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February 22, 1969

Introduction

This almanac page for Saturday, February 22, 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, February 21, 1969

Next Date: Sunday, February 23, 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.

    Announcements

    • Disaster Relief for California (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 305, February 22, 1969)
      Announcement of Allocation of Additional Funds for Repair of Rain and Flood Damage.

    Letters, Memorandums, Etc.

    • Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Traffic in the District of Columbia (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 305, February 22, 1969)
      The President's Memorandum to the Attorney General Requesting Action on the Problem.
    • Student Unrest (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 317, February 22, 1969)
      The President's Letter to the Reverend Theodore M. Hesburgh, President of the University of Notre Dame. Dated February 22, 1969. Released February 24, 1969.

    Proclamations

    Statements by the President

    • Nigerian Civil War (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 305, February 22, 1969)
      Statement by the President on the Appointment of a Special Coordinator on Relief to Civilian Victims.

    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.

    • List of members of the President's party for the trip to Europe.
    • Information on previous Presidential visits abroad.
    • Biography of Hamer H. Budge.
    • Biography of Clarence Clyde Ferguson, Jr.

    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 intends to appoint Hamer H. Budge as Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

  • 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.

    No Federal Register published on this date

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.

    • Annotated News Summaries, Box 28, News Summaries - February 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.]

  • Selective document listing

    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 56
      • News Conference #62 at the White House with Ron Ziegler and Jerry Warren, February 22, 1969, 12:55 P.M. EST. 4 pgs.
      • News Conference #63 at the White House with Ron Ziegler, February 22, 1969, 3:55 P.M. EST. 6 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 22.

      Last day before the trip. Had our big political meeting most of the morning. Pretty productive. We do need more of this kind of inter-communication.

      President pushing hard for student statement - decided finally to release a letter to Father Hesburg. Also annoyed that positive Republican response unit in Congress is not working. No good reaction to OEO move, electoral reform, etc. Harlow slipping on this.

      Wants Agnew to run game plan with Governors Conference next week. Get some good positive reaction programmed in advance.

      President spent most of the day on the briefing books again. I had to interrupt a number of times with things to be signed. Noticed one time that the book he was diligently studying was a hardware catalogue open to the section on shower heads. For the Quirinale?

      Wanted to talk to Rose about reassigning offices, but didn't have a chance.

      Cloud on the horizon. DDE having problems with intestine. They were going to operate, but decided not to, because they are afraid he'd die on the table. Talked to President - he decided we'll abort the trip if and when anything happens. Truman also has been ill, but is apparently OK now.

      Have everything pretty well cleared up for departure tomorrow. Looks as if I'll have a fairly free ride on the trip. Others have everything under control.
    • 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.

    • 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. VI, Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

    Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

    Vol. XIX, Part 1, Korea, 1969-1972

    North Korean Shootdown of a U.S. Reconnaissance Flight and Contingency Planning, January-November 1969

    • 2. National Security Study Memorandum 27 , Washington, February 22, 1969

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 365, Subject Files, National Security Study Memoranda, Nos. 1–42. Secret. A copy was sent to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

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

    The Rogers Plan

    Vol. XL, Germany and Berlin, 1969-1972

    Germany and Berlin, 1969-1972

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

    Nigerian Civil War

    • 46. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, February 22, 1969

      Nixon approved decisions made at the February 14 NSC meeting, including designation of a Relief Coordinator not closely associated with the U.S. Government, and continuing to regard an ultimate Nigerian victory as best suited to U.S. interests.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–20, NSC Meeting, Biafra, Strategic Policy Issues 2/14/69. Top Secret; Sensitive. Sent for action.

  • 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.

    Chronological File, Box 1, Folder February 12-22, 1969

    • 1:10 PM, Secretary Rogers; Mr. Kissinger
      Secretary Rogers
      Mr. Kissinger
      2-22-69 1:10 PM

      R said he had talked to President. K asked whether he had got the point. R said yes. R said we have asked Walsh or Lodge to get in touch with Zoren over there, particularly insofar as it relates to the talks. K said there will be no major action while we are abroad militarily - we have done all we can. R said he thinks we are in good shape.

      R said the French/English business is unpleasant. K said he thinks they have been petty and wrong on this. R said we certainly look pretty good - Tomkins told him a week ago and we have kept very quiet.

      jm
    • 1:15 PM, Secy Laird; Mr. Kissinger
      Secy Laird
      Mr. Kissinger
      2-22-69 1:15 PM

      K said he was listening when L talked to the President and K thinks L is absolutely right. L said we have all the authority we need and he thinks it is better not to have a big meeting. K said when you say authority, you mean in-country. L said right - all the authority we need to protect our troops.

      K said on the ABM business, we have to be sure we get public position coordinated throughout the Government. L said we will have paper ready March 1. K asked if Lynn could work with Glass on what they are doing. L said that would be fine - he will get the two of them together Monday or Tuesday. L said the paper is not quite ready but he thinks K will be pleased with it as it develops.

      jm
    • 1:20 PM, Elliot Richardson; Mr. Kissinger
      Elliot Richardson
      Mr. Kissinger
      2-22-69 1:20 PM

      K asked whether we had to hold up Biafran thing until State gets their man. R said no we are ready to go. K asked whether we could let it go this afternoon - R said yes. R asked about letter; K said it is on its way over.

