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January 25, 1969

Introduction

This almanac page for Saturday, January 25, 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, January 24, 1969

Next Date: Sunday, January 26, 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

    Statements by the President

    • Disaster Assistance for Mississippi (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 174, January 25, 1969)
      Statement by the President on Federal Action Taken Following Tornado Damage and a Gas Explosion Near Laurel, Miss.

    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.

    • Biographical data on Richard C. Van Dusen.
    • Biographical data on Floyd H. Hyde.
    • Biographical data on Samuel C. Jackson.
    • Biographical data on Samuel J. Simmons.
    • Biographical data on Sherman Unger.

    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 attended the Alfalfa Club Dinner at the Statler Hilton Hotel.

  • 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.

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.

    • Memoranda from the President, Box 1, Memos--January 1969
      • Memo; The President to Mrs. Nixon re: RN's room. January 25, 1969. 1 pg.
      • Memo; The President to John Ehrlichman re: The five o'clock group. January 25, 1969. 1 pg.
      • Memo; The President to John Ehrlichman re: The five o'clock group. January 25, 1969. 1 pg.
      • Memo; The President to Bob Haldeman re: Preparing remarks. January 25, 1969. 2 pgs.
      • Memo; The President to Jim Keogh re: Materials from the research group. January 25, 1969. 1 pg.
      • Memo; The President to The Secretary of State re: Czech uprising. January 25, 1969. 1 pg.
      • Memo; The President to Dr. DuBridge re: Nuclear testing. January 25, 1969. 1 pg.
      • Memo; The President to John Ehrlichman re: Brooklyn Navy Yard. January 25, 1969. 2 pgs.
      • Memo; The President to John Ehrlichman re: Alan Boyd story. January 25, 1969. 1 pg.
      • Memo; The President to John Ehrlichman re: The Five O'Clock Group. January 25, 1969. 3 pgs.
      • Memo; The President to Bob Haldeman re: Representative mail. January 25, 1969. 1 pg.
      • Memo; The President to Bob Haldeman re: Letter from Jackie Kennedy. January 25, 1969. 1 pg.
      • Memo; The President to Bob Haldeman re: Automatic, brief letters. January 25, 1969. 1 pg.
      • Memo; The President to John Ehrlichman re: Letter to the Cabinet. January 25, 1969. 2 pgs.
      • Memo; The President to Bob Haldeman re: Mississippi tornado. January 25, 1969. 1 pg.
    • President's Speech File

  • 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 Releases, Box 1
      • FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JANUARY 25, 1969
        Office of the White House Press Secretary

        THE WHITE HOUSE

        I have been deeply saddened by reports of the natural disaster which struck the state of Mississippi last Thursday. I note that the grief caused to that state by the tornado of two days ago has been compounded by a gas explosion near Laurel, Mississippi early this morning. To the families of those who have lost their lives and to other victims of these disasters, I extend my deep personal sympathy and that of the nation.

        I have asked the Office of Emergency Preparedness and other agencies of the federal government to thoroughly investigate the situation in Mississippi and to take immediate actions which they deem appropriate. A representative of the Office of Emergency Preparedness was quickly at the scene of tornado damage on Thursday and met with citizens of the communities which had suffered damage. Another OEP representative accompanied Governor John Bell Williams in an aerial inspection of the explosion area today.

        The federal government has already responded to the request for assistance in the following ways:

        1. A Disaster Assistance Coordinator currently is in the state working with local, State and Federal officials on disaster assistance efforts.

        The OEP conducted a meeting last night in Hazlehurst for State and local, officials and citizens of the affected area. The purpose of the meeting was to evaluate damages and possibilities for assistance. At the meeting, State and f:ederal agency officials discussed their assistance programs.

        2. The Small Business Administration has designated Copiah, Simpson and Smith Counties as disaster loan areas eligible for long term, low interest rate loan assistance. The SBA regional office in Jackson, Mississippi, will provide service for the disaster area.

        3. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also is active in providing disaster assistance. The Consumer and Marketing Service has supplied food for Red Cross feeding operations in Hazlehurst.

        # # #
      • FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JANUARY 25, 1969
        Office of the White House Press Secretary

        THE WHITE HOUSE

        Secretary George Romney announced on behalf of President Nixon at a news conference Saturday the names of five persons to be nominated for key positions in the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

        The names announced were:

        Richard C. Van Dusen of Detroit, under secretary; Samuel C. Jackson of Washington, assistant secretary for metropolitan development: Sherman Unger of Cincinnati, general counsel; Mayor Floyd H. Hyde of Fresno, California, assistant secretary for model cities and governmental relations; and Samuel J. Simmons of Washington and Detroit, assistant secretary for equal opportunity.

        Van Dusen is an attorney and is a former member of the Michigan House of Representatives. He served one year as a legal advisor to Governor Romney and is a former Republican nominee for attorney general in Michigan.

        Jackson is vice president of the American Arbitration Association and director of its Center for Dispute Settlement headquartered in Washington. He is a former member of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

        In his capacity as assistant secretary, Jackson will join with the under secretary in advising and conferring with Secretary Romney on operational policies and programs.

        Unger, a well-known Ohio attorney, was responsible for briefing President Nixon and Vice President. Agnew in the 1968 Presidential campaign. He was an advance man for then Vice President Nixon in the 1960 Presidential campaign.

        Hyde has been mayor of Fresno since 1965. In 1968 Fresno was selected an Ali American City. He is president of the mayor and councilman sections of the League of California Cities, is vice president of the National League of Cities and is a member of the national advisory board of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

        Simmons currently is director of the Field Services Division of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. He has many years of social service experience.

        # # #
      • FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JANUARY 25, 1969
        Office of the White House Press Secretary

        THE WHITE HOUSE

        BIOGRAPHICAL DATA ON RICHARD C. VAN DUSEN

        Richard C. Van Dusen, 43, is a District attorney and makes his home in Birmingham, Michigan.

        Born in Jackson, Michigan July 18, 1925, Van Dusen prepared for college at Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts, was graduated cum laude from the University of Minnesota in 1945 and received his degree from Harvard Law School in 1949.

        Except for a year spent as legal advisor to Governor Romney, Van Dusen has been associated with the law firm of Dickinson, Wright, McKean & Cudlip since 1949. He became a partner in 1958.

        He served in the Michigan House of Representatives 1954-56 and in 1956 was the Republican nominee for attorney general of Michigan.

        Van Dusen's political association with HUD Secretary George Romney began in 1961, when both were elected delegates to the Michigan Constitutional Convention. Van Dusen was chairman of the Convention rules committee.

        Active in Michigan Republican Party circles, Van Dusen has been a precinct delegate, city chairman and national convention delegate. He was vice chairman of the Michigan Nixon Volunteers in 1960.

