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December 29, 1970

Introduction

This almanac page for Tuesday, December 29, 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: Monday, December 28, 1970

Next Date: Wednesday, December 30, 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 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.

    Bill Signings

    Acts Approved by 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.

    • The President today announced the appointment of Edmund G. (Pat) Brown, former Governor of California, to be a Commissioner of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Commission.
    • A delegation from Father Flanagan's Boys' Town called on the President at the White House.

  • 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

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 Personal File

    The President's Personal File is essentially a President's secretary's file, kept by Rose Mary Woods, personal secretary to the President, for two purposes: (1) preserving for posterity a collection of documents particularly close to the President, whether because he dictated or annotated them, or because of the importance of the correspondent or the event concerned and (2) giving appropriate attention–letters of gratitude, invitations to White House social events, and the like–to members and important friends and supporters of the Nixon administration. This generalization does not describe all the varied materials of a file group which is essentially a miscellany, but it does identify the reason for the existence of the file group's core. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

  • 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)
      Tuesday, December 29th. Another day with originally not much scheduled, although the afternoon was fully occupied by the meeting with Connally, et al., and we had a bill signing and a few other odds and ends in the morning.

      We got back into the discussion on Director of Communications, and he's concluded that the best solution is to move Finch into this post, either temporarily or permanent, and then have Colson work with him. He's intrigued with my thought of putting Rumsfeld in there but feels there's a problem of a lack of complete, unswerving dedication to what we're trying to accomplish. He just doesn't have the confidence in Rumsfeld that he does, apparently, in Finch.

      Paragraph. Later he called AI Haig in, and we had quite a long discussion of the Kissinger-Rogers problem as the President reviewed it with me yesterday. His real concern here is that he can't go on having Henry conduct operations independently of Rogers without Rogers’ knowledge...

      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      DECLASSIFIED - E.O. 13526, Sect. 3.4: by MS, NARA, June 12, 2013
      Audio Cassette 2, Side A, Withdrawn Item Number 8 [AC-2(B) Sel 4]
      Duration: 15 seconds
      ...and it isn't working anyway, because Rogers has ways and means of finding out. For example, Dobrynin has told Rogers of his conversations with Henry, and about the summit meeting, etcetera.
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      The President told Haig he was going to have to help handle this whole thing and that he was counting on him for that.

      The Connally meeting started at 3:00 and went until 6:00. Then Connally had missed his plane, so he joined the President at the EOB and they went on until 9:00. The President called me right after Connally had finally left. Very cranked up and enthusiastic about his long talk with Connally. Apparently, Connally brought up the whole PR subject, and made the point that it's much more important to-than we seemed to have realized- to get across a more accurate picture of what the President is really like. He apparently emphasized the points of discipline, austerity, his Spartan-like approach to things, hard work, boldness, delegating duties. He said that regardless of what the characteristics are, the main thing is to emphasize them and get them out. He thinks it's very important that this kind of image get out soon as to what Nixon's really like, and that it's up to the Cabinet and his staff to do it. He said the Cabinet was a fine group, but there's not a strong man in it, and feels they should be out talking. He agreed that a PR guy can't do it, the President's associates have to. He feels there's a very good story to tell here, that people would like to hear it, about the way the President works, which would create enormous confidence. Also, we need to get across the boldness, courage, and strong man.

      He feels that because the Congress is leaderless and has basically fallen apart, because there are no strong Governors except Reagan and Rockefeller, and no other focus of strength, that the Presidency is the only place the country can look for leadership and strength; so the President should get up and charge and lead. He thinks there's a fine story to be told here, a good image, not in changing anything but in making an asset out of the things that are true. He thinks the staff has to brag on the President, not on their programs. He feels the way it should be done is through articles, magazines, and so on, and some on television, all devoted to giving an insight into the man, what is he like, not wasting time on process and program. He thought that Finch could do a

      lot in this regard, and also felt that he could do a lot in providing the need for someone who the big shots can talk to. He's afraid that Flanigan has blunted his pick and is not as effective as he should be. He strongly approves Agnew and feels the President should not give up on him at all.

      The President told Connally that I was more conscious than anyone else of the whole PR thing, and that he wanted Finch and me to sit down and talk with Connally on this. He thinks we'll find Connally extremely useful in politics and Congressional relations. Connally rates the staff very high, but repeated the charges the staff surrounds the President and keeps him isolated.

