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January 9, 1970

Introduction

This almanac page for Friday, January 9, 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: Thursday, January 8, 1970

Next Date: Saturday, January 10, 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 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.

    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.

    • Press conference of Dr. Hendrik S. Houthakker on the formation of a subcommittee of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Policy to study the copper market and pricing procedures.

    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.

    • Terence Cardinal Cooke, Archbishop of New York, met with the President at the White House to discuss his Christmas trip to Vietnam.
    • The President has directed the Cabinet Committee on Economic Policy to make a study of market conditions and pricing procedures in the copper industry and to recommend action as needed. Dr. Hendrik S. Houthakker, member of the Council of Economic Advisers, will head a subcommittee to make the study.
    • The President, Mrs. Nixon, and Tricia flew from Washington to Northampton, Mass., to celebrate the President's 57th birthday with a dinner at the home of David and Julie Eisenhower.

  • 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)
      Friday, January 9.

      President birthday. Had a staff card, and talked him into a press photo shot with Rose and new secretary presenting it. Worked fine - but President his usual awkward self, just can't cope with personal-type situations. Explained the whole card (Washington Star front page) in minute detail. But the photographers couldn't have cared less. In late afternoon went up to Julie's for dinner - wouldn't let us announce it ahead because of probable Amhurst demonstrators. All was fine on arrival, but during dinner a bunch of bad guys arrived and chanted outside the apartment - Julie cried, President left abruptly, really too bad. Press pretty good on it, but tough on the family.

      Had a session with Mitchell regarding the Supreme Court appointment, and got into Finch's latest fiasco regarding removing tax immunity from private schools. Had us all in and out on that one several times. Then a meeting with Cardinal Cooke, who's just back from Vietnam.

      President reviewed Price's first real draft of the State of the Union and said it was eloquent, and a complete disaster. No substance, no cheer lines, no organization. Led to a new harangue on need for a speechwriter who can write a Nixon speech. Tough. Hard for Ray to hit it right when he has no direct contact with President and no real guidance. Led further to discussion of need for President to spend most of next week writing his own speech - feels this one is too long to sit down and work with writer, it has to be closer to his form to begin with. Also feels it is more than twice too long. Said "Now I can see why I decided not to do it last year," and is very happy that he's doing this one at noon instead of prime time.

      In late afternoon had Moynihan, Harlow and McCracken in, with me, to talk about economy and the CEA economic report. President kept asking Paul to explain why we hadn't solved the inflation problem, and asked if he still felt we were doing the right thing. Paul hesitated a bit before saying yes - thus shaking President's confidence a little. President made point that he had never heard of losing an election because of inflation, but lots were lost because of unemployment or recession. Point is, he's determined not to let the war on inflation get carried to the point that it will lose us House or Senate seats in November.
    • 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.

  • The Foreign Relations of the United States series presents the official documentary historical record of major U.S. foreign policy decisions and significant diplomatic activity. Visit the State Department website for more information.

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

    The NSC System

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

    The Cease-Fire Agreement

    • 82. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Jordan , Washington, January 9, 1970, 2310Z

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 797, Presidential Correspondence. Secret; Priority; Nodis. Drafted on December 30, 1969, by Thomas J. Scotes (NEA/ARN); cleared in NEA, NEA/ARN, NEA/IAI, and the White House; and approved by Richardson and Sisco. Repeated Priority to London.

    Vol. XXVIII, Southern Africa

    Portuguese Africa

    • 89. Airgram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Portugal, Washington, January 9, 1970, 3:15 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 1 AFR. Confidential; Limdis. Drafted by Frank Crump, Mark Lore, and Everett Briggs on December 31, 1969; cleared in AF/E, AF/S, AF/C, AF, INR/RAF, and EUR/SPP; and approved by Tibbetts. Repeated to Dar es Salaam, Kinshasa, Lourenco Marques, Luanda, and Lusaka.

    Vol. XXXII, SALT I, 1969-1972

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

    Vol. XXXVI, Energy Crisis, 1969-1974

    February 20, 1969-February 19, 1970

    Vol. XLI, Western Europe; NATO, 1969-1972

    France

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

    U.S.-Cuba Hijacking Agreement, 1969-February 1973

    • 129. Telegram 3810 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Switzerland, Washington, January 9, 1970, 2215Z

      The Department of State thanked Ambassador Fischli for transmitting Premier Castro’s response to the U.S. diplomatic note and requested that he pass “precisely and fully” the views of the United States to Cuban Foreign Minister Roa. The Department indicated its willingness to use Cuban Law 1226 as a basis for negotiation of a hijacking agreement.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, AV 12 US. Confidential; Priority; Exdis. Drafted by Feldman on January 8; cleared by Stevenson, Hurwitch, Funseth, and U. Alexis Johnson; and approved by Charles H. Meyer.

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

    Nigerian Civil War

    • 151. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon, Washington, January 9, 1970

      Rogers provided the President with a status report from the Department of Stateʼs perspective on the military situation, relief problems, future contingencies, diplomatic initiatives, and mediation efforts of the Biafra problem.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 742, Country Files, Africa, Nigeria, Vol. I. Secret.

    • 152. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig) to the Presidentʼs Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) , Washington, January 9, 1970

      The memorandum illustrates the division between the White House and State over Nigeria/Biafra, with Eagleburger meeting privately with Biafran representatives in Brussels and not informing any Department of State official. Haig advised Kissinger to inform Richardson about the meeting, claiming that the Biafrans refused to deal with State and this was only a feeler.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 742, Country Files, Africa, Nigeria, Vol. I. Top Secret; Umbra; Eyes Only.