        Van Dusen is a director of the Detroit Bar Association, the Automobile Club of Michigan and Boys Republic. He also is chairman of the board of the Kingswood School Cranbrook and a trustee of the Cranbrook School.

        He served in the Navy from July 1, 1943, to June 1946 and released from active duty as an ensign.

        Van Dusen is married to the former Barbara Congdon of Duluth, Minnesota. They have three daughters, Amanda, 16, Lisa, 14, and Katy, 11.

        # # #
      • FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JANUARY 25, 1969
        Office of the White House Press Secretary

        THE WHITE HOUSE

        BIOGRAPHICAL DATA ON SAMUEL C. JACKSON

        Samuel C. Jackson, 39, of Washington, D. C. is vice president of the American Arbitration Association and director of its Center for Dispute Settlement.

        The Center for Dispute Settlement, headquartered in Washington, was established last July for the purpose of placing dispute settlement techniques of arbitration, mediation and fact-finding in the hands of neighborhood leaders to resolve community grievances.

        Prior to assuming duties with the association and its center, Jackson was a member of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He was one of the five original Presidential appointees to the commission in 1965.

        Jackson developed conciliation procedures for the commission and has extensive experience in conflict resolutions in a wide variety of forums. He recently served as a mediator of community disputes in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn.

        Born in Topeka, Kansas May 8, 1929, Jackson attended Kansas public schools and was graduated in 1951 from Washburn University. He received his law degree in 1964 from Washburn School of Law.

        Prior to appointment to the Equal Opportunity Commission in 1965, Jackson served in a variety of positions with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. He was president of the Topeka NAACP branch, is a former national NAACP director and was a member of the NAACP national legal committee.

        He also has practiced law in Topeka and is a former deputy general counsel of the Kansas Department of Welfare. He has lectured at several colleges.

        Jackson is married and has two children.

        # #
      • FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JANUARY 25, 1969
        Office of the White House Press Secretary

        THE WHITE HOUSE

        BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ON SHERMAN UNGER

        Sherman Unger, 41, of Cincinnati, is a long-time political associate of President Nixon and was the key coordinator in briefing the Republican Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates during the 1968 campaign.

      • Unger was born October 21, 1927 and was educated in Harrison, Ohio public schools. He received an A. B. degree in public administration from Miami University at Oxford, Ohio in 1950, and received a juris doctor degree from Cincinnati College of Law in 1953.

        He is a member of the Cincinnati, Ohio and American Bar Associations and the World Peace Through Law Foundation. Unger also is a member of the American Bar Association Section on Antitrust Law.

        Unger is a director of the Queen City Association, the Planning Committee of the World Peace Through Law Center, Cincinnati Packaging Service, Inc., Cincinnati Premium Packaging, Inc., chairman of Modern Media, Inc., and chairman of Modern Talking Picture Service, Inc. Since 1965 Unger has been the public representative on the Ohio State Water and Sewer Rotary Commission.

        A precinct captain in Ohio 1957-65, Unger is a former president of the Hamilton County Young republican Club and has been a member of the Hamilton County Republican executive committee since 1959.

        In 1960 Unger was an advance man for then Vice President Nixon's Presidential campaign and in 1961 he accompanied him on a nationwide speaking tour. He was a special assistant to the Republican national chairman in the 1964 Presidential campaign.

        Unger served in the Army as an enlisted man 1946-47 and in the Air Force as a first lieutenant 1953-56.

        He is married to the former Polly Van Buren Taylor. The Ungers have two children, Cathleen Estelle, 13, and Peter, 11.

        # # #
      • FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JANUARY 25, 1969
        Office of the White House Press Secretary

        THE WHITE HOUSE

        BIOGRAPHICAL DATA ON FLOYD H. HYDE

        Mayor Floyd H. Hyde, 47, has been chief executive of Fresno, California since 1965.

        Fresno was selected in 1968 as an All American City, principally because of progress made in the area of what Mayor Hyde terms "human renewal."

        Hyde is vice president of the National League of Cities, a member of the national advisory board of the U. S. Conference of Mayors and a member of the national committee on local coalition of the Urban Coalition.

        Prior to World War II service in the Marine Corps, Hyde attended Fresno State College. After discharge from the service he was graduated from the Law School of the University of Southern California.

        Although a lawyer by profession, Hyde studied art as an undergraduate and continues an active interest in painting. Many of his works have been exhibited.

        During his administration, Hyde has given emphasis to the physical redevelopment of Fresno, but his foremost goal has been to develop "this nation's greatest natural resources, its people."

        Hyde is married and has three children.

        # # #
      • FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JANUARY 25, 1969
        Office of the White House Press Secretary

        THE WHITE HOUSE

        BIOGRAPHICAL DATA ON SAMUEL J. SIMMONS

        Samuel J. Simmon, 41, director of the Field Services Division of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, came to Washington six years ago from his native Michigan where he had broad experience in labor and social relations.

        From February 1962 to February 1964 he was a member of the Board of Appeals and Review for the U. S. Post Office Department. For the past four years Simmons has held his present post with the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

        Simmons was born April 13, 1927 in Flint, Michigan. He attended rural schools in Genessee county and high school in Otisville and Millington. He was graduated from Western Michigan University in 1949.

        He attended the University of Michigan's Detroit School of Social Work for a year, and has completed all requirements except a thesis for a master's degree in public administration from Wayne State University.

        Simmons, a former field representative and regional director for the Fair Employment Practices Commission in Detroit, was executive secretary to the Michigan Labor Mediation Board for three years prior to coming to Washington.

        From 1959 to 1960 he was secretary-treasurer of the Association of State Labor Relations Agencies and from 1960 to 1961 was chairman of the Committee on Uniform Activity Reporting for the Association of State Mediation Agencies.

        Long active in work of the NAACP, he served nine years as a board member of the Detroit branch and twice was vice president of the Michigan State Conference of NAACP Branches.

        Community affiliations in Washington have included membership in Neighbors, Incorporated.

        Simmons is married to the former Barbara Lett of Battle Creek. They have two sons and reside at 7244 15th Place, N. W., Washington, D. C.

        # # #
    • White House Press Conferences, Box 55
      • News Conference #15 at the White House with Ron Ziegler, Press Secretary to the President; and Hon. George C. Romney, Secretary, Housing and Urban Development, January 25, 1969, 12:12 P.M. EST. 11 pgs.
        NEWS CONFERENCE #15

        AT THE WHITE HOUSE

        WITH RON ZIEGLER, PRESS SECRETARY TO THE PRESIDENT; AND HON. GEORGE C. ROMNEY, SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

        12:12 P.M. EST
        JANUARY 25, 1969
        SATURDAY

        MR. ZIEGLER: President Nixon arrived at his office at 7:45 this morning.

        The National Security Council meeting began at 9:00 a.m. and is still going on in the Cabinet Room. The meeting will move to the Mansion for lunch and will continue over there.

