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August 18, 1969

Introduction

This almanac page for Monday, August 18, 1969, 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: Sunday, August 17, 1969

Next Date: Tuesday, August 19, 1969

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 Western White House, San Clemente, California

  • 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.

    Announcements

    • Disaster Assistance for Mississippi (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1165, August 18, 1969)
      Announcement of the President's Declaration of a Major Disaster and Allocation of Federal Funds Due to Hurricane Camille.

    Appointments and Nominations

    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.

    • Background material concerning Judge Clement F. Haynsworth.

    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 has appointed Maj. Gen. Andrew Peach Rollins, Jr., as Federal Representative to the Red River Compact negotiations.
    • The President has appointed Robert W. Kellum as Representative of the United States to the Wabash Valley Interstate Commission.
    • The President announced his intention to nominate Daniel E. Rinehart to be a member of the Renegotiation Board.

  • 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.

    No Federal Register published on this date

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.

    • Annotated News Summaries, Box 28, News Summaries - August 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. Although there are no specific documents with this date, you should also consult the full folder for the month.]

  • 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)
      Monday, August 18

      Back to work. Pretty light morning. A session with Ehrlichman and me, a brief one with Kissinger. And a long two hour session with the speech writers. Wants to have staff tour the house while he's in San Francisco. Spent quite a little time on schedule - specific and generalities. Back to pounding on the PR need - Kissinger and Ehrlichman and I had a session on this, decided we should not try to get a PR man, but rather should bring in PR outside counsel for advice, i.e. , Ted Braun. Some analysis of Derge poll, and talk of Vietnam options.

      At writers meeting President discussed whole approach to the future, mainly in regard to his speech to the National Governors Conference. Question whether to take on the Democratic Congress. If so, can lay the basis with speech on all the items he has put before Congress - with no action. President said he's not about to take on Democrats, but can't say this to politicos. Reason, of course, is that if he didn't win, he'd have an impossible situation for next two years. Said no president since FDR has gained in Congress on off year, and even FDR in 1934 was just continuation of the tide that swept him in. Down deep, though, I think he feels he does have a chance to get a Republican Congress if he ends the war, etc. - but won't follow the attack route, at least not now. Makes sense.

      At Kissinger-Ehrlichman meeting, we talked about Vietnam alternatives. Obvious that we have to end it in six to nine months - and that the process will be difficult. Kissinger has scenario, now with Mitchell. Feels President has to make total mental commitment and really be prepared for the heat. I think he realizes this and is getting ready. This is at least part of the reason for the efforts to build strong nationalism with space thing - and certainly the reason behind the push for better PR capability - and also, I think, the reason he's really taking a vacation - to get ready for what lies ahead. Hope it will do the job.

      He left before 2:00, out to Pendleton for another day of golf. We came back to Balboa - sailing with Chapin. 

      Safire came up with his idea regarding New Federalist Papers, to play off New Federalism. To be used as the basis for knocking down the zig and zag theory regarding Nixon, and establish basic theme for Administration. To be written anonymously, under name of Populus.

      Announced the new Justice this morning, no meeting with President.
    • 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. V, United Nations, 1969-1972

    Chinese Representation in the United Nations

    Vol. XII, Soviet Union, January 1969-October 1970

    Establishment of the Kissinger-Dobrynin Channel; Dialogue on the Middle East; and the Sino-Soviet Dispute, April 23-December 10, 1969

    Vol. XXVIII, Southern Africa

    Regional Issues

    Vol. XXXIV, National Security Policy, 1969-1972

    The Joint Chiefs of Staff Readiness Test

    • 63. Memorandum of Conversation , Washington, August 18, 1969

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, DEF 12 CHICOM. Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Stearman. On August 21, George C. Denney, Jr., Acting Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, forwarded this memorandum to Helms and Vice Admiral Vernon L. Lowrance, Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Denney’s covering memorandum to the latter reads as follows: “You might be interested in the attached memorandum of conversation, which Under Secretary Johnson has asked me to draw to your attention. He is, of course, anxious that all field posts of all agencies be alerted to report immediately any further indications that the Soviets might be considering a preemptive strike on China’s nuclear facilities.” No record of a response was found. (Central Intelligence Agency, ODDI Registry, Job 80–R01284A, Box 26, Communist China, 1967–69)

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

    Chemical and Biological Warfare; Geneva Protocol; Biological Weapons Convention

    • 144. Intelligence Report Prepared by Directorate of Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency , Washington, August 18, 1969

      This detailed CIA report, entitled “Disarmament: Chemical-Biological Warfare Controls and Prospects for Improvement,” provided historical background, analysis, and projections on chemical-biological warfare controls and the prospects for improvement.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 310, Subject Files, Chemical, Biological Warfare-Vol. I. Confidential; No Foreign Dissem. A note at the bottom of the first page reads: “This report was produced solely by CIA. It was prepared by the Office of Current Intelligence and coordinated with the Office of National Estimates, the Office of Strategic Research, and the Office of Scientific Intelligence.”

  • 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-1847 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-1847-00A-01A, President Nixon addressing a crowd. 8/18/1969, San Clemente, California La Casa Pacifica, Western White House. President Nixon, Dwight Chapin, unidentified policeman, Henry Kissinger, H.R. Haldeman, Ehrlichman, Rose Mary Woods, unidentified staff members.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-1847-02A, Dwight Chapin standing. 8/18/1969, San Clemente, California La Casa Pacifica, Western White House. Dwight Chapin.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-1847-03A-06A, Plainclothes policeman on guard. 8/18/1969, San Clemente, California La Casa Pacifica, Western White House. policeman.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-1847-08A-13A, Staff members meeting in a conference room in San Clemente. Group includes Henry Kissiner, John Ehrlichman, Dwight Chapin, Steve Bull, H.R. Haldeman, Rose Mary Woods and unidentified staff. 8/18/1969, San Clemente, California La Casa Pacifica, Western White House. President Nixon, Dwight Chapin, unidentified policeman, Kissinger, H.R. Haldeman, Ehrlichman, Rose Mary Woods, unidentified staff members.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-1847-10A, Staff members meeting in a conference room in San Clemente. Group includes Henry Kissinger, John Ehrlichman, Dwight Chapin, Steve Bull, H.R. Haldeman, Rose Mary Woods. 8/18/1969, San Clemente, California La Casa Pacifica, Western White House. Henry Kissinger, John Ehrlichman, Dwight Chapin, Steve Bull, H.R. Haldeman, Rose May Woods, unidentified staff members.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-1847-15A-16A, President Nixon in a golf cart. 8/18/1969, San Clemente, California La Casa Pacifica, Western White House. President Nixon.

Context (External Sources)