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

    Bolivia

    Venezuela

    • 660. Airgram A–10 From the Embassy in Venezuela to the Department of State, January 9, 1970.

      Private-sector groups in Venezuela strongly disliked the U.S. Government’s announcement of its 1970 petroleum import quotas. Lack of consultation with Venezuelan leaders, preferential treatment for Canada, and fear of a future erosion of Venezuela’s petroleum market share in the United States explained the reaction.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 2 VEN. Confidential. It was drafted by Luers; cleared in draft by Fimbres; and approved by Walters. It was repeated to COMANTDEFCOM, COMCARIBSEAFRON, USSOUTHCOM, COMUSAFSO, Addis Ababa, Bogotá, Brasilia, Buenos Aires, Georgetown, Guatemala, London, Mexico City, Panama, Port of Spain, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, Santo Domingo, the Consulate in Curaçao, and Paramaribo. A stamped notation on the Airgram indicates that it was received at the Department of State at 3:23 p.m. on January 12 and at the Bureau of Inter-American Affairs on January 14.

  • The Kissinger telephone conversation transcripts consist of approximately 20,000 pages of transcripts of Kissinger’s telephone conversations during his tenure as Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (1969-1974) and Secretary of State (1973-1974) during the administration of President Richard Nixon. Visit the finding aid for more information.

    Digitized versions can be found in the National Archives Catalog.

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-2728 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2728-, President Nixon receives an oversized birthday card from Rose Mary Woods and Terry Decker that was signed by White House staff members. 1/9/1970, Washington D.C. White House. President Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, Terry Decker, Charles Del Vecchio (Washington Post), and staff members.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2728-07, President Nixon receives an oversized birthday card from Rose Mary Woods and Terry Decker that was signed by White House staff members. 1/9/1970, Washington D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, Terry Decker, Charles Del Vecchio (Washington Post photographer), and staff members.

    Roll WHPO-2729 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2729-, President Nixon informally in the Oval Office during a meeting with Roman Catholic Cardinal Cooke. 1/9/1970, Washington, D.C. White House. President Nixon, Cardinal Terence J. Cooke.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2729-02A, President Nixon informally in the Oval Office during a meeting with Roman Catholic Cardinal Cooke. 1/9/1970, Washington, D.C. White House. President Nixon, Cardinal Terence J. Cooke.

    Roll WHPO-2730 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2730-, President Nixon and Pat Nixon during their visit to Julie and David Eisenhower's first apartment, located near Smith College. 1/9/1970, North Hampton, Massachusetts Home of David and Julie Eisenhower. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Tricia Nixon, David Eisenhower, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, unidentified others in outdoor scenes.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2730-10, President Nixon (holding campaign buttons), Pat Nixon, and Tricia Nixon seated in the living room, during their visit to Julie Eisenhower and David Eisenhower's first apartment, located near Smith College. 1/9/1970, North Hampton, Massachusetts Home of David and Julie Eisenhower. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Tricia Nixon, David Eisenhower, Julie Nixon Eisenhower.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2730-10, 12, President Nixon, Pat Nixon, and Tricia Nixon seated in the living room, during their visit to Julie and David Eisenhower's first apartment, located near Smith College. 1/9/1970, North Hampton, Massachusetts Home of David and Julie Eisenhower. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Tricia Nixon, David Eisenhower, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, unidentified others in outdoor scenes.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2730-12, President Nixon (holding campaign buttons), Pat Nixon, and Tricia Nixon seated in the living room, during their visit to Julie Eisenhower and David Eisenhower's first apartment, located near Smith College. 1/9/1970, North Hampton, Massachusetts Home of David and Julie Eisenhower. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Tricia Nixon, Julie Eisenhower, David Eisenhower.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2730-17, President Nixon, Pat Nixon, and Tricia Nixon seated at the dinner table, during their visit to Julie Eisenhower and David Eisenhower's first apartment, located near Smith College. 1/9/1970, North Hampton, Massachusetts Home of David and Julie Eisenhower. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Tricia Nixon, Julie Eisenhower, David Eisenhower.

  • 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-047
      Remarks aboard A.F. 2 in a background briefing to the press. (1/9/1970)

      Runtime: 11:30

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

    I - Various Administration Events

    • WHCA-SR-I-028
      Youth Speaks Up on WHWH in Princeton, NJ evaluating Nixon's first year with George Travis, George Marks, Elaine Pontanni, Susan Lehne, Kathi Lehne, and John Hall, with host Ray Male (Raymond Male). (1/9/1970, Princeton, New Jersey)

      Runtime: [Nonelisted]

      Keywords: Radio

      Production credits: No feed information listed; Recorded by WHWH

      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-3591
      Weekly News Summary.
      All networks
      Runtime: 00:31:00

      5. Pierpoint: President Nixon ordered investigation into copper industry and celebrates 57th Birthday with staff, Rosemary Woods and Terrie Decker give giant birthday card sized front page copy of "Washington Star" of birth date, January 9, 1913,. Time Code Start: 00:23. Keywords: Presidents, celebrations, birthdays, presents, gifts. Network: CBS.

      6. News Summary End. Time Code Start: 01:53. Keywords: no news description, video end of reel indicator.

Context (External Sources)