April 29, 1970

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

• United Nations Trusteeship Council (6 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 595, April 29, 1970)
  Announcement of Intention To Nominate Sam Harry Wright for the Rank of Ambassador While Serving as the United States Representative on the Council.
• Department of the Treasury (6 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 595, April 29, 1970)
  Announcement of Intention To Nominate Samuel R. Pierce, Jr., To Be General Counsel.

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 transmitted to the Congress the 1968 annual report of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (Government Printing Office, 92 pp.).

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 Wednesday, April 29, 1970

The Congressional Record is the official daily record of the debates and proceedings of the U.S. Congress.

• House of Representatives: April 29, 1970
• Extensions of Remarks: April 29, 1970

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 29, News Summaries - April 1970 [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. Although there are no specific documents with this date, you should also consult the full folder for the month.]
• President's Daily Schedule, Box 99, [President's Daily Schedule, Mar.-Apr. 1970] [3 of 3]
  • The President's Schedule, Wednesday - April 29, 1970

Among Pat Buchanan’s duties was the compilation and coordination of background briefing materials for Presidential and a few Vice Presidential press conferences. The briefings—for both the larger, announced press conferences and the smaller, informal ones held in the Oval Office—related to a widespread number of topics and were in the form of probable questions which the White House staff members anticipated news reporters would address to the President. Along with the questions, were answers recommended by Buchanan, other members of the White House staff, and the heads of major departments of the government.

The briefing books are primarily in the form of potential questions and suggested answers (often with heavy annotation by President Nixon), along with associated memos. A listing of briefing books is below, with indication of whether President Nixon annotated the book or not. Each book has an index to the potential questions with direct links to the National Archives Catalog. You should consult the full digital folder for suggested responses, President Nixon's annotations, and other documents and topics not covered by the index.

[DOMESTIC POLICY BRIEFING BOOK April 29, 1970]

Citation: [DOMESTIC POLICY BRIEFING BOOK April 29, 1970]; box 1; White House Central Files: Staff Member and Office Files: Patrick J. Buchanan; Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Yorba Linda, CA

Consult the full digital folder for other briefing materials not in the form of prepared questions and answers.

• CRIME
  • You have now been in office 15 months. One of your campaign pledges was to reduce crime. The latest FBI report shows that crime increased 11 percent in 1969 over 1968. Are you carrying out your pledge?
• MONITORING RADICAL GROUPS
  • A recent article in the New York Times stated that this Administration is watching closely the radical elements of the kind who were allegedly involved in that bomb explosion in New York -- and that wire-tap surveillance was being used and machinery set up in effect to monitor the activities of these groups. Has there been a substantial increase in government monitoring of radical groups including an increase in wiretapping?
• MOLLENHOFF/TAX RETURNS
  • Can you give us your views of Mr. Mollenhoff's authority in seeing confidential tax returns?
• SENATE ATTACK
  • Your attack on the Senate has been construed in some quarters of the Senate as an attack on the integrity of the Senate itself. Considering your use of the terms "vicious and unwarranted attack," "regional discrimination," and "hypocrisy", do you think that this is a fair assessment?
• SENATORS OPPOSED TO HAYNSWORTH/CARSWELL
  • Do you plan a "purge" of either Republican or Democratic Senators who opposed Judges Haynsworth and Carswell?
• JUDGE CARSWELL/CONGRESSMAN CRAMER
  • Can you tell us what role you played, if any, in the entry of Judge Carswell into the Florida Senate Race; and also of the entry of Congressman Cramer into the race. Finally, did you authorize Harry Dent to get Mr. Cramer out of the race?
• NIXON/CRAMER
  • Did you tell Congressman Cramer, as he states, "Bill, the country needs you, the Senate needs you, the party needs you -- now, run."
• JUSTICE DOUGLAS
  • Congressman Ford says that he talked with Clark Mollenhoff about the impeachment proceedings of Mr. Justice Douglas. Is this not White House involvement?
• JUSTICE DOUGLAS/JUDGE BLACKMUN
  • Is this effort to impeach Justice Douglas in the House related at all to the effort to affirm Judge Blackmun in the Senate?
• RECESSION/INFLATION
  • Can you tell us whether you think that recession is now a greater danger than inflation. Two months ago, you vetoed an HEW measure--while recently some moves you have taken could be interpreted as anti-recession.
• VOTING RIGHTS BILL
  • Many believe that an early Supreme Court test can be had of the law enfranchising 18-year-olds; and also, they fear that to take it out of the legislation now would mean the return of the voting rights bill to the Senate and a certain filibuster. Do you think the price there is worth it?
• KINGMAN BREWSTER
  • Kingman Brewster of Yale says he does not believe that a black revolutionary can get a fair trial anywhere in the United States today. Do you share that view; and what is your opinion of the trial of Bobby Seale and the Black Panthers?