        I would like to present to you Secretary Romney, who has some announcements to. make this morning.

        SECRETARY ROMNEY: First, let me cover the appointments that have been made.

        Mr. Richard C. Van Dusen, on my right, will serve as Under Secretary in the Department.

        Mr. Samuel C. Jackson, of Kansas and Washington, D.C., will serve as a general Assistant Secretary. His appointment will be as Assistant Secretary in charge of metropolitan development, because that is the statutory provision. As I will explain later, he will serve in a general Assistant Secretary
        capacity as well.

        Mr. Sherman Unger, of Cincinnati, Ohio, will serve as General Counsel.

        Mayor Floyd H. Hyde, of Fresno, California, will serve as Assistant Secretary for Model Cities and Governmental Relations.
        Mr. Samuel J. Simmons, of Washington, D. C., and previously of Detroit, will serve as Assistant Secretary for Equal Opportunity.

        You will get some biographical information with respect to each of these gentlemen and a release covering all that, so I will not go into more detail from that standpoint.

        However, this release having been prepared without an opportunity on my part to review it before we arrived here, you will find in it one or two omissions, and one typographical error.

        In the fifth paragraph of the release, when you get it, you should make that read -- and I will read it slowly so you can take it down, if you want to:

        "In his capacity as Assistant Secretary, Jackson will also serve as a general Assistant Secretary and will join with the Under Secretary in advising and conferring with Secretary Romney on departmental policies and programs."

        The omission is the words "also serve as general Assistant Secretary and will" and then it picks up. The mistake was that the word "operational" was put in instead of "departmental," because it is an overall departmental responsibility.

        I think I have a little bit different management approach than most individuals. I have had a number of management responsibilities in my life. I have never had a Chief of Staff. I have always wanted to work directly with the individuals in charge of key functional areas of the activity with which I was associated. Consequently, I want to do the same thing here.

        This is the first step in a team that I believe will cover the various functions for which our Department is responsible, with whom I will be working.

        The Under Secretary will assist me in the coordination of our activities as a team, and in following up and, of course, will be in charge when I am absent.

        The general Assistant Secretary will be concerned with overall departmental activities and policies, and will, as I have indicated, join with the Under Secretary and with me in considering overall departmental policies and programs, as well as those of the individual areas of function as headed by the other Assistant Secretaries.

        Of course, this also means that as far as across-the-board policies and programs are concerned, the Assistant Secretaries will help shape those policies and those programs.

        I was told by an early high school teacher that two heads are better than one, even if one is a cabbage head. I have tried to avoid making any major decisions without getting the benefit of the judgment of those I considered best informed on the subject to be dealt with.

        Our top team will be completed when we appoint three more Assistant Secretaries -- an Assistant Secretary for Mortgage Credit and FHA Commissioner, and two others. Then, of course, we have a number of specialists in various fields like labor, Congressional relations, and liaison.

        I think we have the beginnings of a very strong and well balanced team here to deal with the problems for which we are responsible.

        Dick Van Dusen knows my methods of operation. He has worked with me in several capacities previously. Because he does know my methods of operation, he will be of great help to me in applying this to the Department. In addition, he has some ability, I believe.

        Mr. Jackson is familiar with the conflicts and tensions in our urban areas and our rural areas, and is particularly informed on methods of relieving these conflicts in a peaceful and meaningful manner, and without violence.

        Mayor Hyde is a very respected Mayor, as evidenced by the positions he occupies with the National Mayors' organizations and is, of course, very well informed on these programs, Fresno having been at the forefront in making application of these various HUD programs.

        The combination of Mr. Hyde, with his position with the Mayors, the respect they have for him, Mr. Jackson's knowledge of the cities and the tensions and conflicts in the cities, and my familiarity with the States and the functions of the States, should enable us to make a real contribution in improving the relationships between the Federal, State and local governments, as well as our relationships with private groups and minority interests who are concerned with these programs.

        We expect to be able to develop a much more effective working relationship as we approach our job.

        Mr. Simmons, as a result of his past responsibilities, is familiar with the programs of other Federal departments, as well as the activities of State and local governments in our major urban areas, and has been particularly, of course, apprising those from the standpoint of their impact, that is, the programs of Federal departments, State and local governments, on various minority groups.

        Under his direction, we expect to make very effective enforcement of the Equal Housing Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act, of last year, and the other civil rights acts that we are responsible for administering.

        Mr. Unger is a very capable lawyer. As many of you know, he has been a long-time associate of the President. I am sure it is not an over-statement to say that he could have gone many places in the Federal Government, and had a very broad area of choice from the standpoint of interest. He took a look at the departments dealing with domestic problems and concluded that he would rather be with HUD than any other department, or rather, be with HUD rather than in some of the overall capacities that he might have been involved in.

        He concluded that HUD was going to have more to do with the domestic problems of this Nation than any other single department. Consequently, his interest, together with his capacity, made him a very logical choice for his position.

        This job we are going to tackle is the toughest one that I have been associated with, and I have had some tough jobs in my life. Congress has provided us with a great deal of statutory authorization, but inflation and many other factors have been pricing more and more people out of the housing market and making larger and larger subsidies necessary. This has been the trend for some years now.

        This affects all home buyers, home buyers at all levels of income, but it particularly affects, on an adverse basis, those least able to afford adequate housing. The most recent evidence of the adverse impact of some of these problems that haven't been dealt with was the necessity of increasing the interest rate to keep this whole program from drying up. It is in the process of drying up, and there was going to be a drop-off in home construction if we failed to carry out our statutory responsibility to make the FPA interest rates competitive, to make them competitive from a market standpoint.

        Obviously, this interest increase is going to affect costs, increase costs, and it is going to reduce the number of units that can be built. But we were facing the prospect of the whole thing drying up unless we moved. This is an interim movement, we believe.

        I pointed out in my press release last night that this Administration expects to deal with the inflationary problem and expects to take the steam out of the overaccelerated economy and, as a result, bring about a more normal interest rate situation so that hopefully we can see some reductions in interest rates in the period ahead, rather than further increases of the type we have experienced for some time now.

        When you take a look at the total picture, this means we are going to have to reverse the long-time trend of higher and higher costs, and fewer and fewer people who can afford to buy homes in this country, or to rent decent quarters without more and more subsidization.

        Obviously, that reversal of this long-time trend isn't going to occur overnight. It is a tough job. It involves many groups, public and private, and will take time. But we expect to make a breakthrough. That is going to be a principal objective.

        In order to do that, our Department is going to need the cooperation of other departments. Inflation, for example, is one that certainly involves Treasury, the Economic Adviser, the Federal Reserve, the Budget, and other things. We are going to have to have interdepartmental cooperation in doing our job.

