Digitization of President Nixon's Speech File Series

September 4, 2025

The Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum Completes Digitization of President's Speech File

The Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum has completed the digitization of President Nixon’s Speech File, which is part of the President's Personal File (White House Special Files: Staff Member and Office Files). This series contains 50 boxes (30,719 pages) of material spanning from 1969-1974.

The President's Speech File series is notable for its handwritten Presidential drafts, which are usually in outline form on yellow legal-size paper, a signature of Nixon's presidency. The greatest concentration of Nixon’s Presidential yellow pad notes are found in this series.

About the Files

The newly digitized files predominantly contain speech drafts and final reading copies, prepared both by the President and by his speech writers. Also present are memoranda, notes (often in the President's hand), agendas, itineraries and lists of participants, transcripts of the President's remarks, congratulatory correspondence, printed matter, and paper memorabilia (menus, place cards, programs, and special event publications). Coverage includes most occasions at which the President spoke, whether the result was a major speech or a few informal remarks. The files are arranged in chronological order by the date of a speech's delivery.