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August 9, 1970

Introduction

This almanac page for Sunday, August 9, 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: Saturday, August 8, 1970

Next Date: Monday, August 10, 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 Camp David, Maryland

  • 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 29, News Summaries - August 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.]

  • 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)
      Sunday, August 9.

      At Camp David. Ehrlichman and I had long talk, regarding desegregation, etc., which brought out Ehrlichman's feeling that President has lost confidence in him. Says he hasn't seen President alone for a month. Feels he can't go on making domestic decisions, etc., unless he knows he's doing what President wants. I said we should confront President with whole thing and get it cleared up - so we did.

      In about three hour chat with President at Aspen, Ehrlichman laid his problem out quite clearly and President shot it down very well. President did lay out his concerns regarding liberal appointments to commissions, overreaction in South, etc., and air was pretty well cleared up.

      President made some good basic points - we can't pick up support from radicalized partisans - glad we didn't appoint Vance, Shriver, etc., because they would have backfired. Need to reexamine all our appointments and start to play to our group, without shame or concern or apology. Should feel our way - appear to be listening to critics, but we have now learned we have gained nothing by turning to the other side. Again we have to build our own establishment. We're in a deadly battle with the establishment on many fronts: press, civil rights, education, political.

      President has changed his mind, reached a new conclusion. Is convinced policy of sucking after left won't work - not only can't win them, can't even defuse them. Wants Ehrlichman to shape policies so as to move our way. President changed mind about school desegregation statement of March 24 - thinks it went too far, only agreed to some parts to keep Garment happy but can't do them now, i.e., idea of interracial experience.

      Decided to try using Shultz and Weber to clean up personnel. Will put direct charge to Weber. Wants Rumsfeld to take revolutionary run at Civil Service Commission. Work up plan to go into effect December 15, to really take over government. Have to get it all done this year - build case in '71, win in '72.

      President now thinking of being less overtly political - also less direct haranguing of Congress, especially the sharp rejoinders and raising hell.

      President main point - we must put our imprint on the men as well as the policies in this Administration, all the way through it.
    • 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.

    • No President's Daily Brief delivered on this date

  • 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

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

    The Cease-Fire Agreement

    • 147. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel, Washington, August 9, 1970, 0157Z

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 655, Country Files, Middle East, Ceasefire Mideast Vol. I. Secret; Immediate. Drafted on August 8 by Atherton, cleared in draft by Sisco, and approved by Rogers.

  • 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-4179 Photographer: | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-4179-01, Unidentified group of White House tour visitors standing in lines in the East Room during an orientation by a uniformed White House guide. 8/9/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. visitors, unidentified male White House tour guide.

  • 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

      3. Chancellor/Burrington: Middle East, Israeli jets hit Arab guerrillas in Lebanon; other cntrys. observe cease-fire. (Suez Canal) Canal Zone quiet since cease-fire; men still nervous. Unidentified Israeli intelligence Officer says can't reveal how will moni. Time Code Start: 02:10. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, war. Network: NBC.

      4. Schorr: Education commissioner appointment of Sidney P. Marland, Jr.. Time Code Start: 04:52. Keywords: appointments, confirmations, commissioners, leaders, schools, colleges, universities. Network: CBS.

      5. Dean: National Governor's Conference. New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller calls Nixon South strategy "cow path".(Lake Ozarks, Missouri) Govs. conference security tight; rds. blocked. Unidentified military police describes security precautions. Governors . Time Code Start: 06:11. Keywords: Governors, conferences, meetings. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)