        We are just delighted that the President has created the Urban Affairs Council, because we think that will be a very useful means to achieve the interdepartmental cooperation we need. We are determined to create a degree of teamwork within our Department, and between our Department and the other departments, of the character that we haven't been able to achieve up to date.

        We will be glad to answer questions.

        Q Mr. Secretary, you were made Chairman of a subcommittee of the Urban Affairs Council dealing with volunteer organizations. Will that also be the work of the Department as an operating department, or is that a personal responsibility of yours to the President?

        SECRETARY ROMNEY: That is a personal responsibility to the President and the Urban Affairs Council. At this point I don't view that as being part of the Department.

        Q Mr. Secretary, I am a little puzzled about Mr. Simmons duties. First you said he was to be Assistant Secretary --

        SECRETARY ROMNEY: Do you mean Mr. Jackson or Mr. Simmons?

        Q Mr. Simmons. You said he was to be Assistant Secretary in charge of Equal Opportunity. Then you said he had a wide knowledge of other programs in the Government and would operate with that. Then you also said he would have charge of fair housing and other civil rights laws that you dealt with. It sounds like he is going to be taking over Equal Employment Commission duties. Is he?

        SECRETARY ROMNEY: No. HUD has the responsibility of administering the Fair Housing Act of 1968. We also have the responsibility of administering the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

        Q Yes, but why did you say he was Assistant Secretary in charge of Equal Employment?

        SECRETARY ROMNEY: Equal Opportunity.

        Q Did you say Equal Opportunity?

        SECRETARY ROMNEY: Yes. That is the title that that Assistant Secretary bears within the Department. That is why I used that title.

        Q Excuse me.

        SECRETARY ROMNEY: Have you any other questions?

        Q Mr. Secretary, in view of the high interest rates now, and the squeeze in the housing market, would you recommend to people that they put off buying homes now? Would that help the economy and be a wholesome thing to do?

        SECRETARY ROMNEY: No. I wouldn't recommend that they put off buying homes. I think the impact of it is more severe on those least able to afford homes, but when you take a look at the overall situation, I wouldn't recommend that they put off buying homes because under this program they can renegotiate their mortgage at lower interest rates when that opportunity develops, so there is no point in putting off the purchase of homes.

        Q Mr. Secretary, you mentioned subsidizing these homes. Do you mean that you are going to ask Congress to increase the subsidy for the homes?

        SECRETARY ROMNEY: I simply said that with costs going up constantly, these higher costs price more and more people out of the home market in terms of their own ability to buy homes or to rent suitable quarters; and to the extent that people are going to have homes and suitable quarters, the Government has to increase its subsidization to make it possible as costs go up. That was my point.

        Q Mr. Secretary, how will the work of the Urban Affairs Council be fitted into the primary responsibilities of your Department? What will be the relationship between the two?

        SECRETARY ROMNEY: The relationship is the same relationship as the Defense Department and the State Department have with the National Security Council. They function in almost a parallel way.

        Our Department is represented on the Urban Affairs Council and, as such, I will participate in the work of the Council and advise the President in the formulation of urban policies. The President will have the ultimate responsibility of determining those urban policies and, of course, the establishment of such policies should enable us to have a greater degree of interdepartmental cooperation and enable us to do a much more effective job.

        Q Does the appointment of Mayor Hyde mean that the Nixon Administration has definitely decided to adopt the Model Cities as a major vehicle for redevelopment?

        SECRETARY ROMNEY: You probably noticed that one of the subcommittees created by the Urban Affairs Council was the Model Cities Subcommittee, of which I am Chairman. That subcommittee was increased in our discussions yesterday in its area of responsibility to include new towns. So it is really the Subcommittee on Model Cities and New Towns. I am Chairman of it.

        Mayor Hyde will be working with me in connection with my responsibility as Chairman of that committee. Obviously, we expect to give immediate consideration to the Model Cities Program and also the New Towns Program.

        Q Mr. Secretary, what steps, if any, do you plan to take in the near future to increase Government subsidy to meet rising costs?

        SECRETARY ROMNEY: We are only in the early stages of reviewing the departmental programs and the budget situation. I am not prepared at this time to comment specifically on that. I did indicate before the Banking and Currency Committee in the Senate that I didn't anticipate any reduction in funding of these programs.

        In my opinion, we have to bring greater resources to bear --when I talk about "resources" I don't mean just Government money --to bring resources to bear, if we are going to achieve the goals that have been set forth here and discussed publicly. After all, if you take just the housing goal, they are not going to begin to achieve this year the number of low-cost housing units that were projected for this year. President Johnson shifted over 100,000 units that were supposed to be built this year into next year, and increased the number next year to 504,000 units, I think it is.

        Obviously, that is way beyond any funding or resources in sight, to do that job next year. We are in the process of taking a realistic look at these goals and the resources -- and again I emphasize the overall resources because these are private resources as well as public resources -- for the accomplishment of these goals. We do not quarrel with the goals in terms of need, but we are reviewing them in terms of the ability to accomplish them with present programs. I think the promises have been big, big, big, and far beyond the resources.

        Q Mr. Secretary, can I ask a question in relation to the Model Cities Program? There was some question brought up during the Model Cities funding. Will funds given by the Federal Government to the cities have strings attached, or will the city councils and city people run their own show?

        SECRETARY ROMNEY: Without getting into the detail of it, one of the objectives of the Model Cities Program was to give local communities greater freedom in the way in which funds were to be expended. That doesn't mean they have complete freedom, but, in any event, it goes beyond what has been done in the past. That was one of the objectives of the program.

        Q Mr. Secretary, Wednesday Senator Sparkman introduced a bill that will be the supplemental for grants for Model Cities and urban renewal. It also included such things as an experimental program for rent certificates, I think, where you can actually give poor families these rent certificates and they will go out and live where they want to.

        This is, I think, the Johnson Administration's bill, because it was introduced by request.

        Are you supporting this? Did he confer with you?

        SECRETARY ROMNEY: He has not conferred with us. We haven't had a chance to study it and analyze it. It would be premature to comment on it.

        Q Do you favor continuation of the Rent Supplement Program, Mr. Secretary?

        SECRETARY ROMNEY: Yes.

        Q Mr. Secretary, when do you expect to finish your roster of top lieutenants?

        SECRETARY ROMNEY: Soon.

        Q A week or ten days?

        SECRETARY ROMNEY: When I say soon, you have to keep in mind the tedious procedures we have to go through in the process of having various checks made.

        Q In other words, you do not plan to keep in place the men who are there now? You do plan to replace those who have been in those positions?

        SECRETARY ROMNEY: Yes, in almost all instances.

        Q Mr. Secretary, have any of your suggestions for appointees run into difficulty at the White House? Has there been a difference of opinion about the people to fill these jobs?

        SECRETARY ROMNEY: No, not yet.

