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January 8, 1970

Introduction

This almanac page for Thursday, January 8, 1970, pulls together various records created by the federal government and links to additional resources which can provide context about the events of the day.

Previous Date: Wednesday, January 7, 1970

Next Date: Friday, January 9, 1970

Schedule and Public Documents

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

    The President's day began at San Clemente, California

  • 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.

    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, Mrs. Nixon, and their daughter Tricia registered to vote at the Orange County Courthouse at Santa Ana, Calif.

  • 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.

  • 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)
      Thursday, January 8.

      Back to DC. Long sessions in the late morning - going through all his notes, schedule guidance, plans for Western White House government use, etc. Thorough review of idea of bringing Chotiner into White House. Arose from plane conversation on the way out. President feels need of real political pro, and has confidence in Murray. So we'll do it - have to lock up tight control, which Ehrlichman deftly shifted to me. Little delicate vis-a-vis Harry Dent but will work out. President concerned regarding Murray getting loose, but willing to take the risk.

      President registered in Santa Ana - then off in Air Force One for DC. Called Ehrlichman and me up for long session on the plane. Heavy dose of political strategy review - regarding Chotiner's role, Phillips' thesis, need to build our own new coalition based on Silent Majority, blue-collar Catholics, Poles, Italians, Irish. No promise with Jews and Negroes. Appeal not hard right-wing, Bircher, or anti-Communist. Need to study the real base, and the reason for Agnew upsurge. Feels he's getting coverage on his trip because he attacked the press and forced them to pay attention.

      Then added Kissinger to group, general talk regarding foreign policy and leadership. Got into a long dialogue regarding the Chinese (who have agreed to reopen talks – this time at the embassies in Warsaw) and the Russians. Feeling that the Chinese are less dangerous than the Russians for the exact reason people generally feel otherwise. Russian leaders are thugs with a vested interest in foreign war or threat because nothing else to add interest and appeal to Communism – and country is dull, dreary, etc. So people will come to need stimulation. Chinese leaders are smart and sophisticated and less likely to blunder into war or stupid action – and have less need for war with United States – or threats of it – for internal consumption. Actually better off taking on the Russians. Real fear in Russia is that their “Kennedy” might emerge and urge let’s get moving. People ripe for it – could really cause trouble. Question is how much time do we have. The new leader would now have some military areas of superiority over United States and could be tempted to try to use it.

      Then a long analysis of PR, and where we've failed. President's main thrust is that we haven't adequately developed the image of him and his role and the office. Need to build image now while going good, in order to carry over when going badly. Ideas for new year - wants to hold to aloofness theory, and build on it.

      Great quote - "No leader survives simply by doing well. He only survives if the people have confidence in him when he's not doing well." Basis of his reasoning regarding need to move fast and hard now to build up mystique. Have to build the equity now on the personal side so when the attacks come the person stays above the attack.

      Feels ‘70 will be the worst year - have to ride it through. Will have inflation/recession, no turn on crime, election attacks, etc. But will improve in '71 and build for '72. Must be prepared.

      President called me back up with Bebe regarding problem of personal household staff, lousy food of wrong kind, etc. Wants me to solve it. Pretty hard when Pat Nixon won't help and yet won't let someone else take over. Wants to get someone in who can really run the place - and this is the answer, but hard to work around Lucy and Rex. Also wants to change personal family cooking, but Pat Nixon approves the menus. Gave orders about wines, no French or California white, only Moselle or Rhine, Johannesburg, only Bordeaux red, or very good light French Burgundy. Salad - wilted lettuce and Camembert cheese.
    • 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

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-2726 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2726-02-15, President Nixon, Pat Nixon, and Tricia Nixon register to vote. 1/8/1970, Santa Anna, California Orange County Court House. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Tricia Nixon, local officials, press, onlookers.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2726-16-26, President Nixon receives scroll and three plaques by Baptist Youth Association of Southern California. 1/8/1970, California El Toro Marine Air Base. President Nixon, W.C .Reynolds, T.W. Fuller, C.A. Heaps, J.L. Burgess, Jr., T.J. Robertson, K. L. Dussault, R.A. Rores, G.S. Roberts.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2726-27-33, Marine officers see President Nixon, Pat Nixon, and Tricia Nixon off. 1/8/1970, El Toro, California El Toro Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS). President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Tricia Nixon, unidentified Marine officers and civilians.

    Roll WHPO-2727 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2727-01A-12A, A portrait of an unidentified San Clemente police officer wearing a special uniform for Western White House Guards. 1/8/1970, San Clemente, California unidentified police officer.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2727-13A-31A, President Nixon, Pat Nixon and Tricia Nixon register to vote at the Orange County Courthouse in Santa Ana, CA. 1/8/1970, Santa Anna , California Orange County Court House. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Tricia Nixon, local officials, onlookers, press.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2727-18A, President Nixon swearing an oath in front of a judge, while Pat Nixon, Tricia Nixon, Ron Ziegler, Steve Bull, and Press corp reporters and photographers, including Helen Thomas stand nearby. 1/8/1970, Santa Ana, California Orange County Court House. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Tricia Nixon, Ronald Ziegler, Steve Bull, Helen Thomas, press reporters and photographers.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2727-32A-33A, President Nixon boarding the Marine One Presidential Helicopter. 1/8/1970, El Toro, California El Toro Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS). President Nixon, Pat Nixon.

  • 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-046
      Remarks in a toast to Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman-PM residence, Malaysia. (1/8/1970)

      Runtime: 8:00

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

    H - White House Staff Member Recordings

    • WHCA-SR-H-116
      Press briefing by Robert Duemling, Herb Thompson, Col. Thomas Stafford in Kuala Lumpur. (1/8/1970, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

      Runtime: 30:00:00

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media

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

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

    P - Formal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-P-700104
      Remarks by President Nixon while registering to vote in Santa Ana, California, with remarks by Pat Nixon and Tricia Nixon. (1/8/1970)

      Runtime: 8:14

      Keywords: Vote, voters, voting, elections, campaigns, mid-term-elections

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

  • The White House Communications Agency Videotape Collection contains “off-the-air” recordings of televised programs produced between 1968 and 1974. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

    • WHCA-3589
      "Here's Barbara" with Secretary and Mrs. Romney AND "Face the Nation" with Secretary Melvin Laird.
      ABC
      Runtime: 00:36:48
    • WHCA-3590
      "Dinner at Howard K. Smith's" (Review of 1969 and preview of 1970).
      All networks
      Runtime: 00:58:40
    • WHCA-3591
      Weekly News Summary.
      All networks
      Runtime: 00:31:00

      4. No White House News Aired. Keywords: blank video area slate sign on screen.

Context (External Sources)