      On Peru, R said he called Dillon - thinks he might be willing to do it, but we are not committed. K said he thinks President would prefer Irwin, but they would not do too badly with Dillon. R said we will be malting contacts with Ambassadors and Linowitz during the week and laying foundation. R said he would like to have a clear go ahead on any given name. K said he thought President would want Bob Murphy, Irwin or Dillon in that order. R said the Secretary plans to get the President's view on it and will then let R know.
    • 2:45 PM, Amb. Dobrynin; Mr. Kissinger
      Amb. Dobrynin
      Mr. Kissinger
      2/22/69 2:45 p. m.

      (separate paragraph which Amb. Dobrynin dictated (more or less) not included in this page)

      HAK told Dobrynin the President thought HAK and Dobrynin had a good conversation yesterday, and that in that spirit, the Pres wanted it to be known in Moscow that if the situation in Vietnam should turn into a general offensive or attack on major population centers, we would have to respond very strongly. We would consider it very unfortunate. We would try not to have to take this step, but we would have no choice if it turns into that. And we want them to have advance indication of what will happen if it does become necessary. But we will not initiate it. Secy Rogers had already mentioned that to Dobrynin, but the President wanted HAK to assure Dobrynin that this came from the President personally.

      Dobrynin mentioned it to Moscow that it was the President's message.

      HAK said "We understand, of course, that you are not planning these moves.."

      Dobrynin agreed to come to lunch after HAK gets back, and they made a date for him to come here on March 3, 1 :00 pm for lunch.

      (phoned by Dobrynin) 2/22/69 2 45 pm

      These days some officials in Bonn have been putting forward an idea in conversations with representatives of the Soviet Embassy there that if the United States expressed to Mr. Kiesinger's government an opinion that it would be desirable to refrain from having called the Federal Assembly in West Berlin, then this advice would be gladly followed. If is of course difficult for us to judge with what aim in view and how seriously such ideas are being expressed to us by West German officials. If in Bonn they are really in favor of a solution which would eliminate the presentation, then as it was stated on a number of occasions, the Soviet side would positively evaluate a corresponding step on the part of the Federal Republic of Germany. This would allow to avoid unnecessary complications and cut short a tendency towards mounting of tension.

      (Dobrynin added the further comment that "in Moscow, they share fully the opinion of President Nixon that West Berlin should not throw a shadow on the American relation. ")
    • 6:35 PM, Secy Laird; Mr. Kissinger
      Secy Laird
      Mr. Kissinger
      2-22-69 6:35 PM

      L said he thinks the news looks a little letter - asked if K. had gotten the last message. L thinks things are going along fine - they are cleared and everything is in order. K. said President very much appreciated that L was aware of his problems on the trip. L said they could call him any time. K. said he might give L a ring in the morning before departure.

      jm
    • 6:40 PM, Senator Mansfield; Mr. Kissinger
      Senator Mansfield
      Mr. Kissinger
      2-22-69 6:40 PM

      K said he was calling in behalf of the President who was a little concerned that he might have left wrong impression at leadership meeting with respect to M's comment about seeing Vietnamese in Paris. K said President had said that while reviewing the VN negotiating situation, he would, if Amb Lodge thought it desirable, see leaders of SVN delegation. Lodge strongly urges this and it is almost impossible not to see them while he is there. M said he had said President would waste his assets and credit if he became involved with any Vietnamese. K said President wants to have soft public posture in order to be able to talk to them when the need arises. There will be no communique, very low key, whole tone will attempt to stress need for settlement. M said that makes him feel better. K said President wanted M to know this. M said he had thought prestige of Presidency would be hurt and if K had not called M would have gone on assumption that he would not see any Vietnamese. K said President will very much keep in tact the prestige of the Presidency. M said fine, he will have his support. M said he would see K at the airport tomorrow - Fulbright, M and Kennedy will be there - it's a show of unity and M hopes some of those who are considering demonstrating will take note of this. K said he knows the President appreciates this very much.

      jm
    • 8:50 PM, The President; Mr. Kissinger
      The President
      Mr. Kissinger
      2-22-69 8:50 PM

      President said on GNP thing, what he wanted was not country by country but the total. Asked K to get 1948 and 1968 population and GNP figures. Would like info on the plane.

      jm

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-0344 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-0344-02-09, 14-28, First Lady Pat Nixon greeting unidentified women, with their children in a reception's receiving line. 2/22/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, State Dining Room. Pat Nixon, unidentified women, children and guests.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0344-10-13, First Lady Pat Nixon greeting unidentified women, mothers with their children while standing near to a table set with silver trays, tall candles and a coffee urn. 2/22/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, State Dining Room. Pat Nixon, unidentified women, children and 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.

    P - Formal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-P-690224
      Remarks by President Nixon to Reporters on the Forthcoming European Trip. (2/22/1969)

      Runtime: 20:36

      Keywords: 1969 trip to Europe

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

Context (External Sources)