Breadcrumb

December 8, 1969

Introduction

This almanac page for Monday, December 8, 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: Sunday, December 7, 1969

Next Date: Tuesday, December 9, 1969

Schedule and Public Documents

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

    The NSC System

    Vol. XXXII, SALT I, 1969-1972

    Opening Round at Helsinki and Preparations for Vienna, November 17, 1969-April 15, 1970

    • 43. Memorandum From the Deputy Secretary of Defense (Packard) to the Under Secretary of State (Richardson) and the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) , Washington, December 8, 1969

      Source: Ford Library, Laird Papers, Box 24, SALT, Chronological. Secret. On December 11 Sonnenfeldt forwarded this memorandum to Kissinger under a covering memorandum that noted: “I think you should be aware that not only on the ABM issues, but on some other questions, the delegation seems to go beyond its instructions. We just learned that without formally asking for instructions they submitted to the Soviets a new version of a final communiqué without having discussed the first version in any detail. This first version had been cleared in Washington, and the delegation had been told we wanted to defer considering any fallback positions.” Kissinger drew an arrow to that paragraph and wrote: “How could this happen?” (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 875, SALT, Volume VI, December 1–30, 1969)

    Vol. XXXIV, National Security Policy, 1969-1972

    Chemical and Biological Warfare, Safeguard Phase II, the Draft

    • 106. Memorandum for the Record by the Deputy Secretary of Defense (Packard) , Washington, December 8, 1969

      Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–75–103, 373.24, Safeguard. Top Secret. The memorandum was included in Kissinger’s preparatory materials for the DPRC meeting held on December 9. (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–99, DPRC Meeting, December 9, 1969)

    Vol. XXXVI, Energy Crisis, 1969-1974

    February 20, 1969-February 19, 1970

    Vol. E-1, Documents on Global Issues, 1969-1972

    International Cooperation in Space, 1969-1972

    Vol. E-4, Documents on Iran and Iraq, 1969-1972

    Iraq 1969-1971

    • 263. Telegram 10069 From the Embassy in Lebanon to the Department of State, Beirut, December 8, 1969, 1749Z

      The Embassy reported that an Iraqi émigré, hoping to overthrow the Baghdad government, was asking for a U.S. commitment to aid his proposed new regime.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 23–9 IRAQ. Secret; Exdis. Repeated to Tehran. J. Thomas McAndrew was the Political Officer in the Embassy in Lebanon.

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

    American Republics Regional

    • 19. Intelligence Memorandum, OCI No. 2622/69, Washington, December 8, 1969. , Washington, December 8, 1969

      In this 5 page intelligence memorandum titled “The Military and Nationalism in Latin America,” the CIA analyzed the influence of nationalism on the behavior of Latin American militaries and implications for U.S. policy.

      Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Current Intelligence, Job 79–T00829A. Secret; No Foreign Dissem. This memorandum was produced solely by CIA. NSSM 68 is Document 7. The JCS response to NSSM 68 has not been found.

  • 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-2565 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2565-03, Unidentified carved bust of a man at the White House. 12/8/1969, Washington, D.C. White House.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2565-04-06, Construction in the swimming pool area of the White House. 12/8/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, swimming pool area.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2565-09-11, President Nixon returning by helicopter to the White House helipad, from a trip to Camp David. 12/8/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, helipad. President Nixon, aides.

    Roll WHPO-2566 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2566-, Vice President Agnew with Greek Orthodox Archbishop iakavos and an unidentified man. 12/8/1969, Washington, D.C. Vice Presidential Office, Executive Office Building. Spiro Agnew, Archbishop iakavos, unidentified persons.

    Roll WHPO-2567 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2567-03-06, President Nixon at the 50th Anniversary Meeting of the American Farm Bureau Federation. 12/8/1969, Washington, D.C. Washington Hilton Hotel. President Nixon, aides, convention attendees.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2567-07-27, President Nixon holding a televised news conference. 12/8/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. President Nixon, members of the media.

    Roll WHPO-2568 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2568-02A/03-04A/05, President Nixon addressing the 50th Anniversary Meeting of the American Farm Bureau Federation. 12/8/1969, Washington, D.C. Washington Hilton Hotel. President Nixon, convention attendees.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2568-06A/07-21A/22, President Nixon holding a televised news conference. 12/8/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. President Nixon, members of the media.

    Roll WHPO-2569 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2569-02A-04A, President Nixon addressing the 50th Anniversary Meeting of the American Farm Bureau Federation. 12/8/1969, Washington, D.C. Washington Hilton Hotel. President Nixon.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2569-06A-17A, President Nixon holding a televised news conference. 12/8/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. President Nixon, Ziegler.
  • 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-691212
      Remarks by President Nixon at the 50th Anniversary Meeting of the American Farm Bureau Federation. (12/8/1969, Washington Hilton Hotel)

      Runtime: 13:30

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
    • WHCA-SR-P-691213
      Remarks by President Nixon in a televised press conference. (12/8/1969)

      Runtime: 29:17:00

      Keywords: Presidential press conferences, presidential news conferences, interviews, media

      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-3559
      President Nixon's News Conference and commentary. President Richard Nixon.
      CBS, NBC
      Runtime: 1:05:28
    • WHCA-3560
      President Nixon's News Conference and commentary; NBC Commentary. Clement Haynsworth, nominee for the Supreme Court.
      CBS
      Runtime: 01:02:39
    • 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

      1. President Nixon holds 1st News Conference in 2 1/2 months,. Time Code Start: 00:30. Keywords: Presidents, speeches, statements, media, press conferences, news conferences, interviews. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)