        Q Can we have a little expansion on Mr. Unger's views as he assumes this job in your Department?

        MR. UNGER: On any specific subject?

        Q You were quite impressed, so let's have why you took the job.

        MR. UNGER: I took the job particularly because I think HUD is in the forefront of the domestic problems. This is a Department that has the ability to move, to move rapidly, and to solve some of our problems within the four-year term of this Administration.

        In other Departments, while they are equally as important, we may not be able to see the results as specifically, dramatically, and as quickly.

        MR. ZIEGLER: I have only a few more announcements.

        The Secretary will be available to the cameras outside the West Lobby.

        The President has nothing else on his schedule today beyond the National Security Council meeting, other than the Alfalfa Dinner tonight at the Statler Hilton. We will put a lunch lid on until 3:00. I don't anticipate anything else at 3:00 o'clock, but we will put a lunch lid on until 3:00, and see where we stand at that time.

        Mr. Boyd, would you mind if they strike from the transcript today the reference to the typographical error? I would appreciate it.

        Q Ron, was the NSC meeting moved up? Was it scheduled originally at 8:00 or 10:00?

        MR. ZIEGLER: It was moved to 9:00, but the movement of it to 9:00 does not hold any particular significance.

        Q Ron, this is an unusually long meeting of the NSC. Can you give us any idea what the topics are?

        MR. ZIEGLER: No, I can't, Bob. I think you will find that the Saturday meetings will be longer because it is a good day to have longer discussions, and so forth. I think you will find this also on other meetings here at the White House. The weekend meetings will tend to be longer than those scheduled during the week.

        Q Can we assume that today's meeting is taking up the Paris talks and that that is one of the prime matters on the agenda?
        MR. ZIEGLER: Let me make it clear, as I think I did yesterday. I am not in a position, nor will I be, to discuss any content discussed at the National Security Council meetings, nor will I, In this particular instance, I think it is clear to everyone that Vietnam and the Paris talks are a priority item.

        Q Ron, is the President reading the reports about the Pueblo inquiry?

        MR. ZIEGLER: He is being kept aware of this matter, yes.

        Q Ron, what are the coverage opportunities at the Alfalfa Dinner, do you know?

        MR. ZIEGLER: We have checked that out and there are no coverage opportunities of the dinner. This traditionally has been a private dinner.

        Q Your calling us back on Saturday at 3:00 --

        MR. ZIEGLER: There is no significance at all. I am giving a lunch lid until 3:00 and I want to make it clear that I have nothing for 3:00. I just want to get a better feel of Saturdays before I say there is a lid on for the day. I could put a lid on but I prefer to give a lunch lid until 3:00.

        Q Will you let us know at 3:00 whether you are going to brief again or not?

        MR. ZIEGLER: Yes, at 3:00.

        Q Has the President yet communicated in any way with the leaders of the Soviet Union?

        MR. ZIEGLER: No, he has not, not directly.

        Q Is there any change in rules for the press conference?

        MR. ZIEGLER: Excuse me?

        Q Are there any rule changes for the press conference coming up Monday, or do you want to tell us about any format?

        MR. ZIEGLER: No, there is no change in rules. Quite frankly , I am not familiar with all the traditional rules yet. I am looking into them now. The East Room will be set up similar to previous press conferences in that room. You can look to that.

        Q Can you tell us who Mr. Nixon might be meeting with, where he will go this afternoon, at the Cabinet level or anything like that?

        MR. ZIEGLER: He has no scheduled meetings other than the National Security Council meeting. He will be meeting with his staff.

        Q As far as the press conference Monday is concerned, there was some question about this yesterday: Do you plan to have reserved seats for various newspapers and stations in the middle
        section as it always has been?

        MR. ZIEGLER : Yes, we do.

        Q Ron, has the President had an opportunity to review further the Illinois Central grant question?

        MR. ZIEGLER: No. I have nothing on that for you today.

        Q What do you mean the President has not been in contact directly with the leaders of the Soviet Union?

        MR. ZIEGLER: Just what I said. The President has not been in touch directly with the leaders of the Soviet Union. That was in response to a question.

        Q Ron, on that same subject, has the President indicated to Secretary Rogers what the Government's response should be, if it is indirect, without telling us what the response is? Has he indicated to Secretary Rogers what it should be?

        MR. ZIEGLER: We are getting now into hypothetical communication with the Soviet Union. I wouldn't get into that.

        Q Has he indicated to Secretary Rogers how he feels about the arms talks?

        MR. ZIEGLER: I just would have nothing for you.

        Q Ron, you left open the possibility if not the probability that there has been some sort of communication between this Administration and the Soviet leaders, perhaps in answer to their statements issued earlier.

        MR. ZIEGLER: If I did do that, I didn't do it intentionally.

        Q Has he had a report yet from Ambassador Lodge on today's discussions?

        MR. ZIEGLER: No. The meeting, as I understand it, has just concluded. It lasted about six-and-one- half hours. The National Security Council meeting has been in session throughout the morning and since the time the Paris meeting concluded there has been no contact with Paris.

        Q At the church services tomorrow, will there be additional people invited in to attend them, or the staff?

        MR . ZIEGLER: Yes. The church services tomorrow will have members of the Cabinet and their families invited, and also members of the White House staff and their families.

        Q Will you brief tomorrow?

        MR. ZIEGLER: Let me give you an indication on that at 3:00 this afternoon. The only thing we have on the schedule tomorrow is the church services. If there is no need for a briefing tomorrow, I will let you know at 3:00.

        Q Have the members of the staff been urged to attend tomorrow?

        MR. ZIEGLER: It is not a matter of urging. I think most of them would like to. My wife and I are coming.

        Q Where is the church service taking place?

        MR. ZIEGLER: In the East Room.

        Q Has Ambassador Yost been in touch with the President about the UN and Red China?

        MR. ZIEGLER : Ambassador Yost was here at the Cabinet meeting. I don't know of any conversation beyond that.

        Q He is not in the NSC meeting?

        MR. ZIEGLER: No.

        Q Is this the first time a First Family has had Sunday services in the White House?

        MR. ZIEGLER: It is my understanding that it is, yes.

        Q Do you expect the NSC meeting to go on all day, or do you have any idea?

        MR. ZIEGLER: I don't know. The NSC meeting will move to the Mansion about 1:00. There is no stop time for it.

        Q Do you think we will get some more appointments this afternoon?

        MR. ZIEGLER: No. As I said earlier, we have nothing else planned.

        Q What time is the church service tomorrow?

        MR. ZIEGLER: At 11:00 a.m.

        THE PRESS: Thank you.

