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July 19, 1969

Introduction

This almanac page for Saturday, July 19, 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, July 18, 1969

Next Date: Sunday, July 20, 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 Camp David, Maryland

  • 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.

    Acts Approved by the President

    • H.R. 3689 -- Public Law 91-45
      An Act to cede to the State of Montana concurrent jurisdiction with the United States over the real property comprising the Veterans' Administration Center, Fort Harrison, Montana.
    • S. 1647 -- Public Law 91-46
      An Act to authorize the release of one hundred thousand short tons of lead from the national stockpile and the supplemental stockpile.

    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 visited Mrs. Dwight D. Eisenhower at her home in Gettysburg, Pa.

  • 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.

    • Annotated News Summaries, Box 28, News Summaries - July 1969 [During this period, the Staff Secretary only removed pages from the News Summaries which contained President Nixon's handwriting, often leaving the document with no date. Although there are no specific documents with this date, you should also consult the full folder for the month.]

  • 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, July 19.

      At Camp David. All slept late again. Hank and I went up to bowl around noon - had to leave because President coming. Then he went to pool. Called me up there - and it was rainy - he sitting under umbrella in trunks. Rain stopped. Talked for about half an hour. Mainly regarding his concern that we didn't get out tax reform word. And wanted action about New York Times editorial regarding his moon telecast plans.

      Returned to White House at 3:00. President came to office for a while, with Ehrlichman and Ziegler. Cleaned up the loose ends, schedule details, Ehrlichman's items, etc. Then he returned to Residence for dinner. Called me over to tell family about Teddy Kennedy's escapade. Very strange news coverage as they try to cover-up real implications of what happened. Kennedy, late last night in Martha's Vineyard, drove his car off a bridge into a pond, left girl in it to drown. She was a former secretary of Bobby's. Lot of peculiar possibilities. But wires carry no sensationalizing or speculation. Ehrlichman has investigators, etc., working on what really happened.

      Wants to be sure he doesn't get away with it, but of course no reaction from us. Real concern is realization of what they'd be doing if it were one of our people. Obviously (President feels) he was drunk, escaped from car, let her drown, said nothing until police got to him. Shows fatal flaw in his character, cheated at school, ran from accident
    • 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 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-3374
      Live Transmission From Apollo 11. Vice President Agnew; 'Buzz' Aldrin, Neil Armstrong.
      CBS, CBS, CBS
      Runtime: 1:00

Context (External Sources)