haig made corrections by hand to the typed transcript.

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

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty; Implementation of Safeguard System

• 16. Memorandum From Helmut Sonnenfeldt of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) , Washington, March 28, 1969

  Sonnenfeldt briefed Kissinger on instructions given the Department of State regarding NPT ratification and on his conversation with the German minister.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 366, Subject Files, Non-Proliferation Treaty (through March 1969). Confidential. Sent for information. Brigadier General Haig initialed the memorandum and a handwritten notation indicated Kissinger saw it.

Eighteen-Nation Disarmament Committee; Seabed Arms Control Treaty

• 82. Notes of Telephone Conversation Between the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) and the Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (Smith) , Washington, March 28, 1969

  Kissinger and Smith discussed the situation at the ENDC meeting in Geneva. Smith told Kissinger that “if we wanted the Seabed Treaty we could probably get one.” Kissinger remarked that he thought the issue should go before the NSC.
  
  Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Telephone Conversations, Chronological File, Box 359, 14–31 March 1969. No classification marking.

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.

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-0626 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-0626-, President Nixon, Pat Nixon, and Tricia Nixon at Walter Reed Army Hospital after the death of former President Dwight Eisenhower. 3/28/1969, Washington, D.C. Walter Reed Army Hospital. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Tricia Nixon, unidentified aides.

Roll WHPO-0627 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-0627-, White House and White House grounds. 3/28/1969, Washington, D.C. White House Grounds. none.

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-010
  Press conference by Secretary of the Treasury David Kennedy with additional speakers Ronald Ziegler, Dorothy Elston and Marion Brooks. (3/28/1969, Roosevelt Room, The White House)
  
  Runtime: 20:00
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; No WHCA engineer initials listed
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

H - White House Staff Member Recordings

• WHCA-SR-H-016
  A meeting with Daniel Patrick Moynihan, economic advisor to the president. (3/28/1969, Room 446 Executive Office Building)
  
  Runtime: 1:50:00
  
  Keywords: meetings
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by RHD (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  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-3276
  Announcement of Eisenhower's Death AND Special on Gen. [Dwight D.] Eisenhower.
  CBS
  Runtime: 1:00
• WHCA-3277
  Special on General [Dwight D.] Eisenhower.
  ABC, Metromedia, ABC
  Runtime: 1:00
• WHCA-3278
  Specials on General Eisenhower.
  NBC
  Runtime: 00:45:17
• WHCA-3279
  Special on General Eisenhower.
  CBS
  Runtime: 1:00
• WHCA-3280
  Special on General Eisenhower, Part One.
  CBS
  Runtime: 1:00
• WHCA-3281
  Special on General Eisenhower, Part Two.
  CBS
  Runtime: 1:00
• WHCA-3282
  Special on General Eisenhower, Part Three.
  CBS
  Runtime: 1:00
• WHCA-3283
  Special on General Eisenhower, Part Four.
  ABC
  Runtime: 1:00
• WHCA-3284
  Special on General Eisenhower.
  CBS
  Runtime: 1:00

• LIFE magazine of March 28, 1969
• TIME magazine of March 28, 1969

• New York Times of March 28, 1969

• AP Images photos from March 28, 1969
• Getty Images photos from March 28, 1969

The Vanderbilt Television News Archive is the world's most extensive and complete archive of television news. They have been recording, preserving and providing access to television news broadcasts of the national networks since August 5, 1968.

• March 1969 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• March 28, 1969