        END (AT 12: 44 PM EST)
      • News Conference #16 at the White House with the President and Ron Ziegler, January 25, 1969, 3:42 P.M. EST. 9 pgs.
        NEWS CONFERENCE #16

        AT THE WHITE HOUSE

        WITH THE PRESIDENT AND RON ZIEGLER

        3:42 P.M. EST
        JANUARY 25, 1969
        SATURDAY

        MR. ZIEGLER: I will give you the schedule on the NSC meeting.

        It s tarted at 9:00 o'clock this morning, as I indicated earlier. At 1:18 p.m. they went to the Mansion and had lunch in the first floor dining room. At 2:00 o'clock they came back to the Cabinet Room, and the meeting concluded at 3:27.

        The President is issuing a statement in regard to Mississippi. It indicates the steps that the Federal Government is taking to assist that area. As you know, in addition to the tornado on Thursday, today there was a large explosion in Mississippi; and the Office of Emergency Preparedness is on the scene to work with the State Government. The steps that the Federal Government has already taken are outlined in this release.

        I will also add that, as you know, there are heavy rains in California. The Governor has declared a state of emergency in California, and representatives from the Office of Emergency Preparedness are on the scene there, also.

        That is all I have.

        Q Has either Governor asked for a declaration?

        MR. ZIEGLER: Governor Williams of Mississippi has, but not directly to the President. He has asked fora declaration, and now the OEP is looking into it to see if they will so recommend.

        Q Ron, is the President going to see these 40-odd members of the Black Economic Development Council who say they are arriving at the White House very soon?

        MR. ZIEGLER: As you know, the President has been in a National Security Council meeting all day. It is my understanding that members of the White House staff have been in touch with this group and have indicated to them that the President certainly is open to communication with all groups and that they would like to have conversations with the group to receive information they might have, and conversations they may want to relate to the White House, and work from that point to a possible meeting with the President. That is where we stand on that.

        Q Who is it that it talking to them?

        MR. ZIEGLER: Members of Pat Moynihan's staff.

        Q Do you have their names?

        A It is John Price on his staff.

        I think they have also indicated to them that, as you know, Secretary Stans was appointed to head up one of the committees of the Urban Affairs Council, which relates to this area, last week. I think Mr. Price is in touch with Secretary Stans to work out a possible meeting on that basis today.

        The point here is that the President, of course, as he has indicated before, is desirous of communicating with all segments of the society. The first knowledge we had of this request for a meeting was just within the last few hours.

        Q Did you receive a telegram request for a meeting with the President from this group and, in turn, were they given a negative response to the telegram?

        MR. ZIEGLER: I am not aware of a telegram that was sent.

        Q What is it that these people seem to want?

        MR. ZIEGLER: I don't know. I assume they want to have a conversation of some sort. Members of the White House staff will be happy to discuss with them this matter. As a matter of fact, it is already going on. Secretary Stans will see the group at 2:00 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.

        Q Do you mean they are right now talking with somebody on the staff?

        MR. ZIEGLER: Mr. Price has been in touch with Secretary Stans, and Secretary Stans will see the group at 2:00 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.

        Q Do they know that?

        MR. ZIEGLER: The group as yet, as I understand, has not been informed of this exact time.

        Q So you intend to inform them when they arrive here?

        MR. ZIEGLER: I don't think they would be informed at that point. We will be in touch with them: yes.

        Q Will they see anyone on the White House or Administration staff this afternoon? Are there any plans to meet with these people today?

        MR. ZIEGLER: I don't know of any plans to do so. The point here is that there is, of course, a willingness to meet and talk with all groups and discuss their problems. But in setting up a meeting of this type, it should be handled as we suggest it be handled, with contact with them and contact with us, and then to develop the conversation to the Presidential office through the steps which we are taking here, with the initial conversation with the Secretary's staff.

        Q How did you find out they were requesting it? You say the first knowledge came in the past few hours?

        MR. ZIEGLER: The first knowledge I had of it was when there was an indication from a member of the Press Corps who notified us that they had been notified by this group that they were coming to the White House.

        Q There has been no direct communication from the group to you, as far as you know?

        MR. ZIEGLER: This is me. In terms of other members of the staff, there may have been some communication earlier today on it.

        Q Ron, this group has been meeting throughout the day over at the SBA. Mr. Samuels, at SBA, has met with them. Do you know whether or not the fact that they felt they received no concrete assurances from Mr. Samuels led to this response of coming here to the White House today?

        MR. ZIEGLER: I have no idea, because I am not aware of what happened in that meeting.

        This is not a problem. I think where we stand on it is simply getting the appropriate members of the Administration staff and the White House staff together with representatives from their group, and to work from there to discuss what they would like to talk about and follow on from there.

        Q I take it there is a willingness for the President to meet with these people after they go through the staff channels?

        MR. ZIEGLER: The President, as most of you know, has met with groups of the black community in New York before he was inaugurated, and expressed at that time personally and through members of his staff, the fact that he intended to continue as the days and months go by to meet with representatives from all segments of society to discuss particular problems they may have.

        Q As a matter of procedure, a request for an appointment would go through Mr. Haldeman or Mr. Chapin?

        MR. ZIEGLER: It depends on what area the request is involved in. Pat Moynihan, of the Urban Affairs group, is working very closely with the individuals who are concerned with urban problems. The Vice President has been delegated certain responsibilities, too.

        Q Would Moynihan set up an appointment for these people with the President without going through Chapin or Haldeman?

        MR. ZIEGLER: Yes.

        Q He doesn't have an Appointments Secretary, does he?

        MR. ZIEGLER: Dwight Chapin is his Appointments Secretary and many of the requests would go through him. In many of these instances, of course, Dwight would refer a request of this sort to Pat Moynihan or another member of the White House staff to have initial discussions with the group and then carry the discussion on to the President. I think it is obvious why that would have to occur.

        Q How was the President informed of this group's desire to meet with him this afternoon?

        MR. ZIEGLER: The President, as you know, has been in the National Security Council meeting all day. This matter hasn't been fully discussed with him because we are aware of his schedule for the remainder of the day and are cognizant of the fact that it is filled until he goes to the Alfalfa Club dinner. It had been full before we were informed of this group. The National Security Council meeting broke up about 20 minutes ago.

        Q Is there anything you can tell us about the Security Council meeting?

        MR. ZIEGLER: No.

        Q What about the. number of people who were there?

        Q Why was it so long? I don't recall any National Security Council meeting being so long.

        MR. ZIEGLER: As I indicated this morning, I think you will find that meetings here at the White House on Saturday and on the week ends will be longer than those during the week. These are the days when the President wants to spend them in fuller discussions on matters, although not necessarily always with the National Security Council, but other formal groups which will meet here in the White House.

        Q Where will the meeting tomorrow with Secretary Stans take place?

        MR. ZIEGLER: I would assume at the Department of Commerce, but I am not sure on that. This is being worked out now and will be worked out with the group.

        Q Can you tell us how many people were in on the Security Council meeting?

