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March 15, 1969

Introduction

This almanac page for Saturday, March 15, 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, March 14, 1969

Next Date: Sunday, March 16, 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.

    Addresses and Remarks

    • National Alliance of Businessmen (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 424, March 15, 1969)
      The President's Remarks at a Luncheon Meeting in Washington.
    • American Legion (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 425, March 15, 1969)
      The President's Remarks at the Legion's 50th Anniversary Dinner.

    Letters, Memorandums, Etc.

    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 annual Gridiron 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.

    • Annotated News Summaries, Box 28, News Summaries - March 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 dated March 15, 1969, you should also consult the full folder for the month.]

    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.

  • 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, March 15.

      I took the day off for house-hunting with Jo. President arrived in his office at 8:00, and buzzed for me. Elmer called to tell me - and I asked operator to call President - she said he was probably asleep because had been up as late as 4:00 a.m. I told her he was in the office - she was amazed, rang, and he answered. I told him I was at home, and he insisted I take day off with Jo. Apparently he kept Ehrlichman busy all day answering his calls, although he had NSC from 10:00 to 12:00, and left office about 1:30 for a swim and to the Residence.

      Tonight was the Gridiron. Fairly good show - but pretty strained. President was great at the end - with a serious note - first a toast to Earl Warren, then remarks regarding war, need for peace, etc., brought on by his appearance at American Legion dinner (which he ducked out to drop by and light the Unknown Soldier Tomb). He then went to several of the cocktail parties afterward.
    • Handwritten diary entry (JPG)

  • The National Archives Catalog is the online portal to the records held at the National Archives, and information about those records. It is the main way of describing our holdings and also provides access to electronic records and digitized versions of our holdings. 

    The Catalog searches across multiple National Archives resources at once, including archival descriptions, digitized and electronic records, authority records, and web pages from Archives.gov and the Presidential Libraries. The Catalog also allows users to contribute to digitized historical records through tagging and transcription.

    Nixon Library Holdings

    All National Archives Units

National Security Documents

  • The President's Daily Brief is the primary vehicle for summarizing the day-to-day sensitive intelligence and analysis, as well as late-breaking reports, for the White House on current and future national security issues. Read "The President's Daily Brief: Delivering Intelligence to Nixon and Ford" to learn more.

    • No President's Daily Brief delivered on this date

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

    Vol. I, Foundations of Foreign Policy, 1969-1972

    Foundations of Foreign Policy, 1969-1972

    Vol. VI, Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

    Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

    • 39. Memorandum for the Record , Washington, March 15, 1969

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 136, Vietnam Country Files, Vietnam, Vol. 1, Through 3/19/69. Top Secret.

    Vol. XII, Soviet Union, January 1969-October 1970

    Initial Contacts, January-April 22, 1969

    Vol. XXXII, SALT I, 1969-1972

    Preparations for SALT, January 27-November 12, 1969

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

    Spain

    Vol. E-2, Documents on Arms Control and Nonproliferation, 1969-1972

    Eighteen-Nation Disarmament Committee; Seabed Arms Control Treaty

    • 74. Journal Entry by the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (Seaborg) , Washington, March 15, 1969

      Seaborg kept detailed notes on the March 15 NSC meeting. At this discussion, participants examined the current U.S. position on the three key issues presented at the ENDC meeting—the comprehensive test ban, the cutoff of fissionable material production, and the seabed arms control proposal—and debated whether to modify the position. Ultimately, the participants agreed to maintain the U.S. position on all three issues.

      Source: Department of Energy, Records of the U.S AEC, Job 65–42, Seaborg Diary, pp. 99100–99108. Confidential.

    • 75. Letter From President Nixon to the U.S. Representative to the Eighteen-Nation Disarmament Conference (Smith) , Washington, March 15, 1969

      In this letter, publicly released on March 18, Nixon issued instructions to Smith on the positions he should take at the conference in order to usher in “an era of negotiations”. Smith was to articulate the U.S. interest in working with other nations to address all issues on the agenda without making solid commitments to any one issue.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 319, Subject Files, Eighteen-Nation Disarmament Conference (ENDC). No classification marking.

  • 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-0519 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-0519-, President Nixon at the American Legion's 50th Anniversary Dinner where he receives a gift from National Commander William C. Doyle. 3/15/1969, Washington, D.C. Sheraton Park Hotel. President Nixon, American Legion National Commander William C. Doyle, American Legion Auxiliary President Mrs. Arthur B. Hanell, unidentified persons.

    Roll WHPO-0520 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-0520-, The Brothers Four performing on stage after the Gridiron Widow's Dinner. 3/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. The Brothers Four.

    Roll WHPO-0521 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-0521-, The Brothers Four performing on stage after the Gridiron Widow's Dinner. 3/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. The Brothers Four.

