1. Home
  2. Research
  3. Almanac

August 11, 1970

Introduction

This almanac page for Tuesday, August 11, 1970, 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: Monday, August 10, 1970

Next Date: Wednesday, August 12, 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 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

    • Asian Development Bank (6 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1055, August 11, 1970)
      Announcement of Intention To Nominate Artemus E. Weatherbee To Be U.S. Director of the Bank.
    • Federal Trade Commission (6 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1057, August 11, 1970)
      Announcement of Intention To Nominate Miles W. Kirkpatrick To Be a Member and Chairman.

    Congress, Communications to

    Executive Orders

    Veto Messages

    • Vetoes of Appropriations Bills (6 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1056, August 11, 1970)
      The President's Remarks Announcing His Vetoes of Appropriations Bills for the Independent Offices and Department of Housing and Urban Development and for the Office of Education.
    • Vetoes of Appropriations Bills (6 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1056, August 11, 1970)
      The President's Messages to the House of Representatives Vetoing Appropriations Bills for the Independent Offices and Department of Housing and Urban Development and for the Office of Education.

    Acts Approved by the President

    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 Senator Hugh Scott and Representative Gerald R. Ford following Republican leadership meeting.

    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 transmitted to the Congress the 1969 Annual Report of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (24 pp.)
    • Prime Minister Hugh L. Shearer of Jamaica met with the President at the White House.
    • Members of the Volunteers for Vietnam group met with the President to report on their visit to Vietnam in June.

    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.

    • WILLIAM ROBERT McLELLAN, of California, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce, vice Kenneth N. Davis, Jr., resigned.
    • CARL O. BUE, JR., of Texas, to be a United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas, vice Joe McDonald Ingraham, elevated.
    • ARTEMUS E. WEATHERBEE, of Maine, to be a United States Director of the Asian Development Bank, vice Bernard Zagorin.

  • 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.

  • 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.

    President's Personal File

    The President's Personal File is essentially a President's secretary's file, kept by Rose Mary Woods, personal secretary to the President, for two purposes: (1) preserving for posterity a collection of documents particularly close to the President, whether because he dictated or annotated them, or because of the importance of the correspondent or the event concerned and (2) giving appropriate attention–letters of gratitude, invitations to White House social events, and the like–to members and important friends and supporters of the Nixon administration. This generalization does not describe all the varied materials of a file group which is essentially a miscellany, but it does identify the reason for the existence of the file group's core. 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)
      Tuesday, August 11.

      Leadership this morning with a surprise development. President had planned to let Education Bill go through without signing instead of vetoing, mainly because Congressional leadership on our side was totally opposed to veto even though 435 million over budget. By end of discussion at meeting, leaders were at least partially agreed on veto. So in discussion after with Finch, Shultz, Ehrlichman, Harlow, and me - President decided to veto, which he had wanted to do all along. So moved up HUD veto from Thursday and did both today - with statement to press this afternoon. Especially enjoyable because Washington Post reported on front page this morning that he would not veto. President knows they'll override - but he makes his big issue on spending much more clearly this way.

      President made point this was good move because, as old Congressman Jim Wadsworth always used to say, "you never need to worry about a bad vote when you are on the losing side - if your position does not prevail, you can't be blamed."

      Some talk about plans for Europe trip and Summit (also I with Kissinger, he has plan for President to make his Vietnam cease-fire proposal in mid-September, then go that night to Paris to present it in person, President likes the idea). Probably to Europe September 23 through October 3. Then to New York for Al Smith dinner and UN 25th Anniversary October 21-24. Meeting with Kosygin in Key Biscayne just before or just after UN. Will pretty well dominate the scene through the campaign period.

      President talked to Kleindienst yesterday who is worried about Mitchell's health. Had me call John today to get him to take long vacation. He did agree to two weeks in California. President met with Prime Minister of Jamaica (at Pedge deRoulet's request) and agreed to go to Jamaica this winter.

      Had a real bunch for Congressional half hour, afterwards President very relaxed and pleased with vetoes - said "Boy, we had the damnedest collection today. Jesus Christ, what a bunch of nuts."

      Had Ziegler in to gloat over shock of press corps regarding veto. New Orleans on Friday will throw them off too. Good to keep them off balance.
    • 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

    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. VII, Vietnam, July 1970-January 1972

    The Aftermath of the Cambodian Incursion, July 21-October 7, 1970

    • 19. National Security Decision Memorandum 78, Washington, August 11, 1970

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 363, Subject Files, NSDMs 51–96. Secret. A copy was sent to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

    Vol. XXI, Chile, 1969-1973

    A Spoiling Operation: The 1970 Chilean Presidential Election, January 1-September 4, 1970

    Vol. XXIII, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1969-1972

    The Cease-Fire Agreement

    Vol. XXVIII, Southern Africa

    Portuguese Africa

    Vol. XXIX, Eastern Mediterranean, 1969-1972

    Greece

    • 288. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Greece, Washington, August 11, 1970, 2041Z

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 593, Country Files—Middle East, Greece, Vol. I. Jan 69–Oct 70. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Sisco; cleared by Silva, Davies, Tibbetts, and Eliot; NEA, EUR and S, and approved by Rogers.

