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December 12, 1969

Introduction

This almanac page for Friday, December 12, 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: Thursday, December 11, 1969

Next Date: Saturday, December 13, 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 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.

    Addresses and Remarks

    Executive Orders

    Proclamations

    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 Sybil Stockdale, Pat Mearns, Andrea Rander, Carole Hanson, and Louise Mulligan, representing a delegation of wives and mothers of prisoners of war and servicemen missing in action, following a meeting with the President.

    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.

    • Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge, whose resignation as the President's personal representative and head of the United States delegation to the Paris meetings on Vietnam was effective on December 8, met with the President at the White House to present his final report.
    • District of Columbia Mayor Walter E. Washington, Deputy Mayor Thomas W. Fletcher, and Council Chairman Gilbert Hahn, Jr., met with the President at the White House in a courtesy call prior to the effective date of Mr. Fletcher's resignation, announced earlier.
    • The President transmitted to the Senate for its advice and consent a certified copy of the Protocol to the International Convention for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Relating to Panel Membership and to Regulatory Measures.
    • The President announced the appointment of Robert H. Abplanalp of Bronxville, N.Y., to be a member of the President's Commission on White House Fellowships.
    • In a letter to the President of the Senate, the President proposed supplemental appropriations of $4.75 million for fiscal year 1970 for the Treasury Department. The request is contingent on the passage of H.R. 14944 authorizing an adequate force for the protection of the Executive Mansion and foreign diplomatic missions.
    • The President announced his intention to nominate Chaplain (Col.) Gerhardt W. Hyatt (USA) for appointment to the grade of brigadier general and assignment as Deputy Chief of Chaplains, United States Army.
    • Chancellor Willy Brandt of the Federal Republic of Germany has accepted the President's invitation to visit Washington in 1970, at a date to be announced later.
    • The President has sent to the President of the Senate a letter requesting Congress to consider a supplemental appropriation of $159,000 for fiscal 1970 for the United States section of the United States-Mexico Commission for Border Development and Friendship.

    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.

    • JAMES L. BROWNING, JR., of California, to be United States attorney for the Northern District of California for the term of 4 years, vice Cecil F. Poole.

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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

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-2588 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2588-01, Ronald Ziegler, Herb Klein,and Ken BeLieu talking intently. 12/12/1969, Washington, D.C. unknown. Ron Ziegler, Herb Klein, Ken BeLieu.

    Roll WHPO-2619 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2619-04-30, No negatives - contact sheet only., Pat Nixon visiting and shaking hands with Christmas card volunteers. 12/12/1969, Washington, D.C. unknown. Pat Nixon, volunteers.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2619-24, No negative - contact sheet and print only., Pat Nixon looking at Christmas card envelopes with volunteers. 12/12/1969, Washington, D.C. unknown. Pat Nixon, volunteers.

    Roll WHPO-2620 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2620-02A-14A, Pat Nixon and President Nixon with POW (Vietnam Prisoner of War) wives. 12/12/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Library, Roosevelt Room. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, POW (Vietnam Prisoner of War) wives, aides.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2620-14A, President Nixon standing with POW (Vietnam Prisoner of War) wives. 12/12/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Library, Roosevelt Room. President Nixon,POW (Vietnam Prisoner of War) wives, aides.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2620-15A-22A, President Nixon standing with and receiving art works from Rep. Carl Albert and constituents. 12/12/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Carl Albert, Winston Postoak, Elizabeth Postoak, Suzanne Heard, Verbon E. Kemp, John Hunt, Frank Disney, Richard Roudebush, Albert Levin.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2620-23A-26A, President Nixon standing with and receiving art works from Rep. John Hunt and Frank W. Disney, portrait painter. 12/12/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Carl Albert, Winston Postoak, Elizabeth Postoak, Suzanne Heard, Verbon E. Kemp, John Hunt, Frank W. Disney, Richard Roudebush, Albert Levin.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2620-27A-33A, President Nixon standing with and receiving art works from Rep. Richard Roudebush and Albert Levin. 12/12/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Carl Albert, Winston Postoak, Elizabeth Postoak, Suzanne Heard, Verbon E. Kemp, John Hunt, Frank Disney, Richard Roudebush, Albert Levin.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2620-34A-36A, President Nixon seated at his desk during a meeting with Mayor Walter Washington, Council Chairman Gilbert Hahn, and Deputy Mayor Thomas Fletcher. 12/12/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Walter Washington, Gilbert Hahn, Thomas Fletcher.

    Roll WHPO-2621 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2621-03A-04A, President Nixon accepting a portrait of himself from Rep. John Hunt and artist Frank Disney. 12/12/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, John Hunt, Frank Disney, Walter Washington, Thomas Fletcher, Gilbert Hahn.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2621-05A-15A, President Nixon at his desk with Mayor Walter Washington, Gilbert Hahn, and Thomas Fletcher. 12/12/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, John Hunt, Frank Disney, Walter Washington, Thomas Fletcher, Gilbert Hahn.

    Roll WHPO-2622 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2622-04-11, Pat Nixon at a reception for POW (Vietnam Prisoner of War) wives. 12/12/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Library. Pat Nixon, POW (Vietnam Prisoner of War) wives, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Bishop.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2622-13-16, Mr. Jackson and Mrs. Bishop at a desk. 12/12/1969, Washington, D.C. unknown. Pat Nixon, POW (Vietnam Prisoner of War) wives, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Bishop.

    Roll WHPO-2623 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2623-04A-08A, President Nixon shaking hands with U. S. Ambassador to South Africa William Rountree. 12/12/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, William Rountree.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2623-09A-20A, President Nixon with writer George Skelton. 12/12/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, George Skelton.

  • 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-691216
      Remarks by President Nixon Following a Meeting With Wives and Mothers of Prisoners of War and Servicemen Missing in Action in Vietnam. (12/12/1969, Roosevelt Room, White House)

      Runtime: 0:15:51

      Keywords: Vietnam Prisoner of War, Missing in Action, POW, MIA, Vietnam War, military

      Production credits: Mult feed supplied by NBC; Recorded by RDL (initials of WHCA engineer)

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
    • WHCA-SR-P-691217
      Remarks by President Nixon in a Replublican National Committee publicity film. (12/12/1969)

      Runtime: 1:56

      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-3564
      Weekly News Summary. Richard Nixon, familes of Vietnam Prisoner's of War, (Vietnam Prisoner of War and POW families), Secretary of State William Rogers.
      All networks
      Runtime: 00:31:49

      6. President Nixon with captive GI's families (POWs). Time Code Start: 08:40. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War, military, families. Network: NBC.

      10. President Nixon with captive GI's families (POWs). Time Code Start: 16:07. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War, military, families. Network: CBS.

      11. President Nixon with captive GI's families (POWs). Time Code Start: 21:01. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War, military, families. Network: ABC.

      12. Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) demonstrating at the White House. Time Code Start: 23:19. Keywords: youth, students, organizations, politics, William F. Buckley, Jr., high schools, conservatives, demonstrations, rally, protesters, demonstraters, students, Vietnam War, anti-war. Network: ABC.

Context (External Sources)