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, April 29.
  
  Speech preparation day. No schedule. Started by giving Ziegler a rundown on how to handle press for the day. The story of last night's attack didn't break until a Thieu announcement at 9:30. Then speculation built fast, and Defense released their prepared statement. President told Ziegler to continue to lead speculation down the path that we are considering Cambodia's aid request. Wants a planted story that he will ask $35 million aid. Say the troop movement has no relation to Lon Nol request - just another border action only bigger. Then say President will discuss entire situation on TV tomorrow. Set timing of procedure for tomorrow night - Congressional, Cabinet, staff, press briefings, advance calls to Reagan and Rocky, etc.
  
  Then had Ehrlichman and Flanigan in for a review of economy and their stock market meeting. Agreed we needed to get a briefer up to Wall Street to calm their fears after the TV. Then Kissinger and Ziegler back in for more briefing instructions - based on adverse Senatorial reaction, especially Mansfield. Then worked out what he wanted for TV map setup, etc. Then sat back and relaxed with Kissinger and me. Reviewed DDE's Lebanon decision and JFK's Cuban missile crisis. Decided this was tougher than either of those - especially since it didn't have to be made. But President is convinced it had to be this now - or get out now - no chance to go along the same path. All this ran till about 1:00. I was in for three and a half hours. Then he went to EOB to work on speech - stayed all afternoon and into evening.
  
  Called me, to have Bebe come up to be with family, and have Rose get Julie and David home, away from campus problems. Called again to discuss problem of locating his new pool table. Decided it won't fit in solarium, so wants a room in EOB. Absolutely astonishing he could get into trivia on brink of biggest step he's taken so far. Thinks speech is coming along well, as does Rose. Usual problem of trying to get it short enough - he only wants ten minutes. But he has a lot to say.
  
  Said to have everyone go home and get a good rest, except for Rose, Kissinger, and Buchanan and President.
  
  Had a session with Ehrlichman this afternoon about probable violence at Yale this weekend. Debate whether to send troops up on standby. Ehrlichman and I oppose on grounds it will only incite them and we'll be accused of repression. Mitchell and Kleindienst are determined to go ahead, on grounds that will take 14 hours lead and potential for damages is too great to ignore. Will settle tomorrow.
  
  Wednesday, April 29 – cont.
  
  Interesting sidelight on today. First Mitchell called, very concerned regarding enormous "anti" reaction in Senate, etc. Then Kissinger called - convinced there was something amiss. Had reviewed the facts of the day, and makes a pretty good case.
  
  Haig told him at 9:00 something was fishy, because of Laird's reaction when Kissinger called him at 8:00 to try to get him to stop Thieu's announcement, since story wasn't building and there was no need to say anything yet. Laird said he probably couldn't stop it and anyway something would break on the Hill at 10:30, but maybe can delay an hour or so. Kissinger argued for delay until evening, since it was then night time in Vietnam.
  
  Then in our meeting with President, point was made that whole focus was on aid to Cambodia, not troop movement. Then Thieu's statement broke and all hell instantly busted loose on Hill - Fulbright first. Then Defense statement - instantly followed by Cooper-Aiken-Mansfield-Church press conference - which they were all ready for. And they hit totally on troops, not on aid which is what they expected, and opposed.
  
  No one from the Hill called either Kissinger or Harlow, and hardly anyone from press. Normally they'd both be flooded.
  
  Seriously appears that Laird and Rogers may have tipped this all off - in hopes that violent reaction would dissuade President from going ahead with Phase II. Appears they know about Phase II, otherwise they'd be opposing aid as next probable step, instead of troops. Also State and Defense did nothing during the day to defend Phase I.
  