        MR. ZIEGLER: I wouldn't go into the number, but I can tell you that the full National Security Council met. The Vice President, as you know, has a speech in New York this afternoon, so he was there for the early part of the meeting. He had to leave early. He is a regular member of the NSC.

        Q Ron, in a meeting of this kind, are they getting outside expertise, where people come in and deliver reports before the meeting?

        MR. ZIEGLER: I understand 100 percent your interest in the National Security Council meeting, but this is an area which we just won't be able to give you reports on concerning the activities of the meeting or what occurs in the meeting. In some cases, when we do have something to announce out of the National Security Council meeting, we will make it available to you.

        Q Mr. Nixon's approach to the NSC itself has been interesting.

        MR. ZIEGLER: I understand.

        Q I am just interested in the modus operandi.

        MR. ZIEGLER: He has indicated, I think, on several occasions that he would use the National Security Council fully.

        Q The question was if he operates with outside witnesses.

        MR. ZIEGLER: I understand your question fully.

        Q Ron, did I understand you to say that the meeting today was restricted to members?

        MR. ZIEGLER: No. I indicated that this morning. There were other people there. The point I can assure you of is that the full National Security Council met.

        Q Why don't you tell us who the other people were?

        MR. ZIEGLER: I will not get into that.

        Q That doesn't go to the substance of the discussion. I can't understand why you won't say who attended.

        MR. ZIEGLER: We may at a later date.

        Q What reason do you have for not saying now who else was there? Is it that their presence would be a tip-off to what was discussed, or something like that?

        MR. ZIEGLER: No, not really.

        Q Then what is it?

        MR. ZIEGLER: The reason, quite frankly, is that we are not going to discuss the National Security Council meetings.

        Q Ron, it raises the question just in perspective, though, that here we begin to wonder if there is a crisis in the Nation. This mode of secrecy has gone far beyond anything we have had in the past.

        MR. ZIEGLER: No, I don't think it has, Bill.

        Q We have been told who were there, generally, but nothing about what they talked about.

        MR. ZIEGLER: I think you can eliminate the concern you have on the crisis occurring by the fact that the National Security Council, was going to meet today and it was announced four days ago, I think.

        Q Ron, earlier you said the White House, the Council, or somebody, had not spoken to Paris. Since that time has the White House or the Council spoken to Paris?

        MR. ZIEGLER: No.

        Q You have had no report on what went on today in Paris?

        MR. ZIEGLER: Of course, there is continuing communication with Paris. I interpreted your question to refer to the President directly, or a member of the National Security Council. No member who was there did.

        Q Robert Murphy, who was in liaison with the Johnson Administration, what is his role now?

        MR. ZIEGLER: On Ambassador Murphy's role, you are aware of what that was during the campaign. He would be sitting in as an observer and contributor to those meetings because of his experience.

        Q Does he still have an office at the State Department?

        MR. ZIEGLER: I just assume when I say this that you are aware that Dr. Kissinger, of course, is in the meeting. Ambassador Murphy was in the meeting, and the other members of the National Security Council.

        Q I was thinking of someone like Goodpaster.

        MR. ZIEGLER: Goodpaster was there, yes.

        Q Is Ambassador Murphy still working full-time with the Administration?

        MR. ZIEGLER: He is not working on a full-time basis. He is still in New York. He is making contributions to these discussions.

        Q Kind of like in a consultant capacity?

        MR . ZIEGLER: Yes.

        Q How a bout Phil Habib?

        THE PRESIDENT: I just wanted to see where you did all of this.

        I recall, I think, the first time I ever appeared at the White House at a press conference. I remember when the President was sick, President Eisenhower, and I came in here. This was Hagerty's office then. That was right in this room.

        MR. ZIEGLER: Jim was here today.

        THE PRESIDENT:S tick around. You might make President someday.

        We will see you Monday.

        Q Goodbye, Mr. President.

        MR. ZIEGLER: Are there any other questions?

        Q Ron, on this Mississippi thing, one thing that is not quite clear is: Has the President designated these three counties Federal disaster areas or not?

        MR. ZIEGLER: No. And this is the part that Jerry was referring to before. The procedure on declaring a disaster area by the President is, first of all, for the state to declare it a disaster area, and then for the OEP, the Office of Emergency Preparedness, to examine the area, and then make recommendations to the President.

        The Governor has requested the Federal help and the OEP is on the scene to assess it.

        In the case of Mississippi, in order for them to qualify for Federal funds, they will have had to have spent $750,000 over a 12-month period on expenditures related to disaster.

        Q But you are still going ahead and making SBA low interest loans available?

        MR. ZIEGLER: The SBA has the authority to step in, as they have done here, and provide low interest loans.

        Q One is in the disaster area and the other is not ready to go in?

        MR. ZIEGLER: An agency can draw their own judgment, but it depends a lot on the nature of the disaster. A tornado, obviously, would have a greater effect on a small business or homes than it would on a city sewerage system. Mississippi and California are opposite. The flooding by water would create more problems with the underground sewerage system and public utilities than would a tornado.

        Q This is a prelude to a possible grant of money? Is that correct?

        MR. ZIEGLER: A prelude to it?

        Q Yes.

        MR. ZIEGLER: Yes, to a possible.

        Q Did you say the Governor of California had declared the flooded areas disaster areas?

        MR. ZIEGLER: No. In California , the Governor has declared two counties, Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo, as a disaster area.

        Q And OEP is on the scene?

        MR. ZIEGLER: Yes. They are on the scene working with the state officials.

        Q Are they Federal disaster areas?

        MR. ZIEGLER: No, not at this point.

        Q Who is head of OEP now?

        MR. ZIEGLER: General Lincoln.

        Q Ron, I understand the White House Police have said that in the event of the arrival of this black economic group to see Mr. Nixon, we need permission from the Press Secretary's office to film that arrival. May we have such permission?

        MR. ZIEGLER: The arrival where?

        Q At the gate, I presume.

        MR. ZIEGLER: What do you need permission to do?

        Q Presumably to film on this side of the gate.

        MR. ZIEGLER: As you know, there is a rule that exists now, and I think it is a good rule, that the driveway is restricted. I am sure if you just walk around you can film them on the other side of the gate. We wouldn't have any objection to that.

        The pool for tomorrow, and if you want to go to church with your family and want off the pool, don't feel obligated -- although you probably would enjoy Billy Graham -- is: Doug Cornell of AP, Sam Fogg of UPI, Isabel Shelton of the Evening Star, Louise Hutchinson of the Chicago Tribune, Kenneth Dole of the Washington Post, and Forrest Boyd of Mutual.

        Be in the West Lobby at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow.

        Q What is the format of the church service? Are they going to sing hymns?

        MR. ZIEGLER: Yes. It is just like the service you go to every Sunday.