      Apparently, Connally also very favorably reacted to our programs and is going along on the idea of making the big play. He thinks you have to, or you won't get any mileage. His opposition to value-added tax doesn't matter because that's going to be postponed a year, since they couldn't work it out anyway. Connally told the President he wants to really work on lobbying the Congress and will do a lot of entertaining and that sort of thing to try and do it.

      The other item that came up today was the whole flap on the Jewish protest in this country regarding the planned Russian execution of two Jewish hijackers. The activity today consisted mainly of Rogers meeting with some of the complainants and making contact with Lindsay, Javits, etcetera, to lay out our line, which is that we're working behind the scenes to try to save the lives of the people, but we're not going to make a big political play out of it as those people are doing. Rogers is taking a hard line on this, as he has on several things recently, and this may greatly improve the overall Rogers situation. Rogers did feel maybe the President should meet with the protesters tomorrow, as a purely political gesture. And I mentioned this to the President tonight on the phone when he called after the Connally meeting. And he agreed that it might be a good idea and will at least consider it tomorrow if Rogers wants him to do it.

      End of December 29.
    • Original audio recording (MP3)

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

    Managing the Department of State

    • 328. Memorandum From the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Administration (Macomber) to the President’s Assistant (Flanigan), Washington, December 29, 1970

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Special Files, Staff Member and Office Files, Flanigan, Box 13, Ambassadors—Broad Memoranda. No classification marking. In a January 19, 1971, follow-up memorandum to Flanigan Macomber stated: “the percentage chart figures on career and non-career Chiefs of Mission in the last four Administrations reflect the total number of Ambassadors appointed during each of these Administrations. Thus, if a non-career Ambassador was replaced after brief service by another non-career person the figures would reflect two non-career appointments and a resultant distortion in the percentage figures. I think a 70%–30% split in career appointees at post is just about right, and that is where we are at the moment.” (Ibid.)

    Vol. IV, Foreign Assistance, International Development, Trade Policies, 1969-1972

    Trade and Commerce, 1969-1972

    Vol. V, United Nations, 1969-1972

    Committee of 24

    Vol. XIII, Soviet Union, October 1970-October 1971

    "A Moment of Unusual Uncertainty": Meeting Between Nixon and Gromyko, October 12-December 31, 1970

    • 79. Letter From President Nixon to Secretary of State Rogers, Washington, December 29, 1970

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Rogers’ Office Files: Lot 73 D 443, Box 25, WPR—President Nixon. No classification marking. According to Kissinger’s copy, Nixon dictated the letter to Rose Mary Woods. Kissinger initialed the copy; Haig also wrote on the copy: “absolutely no distribution.” (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 490, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin/Kissinger, 1970, Vol. 3)

    Vol. XL, Germany and Berlin, 1969-1972

    Germany and Berlin, 1969-1972

    • 156. National Security Study Memorandum 111, Washington, December 29, 1970

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 365, Subject Files, National Security Study Memoranda (NSSM’s) Nos. 104–206. Secret; Nodis. No drafting information appears on the memorandum. A copy was also sent to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Sonnenfeldt forwarded the text as an attachment to a December 18 memorandum to Kissinger; see footnote 1, Document 153.

    Vol. E-7, Documents on South Asia, 1969-1972

    Afghanistan, 1969-1972

    • 337. Letter From the Ambassador to Afghanistan (Neumann) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Sisco), Kabul, December 29, 1970

      Neumann assessed the role played by King Zahir in Afghan politics and weighed the prospects for using the limited U.S. presence in Afghanistan to offset the preponderant Soviet influence.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, NEA Files: Lot 73 D 69, Afghanistan. Confidential. Sisco added a handwritten note on the first page which reads: “DM I could not get thru the length of this. JJS” It is not clear to whom the note was addressed. Neumann sent a copy of this letter to Kissinger. On February 17, 1971, Kissinger responded with a letter to Neumann in which he praised Neumann’s “perceptive” assessment and noted “I found your description of the King’s balancing act a useful approach to the kind of political situation you are watching.” (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 591, Country Files, Middle East, Afghanistan) Sisco sent a telegram to Neumann on January 26, 1971, in which he indicated that it would not be possible to schedule a visit by King Zahir during the coming year. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 7 AFG)