  This is Kissinger's thesis. Also feels it may backfire, as do I. Because this has now drawn all their fire and makes the big move tomorrow anticlimactic, and sure builds the audience for it. Odd thing is that these border raids have been going on for some time and this is bigger, but not worthy of this major blast. In earlier debate Rogers and Laird both said we could do Parrot's Beak with no trouble - COSVN was big problem. Now Parrot's Beak has busted Hill wide open.
  
  Will be a tough couple of days.
• 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 April 29, 1970
• Date search for April 29, 1970

All National Archives Units

• Text search for April 29, 1970
• Date search for April 29, 1970

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 29 April 1970

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. VI, Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

• 271. Minutes of Washington Special Actions Group Meeting , Washington, April 29, 1970, 10:35 a.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–114, WSAG Minutes, Originals, 1969–1970. Secret; Sensitive. The meeting was held in the White House Situation Room.

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

• 155. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, April 29, 1970

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 711, Country Files, Europe, USSR, Vol. VII. Secret; Eyes Only.

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-3439 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-3439-02-28, President Nixon and Assistant Henry Kissinger walking up the front steps toward the Executive Office Buildingb (EOB). 4/29/1970, Washington, D.C. Outside steps of Executive Office Building (EOB). President Nixon, Henry Kissinger.
• Frame(s): WHPO-3439-06, President Nixon walks up the front steps towards the Executive Office Building (EOB). 4/29/1970, Washington, D.C. Outside steps of Executive Office Building (EOB). President Nixon, Henry Kissinger.
• Frame(s): WHPO-3439-15, President Nixon and Assistant Henry Kissinger walking up the front steps toward the Executive Office Building (EOB). 4/29/1970, Washington, D.C. Outside steps of Executive Office Building (EOB). President Nixon, Henry Kissinger.

Roll WHPO-3440 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-3440-01, A sitting room with library book shelves and a Gilbert Stuart portrait painting of Dolly Madison. 4/29/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Library.
• Frame(s): WHPO-3440-01-02, A Gilbert Stuart portrait painting of Dolly Madison. 4/29/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Library. none.

Roll WHPO-3441 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-3441-03-32, North Lawn of White House. 4/29/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, North Lawn. none.
• Frame(s): WHPO-3441-10, A view of the White House North Portico façade and water fountain from Lafayette Park planted with beds of bright red tullips in full bloom. 4/29/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, North Lawn.
• Frame(s): WHPO-3441-17, A view of the White House North Portico façade from Lafayette Park planted with beds of bright red tullips in full bloom. Statue of man and rearing horse and cannons on display. 4/29/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, North Lawn.

Roll WHPO-3442 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-3442-05-10, Herbert Stein, member of the Council of Economic Advisors with Maurice Mann, Assistant Director of the Budget. 4/29/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, colonnade. Mr. Stein, Mr. Mann.
• Frame(s): WHPO-3442-11-34, President Nixon walking in the Colonnade and Rose Garden. 4/29/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Colonnade and Rose Garden. President Nixon.
• Frame(s): WHPO-3442-26, President Nixon walking in the Rose Garden.(seen from behind). 4/29/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Colonnade and Rose Garden. President Nixon.

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-3692
  News excerpts: Decommissioning Presidential Yachts "The Tricia" and "The Julie;" "Issues and Answers" Sam Donaldson interviews Gov. Nelson Rockefeller. Retirement of Presidential Yachts, interview with Gov. Rockefeller, Bowling show segment
  All networks
  Runtime: 00:30:00
• WHCA-3695
  Weekly News Summary.
  All networks
  Runtime: 00:31:09
  
  6. Report on Cambodia. Time Code Start: 09:47. Keywords: Cambodia, Vietnam War. Network: CBS.
  
  7. Report on expected Presidential Speech. Time Code Start: 11:20. Keywords: Presidents, speeches. Network: NBC.
  
  8. Vice President Agnew speaks out against Yale. Time Code Start: 12:33. Keywords: Vice Presidents, speeches, statements, colleges, universities, criticisms. Network: NBC.
  
  9. Report on Cambodia. Time Code Start: 14:35. Keywords: Cambodia, Vietnam War. Network: ABC.
  
  10. Vice President Agnew speaks out against Yale. Time Code Start: 15:58. Keywords: Vice Presidents, speeches, statements, colleges, universities, criticisms. Network: ABC.

• New York Times of April 29, 1970

• AP Images photos from April 29, 1970
• Getty Images photos from April 29, 1970

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.

• April 1970 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• April 29, 1970