February 1, 1969

The Daily Diary files represent a consolidated record of the President's activities. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

• Original typewritten diary (PDF)

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.

Announcements

• Astronaut Borman's Goodwill Tour (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 208, February 1, 1969)
  Announcement of the Itinerary for Col. Frank Borman's Visit to Western Europe.

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.

• Biography of Albert W. Sherer, Jr.
• Biography of Maj. Gen. Frederick James Clarke, USA.
• Biography of Maj. John Vincent Brennan, USMC.
• Biography of Lt. Comdr. Charles R. Larson, USN.
• Biography of Lt. Col. Vernon Cornelius Coffey, Jr., USA.
• Announcement of appointment of Maj. Gen. Frederick J. Clarke as Chief of Engineers, United States Army, succeeding Lt. Gen. William F. Cassidy who is to be placed on the retired list in the grade of lieutenant general.

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 has announced the appointment of Lt. Col. Vernon Coffey, USA; Lt. Comdr. Charles Larson, USN; and Maj. John Brennan, USMC, as Assistant Military Aides 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.

• Federal Register of Saturday, February 1, 1969

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 1, President's Handwriting, February 1969
  • Newspaper;  Washington Post, Memorial for RFK Is Left Up to Nixon. February 1, 1969. 1 pg.
  • Memo; The President to Henry Kissinger re: Peru. February 1, 1969. 1 pg.
  • Memo; Daniel P. Moynihan to The President re: Efforts with the black community, incl. attachments. February 1, 1969. 4 pgs.
  • Memo; Daniel P. Moynihan to The President re: AFDC welfare rate, incl. attachment. February 1, 1969. 2 pgs.
  • Memo; Daniel P. Moynihan to The President re: Memorial for Robert Kennedy. February 1, 1969. 1 pg.
  • Memo; John D. Ehrlichman to The President re: Sales of Six Crises since August 1, 1968. February 1, 1969. 1 pg.
  • Memo; John D. Ehrlichman to The President re: Federal Highway Program. February 1, 1969. 1 pg.
  • Memo; John D. Ehrlichman to The President re: Dissemination of Inaugural Address. February 1, 1969. 1 pg.

Selective document listing

White House Press Office

The White House Press Office during the Presidency of Richard Nixon was responsible for daily communication with the White House press corps. Ronald L. Ziegler was the Press Secretary to the President for Nixon's entire term in office from January 1969 to August 1974 and Gerald Warren served as the Deputy Press Secretary. The office held daily briefings for the press and produced the White House’s press releases. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

• White House Press Conferences, Box 55
  • News Conference #28 at the White House with Ron Ziegler, February 1, 1969, 12:40 P.M. EST. 5 pgs.

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, February 1.
  
  NSC this morning, then a session with Kissinger regarding the trip to Europe.
  
  Haircut in the afternoon - he got a facial and manicure - first time.
  
  Included me in "stag" dinner at the Mansion. 8:00 black tie. Bebe, Hobe Lewis, Jimmy Crosby, Bob Abplanalp, Bob Finch. Added Pat Nixon, and me to balance number. (Think he was trying to liven up things for Pat Nixon her last night, she goes to New York tomorrow to pack, etc.) Cocktails in the Oval Room. Nixon in great spirits, gracious host, several martinis. Dinner in family dining room. Delicious. Red wine and champagne. Souffle for dessert (President started us in to dinner, saying souffle couldn't wait. Pat Nixon surprised, didn't know about souffle).
  
  Tour of second floor after dinner conducted by President. Gave all the historical highlights - thoroughly enjoyed himself. Ended in the Lincoln Sitting Room for liqueurs and cigars. He turned on his new stereo, pretty loud, hard to talk. Lots of banter - interspersed with considerable serious discussion. Guests obviously overwhelmed and President delighted. Remarked tonight is "just our close friends-- all six of them."
  
  Session in afternoon with Kissinger and Harlow, mainly about Ambassadors and key appointments. Upset by press reports that he's not changing people, especially in State. Ordered me to have resignations of all non-career Ambassadors and all LBJ political appointees on his desk Monday. Said he'll write them and "accept the resignation with pleasure." Feels we haven't done enough to get in good new people that are ours. He's right. Problem is need to deal with Democratic Congress, and President isn't tough enough with his Cabinet officers. Won't make them fire incumbents and/or take our political recommendations. Ehrlichman now in charge of this, we'll see how he can produce.
  
  At the dinner - frequently President returned to the subject of thoughtfulness and appreciation toward the "little people", i.e., house staff, drivers, etc. Great contrast from the LBJ family, who gave rise to all kinds of tales regarding their terrible arrogance.
  
  Talked about astronauts' comment that the mood of the White House was so different - that they felt really uncomfortable when there with LBJ. He was in a "black mood".
  
  I had an all-morning session with La Rue, Flemming, Chotiner and Ehrlichman about independent agency appointments. Hard to get anything settled. Have to do it.
  