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

    Chemical and Biological Warfare; Geneva Protocol; Biological Weapons Convention

    • 202. National Security Decision Memorandum 78, Washington, August 11, 1970

      U.S. forces were authorized to use riot control agents and chemical herbicides.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 363, Subject Files, NSDMs (51–96). Secret. A copy was sent to Moorer

    • 203. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Eliot) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, August 11, 1970

      Eliot forwarded Rogers’ report on the Geneva Protocol. Included with it was the Presidential message that was to be submitted with the Protocol to the Senate for advice and consent.

      Source: Washington National Records Center, Office of the Director, Subject Files of the Former Executive Director Office, December 1969–December 1970: FRC 383–98–4, Chemical Biological and Radiological Warfare (CBW), Laser Technology and U.S. Position on Toxins, August–December 1970. Secret. Drafted by C.I. Bevans. The attached Presidential message and Protocol are not published. For text of the message as submitted by the President on August 19, see the Public Papers: Nixon, 1970, pp. 677–678.

    • 204. Telegram 129723 From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union, Washington, August 11, 1970, 2036Z

      The telegram reported on indications the Soviets might be interested in negotiating a treaty dealing solely with biological weapons.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–1973, DEF 18–3 Switz (GE). Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Malin (ACDA/IR); cleared by Perry (SOV); and approved by Day (ACDA/IR).

    Vol. E-5, Part 1, Documents on Sub-Saharan Africa, 1969-1972

    The Horn

  • 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

  • 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-4111 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-4111-02-34, Close-up portrait study of Herbert Klein's daughter. 8/11/1970, Washington, D.C. White House. Herbert G. Klein's daughter.

    Roll WHPO-4122 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-4122-02-19, President Nixon meeting with Hugh Lawson Shearer, Prime Minister of Jamaica. 8/11/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. Presiden Nixon, Hugh Lawson Shearer.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-4122-03A, President Nixon meeting with Hugh Lawson Shearer, Prime Minister of Jamaica. 8/11/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-4122-20-21, President Nixon walking with Hugh Lawson Shearer, Prime Minister of Jamaica. 8/11/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, exterior. President Nixon and Hugh Lawson Shearer, PM of Jamaica.

    Roll WHPO-4123 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-4123-04-09, President Nixon meeting with Hugh Lawson Shearer, Prime Minister of Jamaica. 8/11/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Patio. President Nixon, Hugh Lawson Shearer, Henry Kissinger, others.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-4123-10-11, President Nixon saying goodbye to Hugh Lawson Shearer, Prime Minister of Jamaica. 8/11/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, exterior. President Nixon, Hugh Lawson Shearer, Henry Kissinger, others.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-4123-12-21, President Nixon walking on the grounds of the White House during a meeting with Henry Kissinger. 8/11/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, South Lawn. President Nixon, Henry Kissinger.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-4123-18, President Nixon walking on the grounds of the White House during a meeting with Henry Kissinger. Flowers seen in the foreground. 8/11/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, South Lawn. President Nixon, Henry Kissinger.

    Roll WHPO-4124 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-4124-02-05, President Nixon receiving a carved caricature from Congressman James A. McClure. 8/11/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, James A. McClure, John E. Nidecker.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-4124-10-15, President Nixon receiving a celestial globe from Robert McClory, Congressman from Illinois. 8/11/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Robert McClory, unidentified woman.

    Roll WHPO-4125 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-4125-01A-06A, President Nixon announcing to the press corps his vetoes of two appropriation bills. 8/11/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Press Briefing Area. President Nixon, Press Corps members.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-4125-10A-15A, President Nixon meeting with Congressman Fred Schwengel from Iowa and his group "Volunteers for Vietnam.". 8/11/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Fred Schwengel, William O. Cowger, Ernest Griffith, Robert Henry, Jackie Day, Vernon Sheppard, Allan Schimmel, William E. Timmons.

    Roll WHPO-4126 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-4126-01-18, President Nixon meeting with Congressman Harley O. Staggers from West Virginia and receiving wall clock. 8/11/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Harley O. Staggers, Frances Susan Staggers.

    Roll WHPO-4127 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-4127-03-12, Unidentified group meeting with Harry Dent in his office. 8/11/1970, Washington, D.C. White House. Harry Dent, unidentified others.

  • 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.

    P - Formal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-P-700812
      Remarks by President Nixon on vetoing 2 appropriations bills with Ronald Ziegler. (8/11/1970)

      Runtime: 2:20

      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-3815
      Weekly News Summary - Tape I.
      All networks
      Runtime: 1:00

      24. Smith: The budget and spending (President Nixon comments on the hard decision to veto education and housing bills, says too costly, it ran almost 1 billion over budget recommendatins. Says he won't sign inflationary bills.. Time Code Start: 38:42. Keywords: reports, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, unemployment, prices, payments. Network: ABC.

