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December 18, 1969

Introduction

This almanac page for Thursday, December 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: Wednesday, December 17, 1969

Next Date: Friday, December 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 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

    Reports to the President

    Acts Approved by the President

    • S. 118 -- Public Law 91-148
      An Act to grant the consent of the Congress to the Tahoe regional planning compact, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior and others to cooperate with the planning agency thereby created, and for other purposes.
    • H.R. 2238 -- Private Law 91-64
      An Act to provide for the relief of certain civilian employees paid by the Air Force-at Tachikawa Air Base, Japan.

    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 George P. Shultz, Secretary of Labor, and Arthur A. Fletcher, Assistant Secretary for Wage and Labor Standards, on the Philadelphia Plan.

    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.

    • Ambassadors Walter Loridan of Belgium and Slaheddine El-Goulli of Tunisia presented their credentials to the President in the Blue Room at the White House.
    • Gheorghe Macovescu, First Deputy Foreign Minister of Romania, met with the President at the White House.

  • 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

  • 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. I, Foundations of Foreign Policy, 1969-1972

    Foundations of Foreign Policy, 1969-1972

    Vol. II, Organization and Management of U.S. Foreign Policy, 1969-1972

    Foreign Economic Policy

    • 360. Memorandum From the Chairman of the Export-Import Bank (Kearns) to President Nixon, Washington, December 18, 1969

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 338, HAK/Richardson Meetings, Jan 1970–March 1970. Personal and Confidential at the Request of the President. A note on the memorandum indicates that the President saw it. The President wrote on page 1: “K, I completely agree with this analysis. Shake Samuels et al hard & get action. All they have done so far is to tinker with the status quo.”

    Vol. VI, Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

    Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

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

    The Rogers Plan

    Vol. XXIX, Eastern Europe, 1969-1972

    Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty

    Romania

    • 192. Memorandum of Conversation , Washington, December 18, 1969

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 704, Country Files—Europe, Macovescu (Romania). Secret; Nodis. The meeting took place in the Red Room at the White House.

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

    Chemical and Biological Warfare; Geneva Protocol; Biological Weapons Convention

    • 170. Memorandum From Michael Guhin of the National Security Council Staff to the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) , Washington, December 18, 1969

      Guhin briefed Kissinger on the toxins issue. Guhin included the definition of “toxin”, an outline of the current toxins program, and those arguments in favor and opposed to maintaining a complete toxin program. He concluded with a commentary on the ways in which the information given fit into the larger international discussion of the Geneva Conference and the UK Draft Convention.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 310, Subject Files, Chemical, Biological Warfare (Toxins, etc.) Vol. I. Top Secret; Nodis. Sent for information. A stamped notation on the memorandum indicates Kissinger saw it December 20. The memorandum was sent through Behr.

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

    Nigerian Civil War

    • 149. Telegram 5483 From the Embassy in Ethiopia to the Department of State, Addis Ababa, December 18, 1969, 1400Z

      The Embasssy transmitted the statement to the press issued by the leader of the Biafran delegation to the Addis Ababa peace talks, explaining why the delegation was departing.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 15, Presidentʼs Daily Briefs. Unclassified; Immediate. Repeated immediate to Lagos. Also repeated to London and Paris.

    Vol. E-10, Documents on American Republics, 1969-1972

    Panama

    • 525. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, December 18, 1969 , Washington, December 18, 1969

      President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger discussed the recent unsuccessful attempt to overthrow President Torrijos. Because Torrijos suspected that the United States was involved in the coup attempt, it reinforced his existing mistrust of the U.S. Government. Kissinger concluded that U.S. officials should attempt to shape Torrijos’s attitudes so the Panamanian leader would act in a more pro-U.S. fashion.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 790, Country Files, Latin America, Panama, Vol. 1, January 1969–February 28, 1970. Secret. Sent for information. Written on the document was “ret’d [returned],” which was stamped December 22.

  • 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 of many of these transcripts can be found on the Yale University Library website.

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-2661 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2661-02A, President Nixon seated at his desk during a meeting with John Mitchell and Ron Ziegler. 12/18/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, John Mitchell, Ron Ziegler.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2661-03, President Nixon seated at his desk during a meeting with John Mitchell and Ron Ziegler. 12/18/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, John Mitchell, Ron Ziegler.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2661-05A-10A, President Nixon shaking hands with James Rademacher, President of the National Association of Letter Carriers and Chairman of the Government Employees Council. 12/18/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, James Rademacher, John Ehrlichman, Charles W. Colson, Henry Cashen.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2661-11A-15A, President Nixon sitting with James Rademacher, President of the National Association of Letter Carriers and Chairman of the Government Employees Council and aides. 12/18/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, James Rademacher, John Ehrlichman, Charles W. Colson, Henry Cashen.

    Roll WHPO-2662 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2662-03-22, Tricia Nixon hosting a Christmas reception for students of the Lincoln Special School. 12/18/1969, Washington, D.C. Blue Room, White House. Tricia Nixon, Lincoln Special School students, chaperones, staff.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2662-23-25, Tricia Nixon and a Christmas gingerbread house. 12/18/1969, Washington, D.C. Tricia Nixon.

    Roll WHPO-2663 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2663-00A-08A, President Nixon receiving the credentials of Belgian Ambassador Walter Loridan. 12/18/1969, Washington, D.C. Blue Room, White House. President Nixon, Walter Loridan, Slaheddine El-Goulli.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2663-11A-19A, President Nixon receiving the credentials of Tunisian Ambassador Slaheddine El-Goulli. 12/18/1969, Washington, D.C. Blue Room, White House. President Nixon, Walter Loridan, Slaheddine El-Goulli.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2663-20A-21A, President Nixon seated with ambassadors. 12/18/1969, Washington, D.C. Red Room, White House. President Nixon, ambassadors.

    Roll WHPO-2666 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2666-, President Nixon and Pat Nixon at a reception for White House Social Aides and their dates. Nixon shaking hands individually with aides. 12/18/1969, Washington, D.C. Theater, White House. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, White House Social Aides, guests.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2666-, President Nixon shaking hands individually with aides, at a reception. 12/18/1969, Washington, D.C. Theater, White House. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, White House Social Aides, guests.

  • 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.

    H - White House Staff Member Recordings

    • WHCA-SR-H-111
      Background briefing by Henry Kissinger; "OFF THE RECORD - NOT FOR RELEASE". (12/18/1969, Family Theater, White House)

      Runtime: 1:30:00

      Keywords: Briefings, public briefings, statements to the press (see also Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media)

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by "WHCA only"; No WHCA engineer initials listed

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

Context (External Sources)