  Then a session with Rose and John Brown regarding mail handling. Made some progress - Rose now responsible for all Nixon correspondence in final stage, after staffing, and she takes to President for signatures.
• 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

• Text search for February 1, 1969
• Date search for February 1, 1969

All National Archives Units

• Text search for February 1, 1969
• Date search for February 1, 1969

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.

• No President's Daily Brief delivered on this date

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

• 20. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant (Haldeman) to Secretary of State Rogers, Washington, February 1, 1969

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Office Files of William P. Rogers: Lot 73 D 443, Box 3, Personal Papers of William P. Rogers. No classification marking. Copies were sent to Kissinger and Ehrlichman. A blind copy was sent to Ken Cole.

Managing the Department of State

• 296. Memorandum From President Nixon to his Counsel (Ehrlichman) , Washington, February 1, 1969

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Central Files, Subject Files, Box 9, EX FO 2. No classification marking.

Vol. VI, Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

• 15. Memorandum From President Nixon to his Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) , Washington, February 1, 1969

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 64, Vietnam Subject Files, 8F Reappraisal of Vietnam Commitment, Vol. I. No classification marking. The memorandum is unsigned.

• 16. Memorandum From President Nixon to his Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) , Washington, February 1, 1969

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 182, Paris Talks/Meetings, Paris Talks, Vol. I, 1–69, Memos and Miscellaneous. No classification marking. A note at the top of the page by Eagleburger reads: “Note to Ken Cole: HAK called Lodge 2/4/69. LSE.” The memorandum is unsigned.

• 17. Memorandum From President Nixon to his Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) , Washington, February 1, 1969

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 341, HAK/Presidential Memorandums, 1969–1970. No classification marking. The memorandum is unsigned.

Vol. XVII, China, 1969-1972

China, 1969

• 3. Memorandum From President Nixon to his Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) , Washington, February 1, 1969

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 341, Subject Files, HAK/President Memoranda, 1969–1970. No classification marking. A typed note, attached but not printed, reads: “Copy sent red tag to Dick Sneider on 4 Feb 69 by Col Haig.” The memorandum was not initialed or signed.

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

The Rogers Plan

• 4. Minutes of a National Security Council Meeting , Washington, February 1, 1969

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–109, NSC Meeting Minutes, NSC Minutes, Originals 1969. Top Secret. Drafted on May 1 by Saunders. All brackets are in the original except those indicating text that remains classified. According to the President’s Daily Diary, the meeting was held in the Cabinet Room from 9:37 a.m. to 12:42 p.m. (Ibid., White House Central Files)

Vol. XXIV, Middle East Region and Arabian Peninsula, 1969-1972; Jordan, September 1970

Middle East Region

• 3. Minutes of a National Security Council Meeting , Washington, February 1, 1969

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–109, NSC Meeting Minutes, NSC Minutes Originals 1969. Top Secret. Drafted by Saunders on May 1. According to an undated draft of the minutes, the meeting was held from 9:35 to 11:55 a.m. (Ibid., Box H–120, NSC Draft Minutes, NSC Meeting—February 1, 1969) All brackets are in the original.

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

U.S. Policy Towards Terrorism, Hijacking of Aircraft, and Attacks on Civil Aviation: Israeli Attack on Beirut Airport and Hijacking of TWA Flight 840, January-December 1969

• 5. Telegram 16529 From the Department of State to the Embassies in Lebanon and Israel, Washington, February 1, 1969, 0025Z

  Embassies Beirut and Tel AVIV were informed that ICAO President Binaghi announced that the ICAO Council had adjourned its extraordinary session to discuss the Beirut airport raid without reaching agreement on a course of action.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, POL 27 ARAB-ISR. Limited Official Use. Repeated to Montreal and USUN. Drafted by Carolan on January 31; cleared in NEA, E, and L; and approved by Brown.

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

Iraq 1969-1971

• 249. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon, Washington, February 1, 1969

  With his own endorsement, Rogers passed along the suggestion of Justice Arthur Goldberg that Washington attempt to persuade Baghdad to let Iraqi Jews emigrate to the United States.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, SOC 14 IRAQ. Secret; Exdis. A handwritten note on the document reads “Approved by President according to Sec. Rogers 2/10/69 JPW. Asst. Sec. Sisco informed 2/10/69.”

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.

Folder February 1-11, 1969

• 3:00 PM, French Ambassador Lucet; Mr. Kissinger
• 3 to 3:40 PM, Secretary Rogers; Mr. Kissinger
• 5:00 PM, General Wheeler; Mr. Kissinger

• New York Times of February 1, 1969

• AP Images photos from February 1, 1969
• Getty Images photos from February 1, 1969

The Vanderbilt Television News Archive is the world's most extensive and complete archive of television news. They have been recording, preserving and providing access to television news broadcasts of the national networks since August 5, 1968.

• February 1969 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• February 1, 1969