  • 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-5402 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5402-02A-27A, President Nixon signing the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) of 1970. Standing nearby during the ceremony are George Shultz, I. W. Abel, Heath Larry, Jr., James D. Hodgson, Bill Steiger, William Saxbe, Laurence Hirsch Silberman, , Elliott Richardson, Dominick Daniels, Harrison Williams, George Meany, Rocco Siciliano, Virgil B. Day. 12/29/1970, Washington, D.C. Department of Labor Interdepartmental Auditorium. President Nixon, George Shultz, I. W. Abel, Heath Larry, Jr., James D. Hodgson, Bill Steiger, William Saxbe, Laurence Hirsch Silberman, , Elliott Richardson, Dominick Daniels, Harrison Williams, George Meany, Rocco Siciliano, Virgil B. Day, unidentified audience members.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5402-02A-27A, President Nixon signing the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) of 1970. Standing nearby during the ceremony are George Shultz, I. W. Abel, Heath Larry, Jr., James D. Hodgson, Bill Steiger, William Saxbe, Laurence Hirsch Silberman, , Elliott Richardson, Dominick Daniels, Harrison Williams, George Meany, Rocco Siciliano, Virgil B. Day. 12/29/1970, Washington, D.C. Department of Labor Interdepartmental Auditorium. President Nixon, George Shultz, I. W. Abel, Heath Larry, Jr., James D. Hodgson, Bill Steiger, William Saxbe, Laurence Hirsch Silberman, , Elliott Richardson, Dominick Daniels, Harrison Williams, George Meany, Rocco Siciliano, Virgil B. Day, unidentified audience members.

    Roll WHPO-5403 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5403-03-20, President Nixon meeting in the Oval Office with Reverend John Farrald and a large group of Honor Students from Flanagan's Boys Town in Nebraska. 12/29/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Boys Town honor students, Reverend John Farrald.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5403-19A, President Nixon meeting in the Oval Office with Reverend John Farrald and a large group of Honor Students from Flanagan's Boys Town in Nebraska. 12/29/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Boys Town honor students, Reverend John Farrald.

    Roll WHPO-5404 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5404-00A-03A, President Nixon meeting in the Oval Office with Reverend John Farrald and a large group of Honor Students from Flanagan's Boys Town. Nebraska. 12/29/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Boys Town honor students, Reverend John Farrald.

  • 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.

    G - Cabinet Officer Briefings

    • WHCA-SR-G-070
      Press briefing by Secretary of Labor James D. Hodgson, with Senator Jacob Javits (R-NY). (12/29/1970, Interdepartmental Auditorium, Washington, D.C.)

      Runtime: 0:10:52

      Keywords: Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by NBC; Recorded by WJN (initials of WHCA engineer)

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

    P - Formal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-P-701223
      Signing ceremony in Interdepartmental Auditorium for Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). (12/29/1970, Interdepartmental Auditorium, Washington, DC)

      Runtime: 0:16:02

      Keywords: Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)

      Production credits: WJN (initials of recorder)

      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-4061
      "Today" Show.
      ABC
      Runtime: 1:00:00
    • WHCA-4062
      "Science 1970 - A Year End Report: 'The Environment - A Design for Living' ".
      ABC
      Runtime: 1:00
    • WHCA-4063
      "The Correspondent's Report", Part II. William D. Ruckelshaus.
      NBC
      Runtime: 1:00
    • WHCA-4072
      Weekly News Summary, Tape I.
      ALL NETWORKS
      Runtime: 1:00

      12. Smith/Donaldson: 91st Congress. Time Code Start: 27:51. Keywords: House of Representatives. Network: ABC.

      13. Smith: Conversation with President Nixon. Time Code Start: 30:02. Keywords: Presidents, media, press conferences, news conferences, interviews, television, TV. Network: ABC.

      14. Reasoner/Bergman: Defoliants. Time Code Start: 30:25. Keywords: Vietnam War, Agent Orange, herbicides, defoliation, plant killers, poisons, chemical warfare, Operation Ranch Hand. Network: ABC.

      15. Chancellor: Cambodian restrictions. Time Code Start: 36:35. Keywords: Cambodia, Vietnam War. Network: NBC.

      16. Chancellor/Briggs: Defoliants. Time Code Start: 38:22. Keywords: Vietnam War, Agent Orange, herbicides, defoliation, plant killers, poisons, chemical warfare, Operation Ranch Hand. Network: NBC.

      17. Collingwood/Morton: Congress. Time Code Start: 42:38. Keywords: House of Representatives. Network: CBS.

      18. Kaplow: President Nixon and Congress. Time Code Start: 43:56. Keywords: Presidents, House of Representatives. Network: NBC.

      19. Collingwood/Pappas: Defoliants. Time Code Start: 44:41. Keywords: Vietnam War, Agent Orange, herbicides, defoliation, plant killers, poisons, chemical warfare, Operation Ranch Hand. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)