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December 13, 1969

Introduction

This almanac page for Saturday, December 13, 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: Friday, December 12, 1969

Next Date: Sunday, December 14, 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 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.

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 Handwriting, Box 4, President's Handwriting, December 1 thru 15, 1969 [4 of 5]
      • Memo; Herb Klein to The President re: Attached from the forthcoming (December 21) issue of Parade Magazine. December 13, 1969. 1 pg.
      • Remarks, Notes; Lee Heubner and James Keogh to The President re: Suggested Remarks for Opening the Bob Hope Show. December 13, 1969. 3 pgs.
      • Remarks, Notes; Lee Heubner and James Keogh to The President re: Suggested Remarks at Bob Hope Cast Dinner. December 13, 1969. 7 pgs.
      • Remarks; William Gavin, Bill Safire, and James Keogh to The President re: Suggested Remarks for Pageant of Peace Ceremony. December 13, 1969. 7 pgs.
      • Newspaper; to The President re: AP story from St. Louis Post Dispatch, "Edward Nixon Tells Of Life With Brother". December 13, 1969. 1 pg.
    • Annotated News Summaries, Box 28, News Summaries - December 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)
      Saturday, December 13.

      President at Camp David, but came down at 2:00, so I went into White House. Good thing. He had a budget meeting with Mayo and Schlesinger, and wanted me to sit in since Ehrlichman was out of town. Was supposed to be one hour, but lasted for two. Covered OEO, Interior and the independent Agencies plus wrapping up HEW.

      President wants a big meeting with Rumsfeld, Finch, Shultz plus Ehrlichman, Moynihan, Burns, Mayo and Nathan about whole area of overlap of OEO, fight it out and decide where and how to locate all the overlapping programs. A number of items today put over to that meeting. Feels all Agencies proliferate too much, and should have one department in total charge of each program so everything clears through one place and there is some degree of control.

      President took, as usual, very tough line on cutting - especially in personnel. Particularly zeroed in on PR people. Also moved hard on cutting the OEO programs he doesn't like, i.e., Legal Services, Head Start, etc.

      Got into VP setup - President wants us to persuade him to cut back on extraneous activities, but said "whatever he asks for I have to give him," so you have to get him to cut back voluntarily.

      Left right after meeting. President called me at home really cranked up about letting Look photographers into his office, and regarding the David Frost show - wants both blacklisted, and action from Garment on Frost.
    • 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. VI, Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

    Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

    Vol. E-5, Part 2, Documents on North Africa, 1969-1972

    Libya

    • 48. Telegram 3711 From the Embassy in Libya to the Department of State, Tripoli, December 13, 1969, 1355Z

      Ambassador Joseph Palmer recommended a contingency statement in case the meetings of a U.S. official with one of the coup plotters should be exposed.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 23–9 LIBYA. Secret; Immediate. It was repeated immediate to Benghazi. In telegram 3622 from Tripoli, December 3, Palmer had recommended a negative reply to Minister of Defense Hawaaz, who had requested American assistance in his struggle against other elements within the Libyan Government, so as “to preserve our future relations with whichever faction may come out on top of the possible power struggle here.” (Ibid.) In telegram 201909 to Tripoli and Benghazi, December 4, the Department concurred, adding “we would hope not to foreclose possibility future contact with Hawaaz as may later be appropriately selected.” (Ibid.) [text not declassified] (Ibid.)

  • 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.

Context (External Sources)