      25. Smith/Clark: Report on Anti-Ballistic Missile system (ABM) Senate vote tomorrow, Administration has votes to extend anti-ballistic missile and defeat Hart-Cooper Amendment aimed at blocking project. Senator John Stennis says doesn't want Soviets to think . Time Code Start: 40:35. Keywords: Senate, voting, military, missiles, aircraft, artillery, weapons, nuclear, SALT, S.A.L.T., Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, Russia, Soviet Union, USSR, Cold War, détente, (if applicable add: summits, meetings. Network: ABC.

      26. Reynolds: Moves for peace all over. West German Chancellor Willy Brandt flies to Moscow, USSR and signs non-aggression pact with USSR; Communist Pathet Lao agrees to peace talks with Laotian government; Israeli jets hit guerrilla camps in Lebanon; 5th day. Time Code Start: 42:45. Keywords: Europe, Germany, treaties, treaty, negotiations, meetings, leaders, Russia, Soviet Union, USSR, Indochina War, Laos, Mideast, Middle East, war, airstrikes, bombings, ceasefires,. Network: ABC.

      27. Smith/Don Farmer: (Jackson, Mississippi) Committee on Campus Unrest gets cold welcome at Jackson State; Mayor Russell Davis says most shots by police fired into air; Commission Chairperson William Scranton seeks cause for shootings.. Time Code Start: 43:37. Keywords: universities, colleges, demonstrations, rally, protesters, demonstraters, students, Vietnam War, anti-war. Network: ABC.

      28. Smith/Donaldson: Air Pollution; autos major smog makers; Congress committee considers legislature banning cars from smog centers on some days. Senator Edmund Muskie says national standards, deadlines needed. Legislation would require better mass transit i. Time Code Start: 45:52. Keywords: bills, laws, ecology, environment, pollutants, air pollution, , smog, smoke, fossil fuels, litter, sludge, contamination, debris. Network: ABC.

      29. Smith: Nerve gas dumping (disposal) plan: Florida Governor Claude Kirk takes Army to court to halt nerve gas dumping in Atlantic off Florida coast. Time Code Start: 47:58. Keywords: oceans, disposal, dumping, destruction, chemicals, biological weapons, biological warfare, chemical weapons, VX, organophosphate compounds, poison gas, nerve agents. Network: ABC.

      30. Brinkley: The budget and spending (President Nixon); Nixon vetoes education and housing bills, says they're $1 billion too high, says bills inflationary and people would lose. Time Code Start: 48:14. Keywords: needs review, date may be incorrect, may be segment on veto of education bill. Network: NBC.

      31. Brinkley: Anti-Ballistic Missile system (ABM) expansion vote tomorrow. Time Code Start: 50:58. Keywords: war, military, missiles, aircraft, artillery, weapons. Network: NBC.

      32. Chancellor: Middle East negotiations. Time Code Start: 51:38. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, war, Israeli, truces, treaties, negotiations. Network: NBC.

      33. Valeriani: Middle East negotiations. Time Code Start: 52:15. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, war, Israeli, truces, treaties, negotiations. Network: NBC.

      34. Chancellor: West German Chancellor Willy Brandt. Time Code Start: 53:33. Keywords: West Germany, Chancellors, leaders, meetings. Network: NBC.

      35. Trotta: Governor's Conference. Time Code Start: 55:45. Keywords: Governors, conferences, meetings. Network: NBC.

      36. Chancellor: Trade Bill. Time Code Start: 57:23. Keywords: bills, laws, business, exchanges, agreements, contracts, profits, finance, sales, buying, selling. Network: NBC.
    • WHCA-3816
      Weekly News Summary - Tape II.
      All networks
      Runtime: 01:02:46

      1. Cronkite/Rather: The budget and spending (President Nixon). Time Code Start: 00:00. Keywords: reports, economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money, wages, costs, unemployment, prices, payments. Network: CBS.

      2. Cronkite: Attempted hijacking in Saigon, Vietnam. Time Code Start: 03:03. Keywords: hijackings, skyjackings, kidnappings, terrorism, aircraft, airlines, violence threats. Network: CBS.

      3. Cronkite/Schoumacher: Anti-Ballistic Missile system (ABM). Time Code Start: 03:38. Keywords: war, military, missiles, aircraft, artillery, weapons, SALT, S.A.L.T., Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, Russia, Soviet Union, USSR, Cold War, détente. Network: CBS.

      4. Cronkite/Plante: Former Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey. Time Code Start: 05:42. Keywords: Vice Presidents, history,. Network: CBS.

      5. Cronkite: President Nixon appointment. Time Code Start: 07:59. Keywords: Presidents, cabinet, advisors, appointments. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)