        Q Do we have a lid, Ron?

        MR . ZIEGLER: Yes.

        Q There were rumors floating around there were supposed to be a couple of District appointments today to the City Council. You indicated that yesterday, as a matter of fact.

        MR . ZIEGLER: No.

        Q Did you say there might be?

        MR . ZIEGLER: No.

        Q Anyhow, there are still rumors to that effect.

        MR. ZIEGLER: I have never seen so many rumors in my life. There probably are some rumors, but we have no plans to announce District appointments today or tomorrow.

        Q Will you brief tomorrow?

        MR. ZIEGLER: No. If anything occurs, we will phone.

        The only thing we have now is the church service in the morning. I would imagine that the President will, after that, be working in his office throughout the afternoon. But we have no plans for an announcement or anything of that sort. If we do, we will run the phone list.

        Q There isn't any thought of a double dip on this and going to the Red Mass up at the Cathedral tomorrow, the annual Red Mass?

        MR. ZIEGLER: No.

        THE PRESS: Thank you.

        END (AT 4:05 PM EST)

  • 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, January 25.

      Six and a half hours of NSC with break for lunch. I had to go into luncheon with stuff for signature. VP big problem because committed to Republican Women in New York. President made him go.

      The first haircut turned out fine. President says Martini is the best barber yet. I took huge stack of letters down to barber shop - he signed during haircut, after calling Harlow to ask how to sign letter to Congress (RN, Dick or Richard Nixon). Liked the barber so much he invited him to church tomorrow.

      Received beautiful silver cigarette box from Bob Gray. Presidential seal and name on top, date on front, plays "Hail to the Chief' when lid lifted - most appropriate!

      Flap in the early morning regarding Mississippi tornadoes. President called me at breakfast - wanted some action. We released a statement and I called the Governor to tell of President's concern. Can't declare a disaster because requirements not met.

      President wandered into my office and around to others to see what everyone doing. Stopped by Ziegler's on way up from haircut - during briefing - President spoke to press, said he'd had his first press conference as VP in this room, so maybe Ziegler will be President some day

      President met Butterfield briefly - for first time. Rather awkward. Will take time to develop.

      Kissinger was very enthusiastic about the way President handled the NSC. Kissinger is really impressed with overall performance - and surprised!
    • 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

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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

    • 10. Minutes of National Security Council Meeting , Washington, January 25, 1969

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–109, NSC Minutes, Originals, 1969. No classification marking. No drafting information appears on the minutes. There are many handwritten corrections on the text. Kissinger briefly summarizes this NSC meeting in White House Years, pp. 237–238, as follows: “the team was too new and career officers too demoralized. The briefings did not offer new and imaginative ideas to a new President eager for them, even from the military.”

    Vol. XVII, China, 1969-1972

    China, 1969

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

    Panama

    • 518. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Read) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, January 25, 1969. , Washington, January 25, 1969

      The Department of State reported that the new Panamanian Government showed little concern that the actions it took could damage its relations with the United States. The Department of State stated it was encouraging the return to constitutional government, maintaining a satisfactory working relationship, and assuring continued National Guard cooperation in protecting the Panama Canal.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 2 PAN. Confidential. Drafted on January 24 by Guthrie; and cleared by Sanders and Vaky. Robert Brown signed above Benjamin Read’s typeset signature. SNIE 84–69, January 30, provided additional information on Panama and concluded that “relations with the U.S. are likely to be somewhat strained throughout the period of military rule. We think the officer corps of the Guardia has become more nationalistic over the last couple of years, yet we doubt that the new regime will encourage blatant anti-Americanism, for fear it could not control an aroused populace.” (Central Intelligence Agency, NIC Files, Job 79–R01012A, Box 373, Folder 2, Situation in Panama)

  • 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.

    Box 1, Folder January 21-31, 1969 [1 of 2]

    • 4:10 PM, D Chapin; Mr. Kissinger
      D Chapin
      Mr. Kissinger
      1-25-69 4:10 PM

      Chapin said the Pres said it was certainly o.k. for K to take off tomorrow night - no sense in his being around here so long as he got Press Conf material. K asked if his material was supposed to go thru Buchannan and C said he thought not, but that was not his area - he should check with Haldeman.

      C said there will be no 9:00 briefing Monday since the Pres does not want anything on calendar prior to the Press Conf.

      jm
    • 4:30 PM, Mr. Haldeman; Mr. Kissinger
      Mr. Haldeman
      Mr. Kissinger
      1-25-69 4:30 PM

      Re press conf - K said Keogh has been in touch with State to ask for briefing books, etc and asked H to advise him that K is the only contact with State. Haldeman agreed that K should be the contact for State and Defense. K said not to do anything about it this time.

      K said he would have his suggestions to the Pres by 6:00 tomorrow afternoon. K said he will not be here and the President knows it (he hopes to go to New York). H said so long as he was available Monday morning, it was o.k. He said the Pres has said he does not want 9:00 briefing on Monday, but H is sure he will change his mind.

      jm
    • 4:40 PM, Dwight Chapin; Mr. Kissinger
      Dwight Chapin
      Mr. Kissinger
      4:40 PM 1- 25-69

      Re SIOP Briefing. C said Col. Hughes would be going too. K said he might bring along his Military Aide - Col. Haig and said he would let C know if so. C said the plan is to depart here at 1:50 - car will leave from right outside by the Oval Office. C asked if all arrangements had been made - K said yes but he would double check on them.
      Both agreed it is strictly a briefing and K said he had told them that is the way it should be announced. He has told Rogers about it as well.

      K asked when the President is going to State and C said they are trying to set it up for next Wednesday.

      jm

Audiovisual Holdings

  • 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.

    B - Vice-Presidential (Agnew and Ford)

    • WHCA-SR-B-004
      Remarks to the Women's National Rep. Club luncheon-Waldorf Astoria, NY, NY. (1/25/1969)

      Runtime: 20:00

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

    G - Cabinet Officer Briefings

    • WHCA-SR-G-001
      Remarks by H.U.D. secretary George Romney to the press. (1/25/1969, Press Lobby, The White House)

      Runtime: 0:07:35

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

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

    I - Various Administration Events

    • WHCA-SR-I-001
      Alfalfa Club dinner at the Statler Hilton with Neil McElroy, Admirals Wright and Carney, Sgt. Jones, Col. Frank Borman, Harold Stassen, Senator Harry F. Byrd Jr., Col Boky and the President [TR] [see P-690112]. (1/25/1969)

      Runtime: 3:00:00

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

    P - Formal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-P-690112
      Remarks by President Nixon at the 56th Annual Alfalfa Club Dinner at the Statler Hilton Hotel. (1/25/1969, Statler Hilton Hotel, Washington, CD,)

      Runtime: 0:12:24

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA

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

Context (External Sources)