    Roll WHPO-0522 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-0522-, President Nixon with American Legion National Commander William C. Doyle. 3/15/1969, Washington, D.C. Sheraton Park Hotel. President Nixon, William C. Doyle, others.

    Roll WHPO-0523 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-0523-02-04, President Nixon with National Alliance of Businessmen President Don Kendall. 3/15/1969, Washington, D.C. Sheraton Park Hotel. President Nixon, Don Kendall, unidentified persons.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0523-05-17, President Nixon speaking at the National Alliance of Businessmen luncheon. 3/15/1969, Washington, D.C. Sheraton Park Hotel. President Nixon.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0523-16-21, President Nixon greeting unidentified man and woman in a corridor. 3/15/1969, Washington, D.C. Sheraton Park Hotel. President Nixon.

    Roll WHPO-0524 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-0524-, President Nixon at the National Alliance of Businessmen luncheon. 3/15/1969, Washington, D.C. Sheraton Park Hotel. President Nixon, attendees.

    Roll WHPO-0529 Photographer: Durrence | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-0529-, The Brothers Four performing on stage after the Gridiron Widow's Dinner. 3/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. The Brothers Four.

    Roll WHPO-0530 Photographer: Durrence | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-0530-02-04, Pat Nixon with entertainers The Brothers Four singing group. The Brothers Four performing on stage at the Gridiron Widow's Dinner. 3/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. The Brothers Four, Pat Nixon, audience members.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0530-05, 07, The Brothers Four with Pat Nixon after they performed during the Gridiron Widow's Dinner Evening. . 3/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. The Brothers Four, Pat Nixon.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0530-07, The Brothers Four with Pat Nixon after they performed during the Gridiron Widow's Dinner Evening. 3/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. The Brothers Four, Pat Nixon.

    Roll WHPO-0531 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-0531-, National Security Council (NSC) meeting. 3/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, Spiro Agnew, William Rogers, Laird, George Lincoln, Gen. Earle Wheeler, Richard Helms, Glenn Seaborg, Lee DuBridge, Gerard Smith, Elliot Richardson, David Packard.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0531-03A, National Security Council (NSC) meeting with President Nixon and other attendees. 3/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. Clockwise from the President: President Nixon, Melvin Laird, General Earle Wheeler, Henry Kissinger, George A. Lincoln, Lee A. DuBridge, Spiro Agnew, Gerard Smith, Glenn T. Seaborg, Richard Helms, [David Packard not pictured], Elliot Richardson, William Rogers.

    Roll WHPO-0532 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-0532-02A-08A, President Nixon at National Security Council (NSC) meeting. 3/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, Agnew, William Rogers, Laird, George Lincoln, Gen. Earle Wheeler, Richard Helms, Glenn Seaborg, Lee DuBridge, Gerard Smith, Elliot Richardson, David Packard.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0532-07A, National Security Council (NSC) meeting with President Nixon and other attendees. 3/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. Clockwise from the President: President Nixon, Melvin Laird, General Earle Wheeler, Henry Kissinger, George A. Lincoln, Lee A. DuBridge, Spiro Agnew, Gerard Smith, Glenn T. Seaborg, Richard Helms, [David Packard not pictured], Elliot Richardson, William Rogers.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0532-09A-18A, President Nixon with Henry Kissinger, Gerard Smith of the National Security Council (NSC), and Secretary of State William Rogers. 3/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, William Rogers, Gerard Smith, White House Press Corps.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0532-17A, President Nixon with Henry Kissinger, Gerard Smith of the National Security Council (NSC), and Secretary of State William Rogers. 3/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, William Rogers, Gerard Smith, White House Press Corps.

    Roll WHPO-0533 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-0533-, President Nixon with Henry Kissinger, Secretary of State William Rogers and Gerard Smith of the National Security Council (NSC). 3/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, William Rogers, Gerard Smith.

  • The White House Communications Agency Sound Recordings Collection contains public statements that took place between 1969 and 1974. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

    P - Formal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-P-690313
      Remarks by President Nixon at a Luncheon of the National Alliance of Businessmen, with WW, Don Kendall. (3/15/1969, Sheraton Park Hotel in Washington)

      Runtime: 12:02

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
    • WHCA-SR-P-690314
      Remarks by President Nixon at the American Legion's 50th Anniversary Dinner, with Efrem Zimbalist, Rev. C.J. Olander, William Hauck, Mr. Doyle. (3/15/1969, Sheraton Park Hotel in Washington)

      Runtime: 8:27

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
    • WHCA-SR-P-690315
      Remarks by President Nixon at Gridiron dinner with George Wallace, Hubert Humphrey, Vice President Agnew. (3/15/1969)

      Runtime: 11:30

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

Context (External Sources)