1. Home
  2. Research
  3. Almanac

March 9, 1969

Introduction

This almanac page for Sunday, March 9, 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: Saturday, March 8, 1969

Next Date: Monday, March 10, 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 Key Biscayne, Florida

  • 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.

    No Federal Register published on this date

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 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)
      Sunday, March 9.

      Ehrlichman and I to President's at 10:00 - long two hour talk on his personal finances, the California property, and a few brief notes on business. Kissinger called me early in great distress because Rogers had reversed United States policy in his talk with Dobrynin yesterday. Kissinger feels it is disastrous and is really upset, but will spend today developing recovery plan and come down tomorrow to see President. Kissinger feels the policy question is so serious that if continued he'll have to leave. Can't preside over destruction of Saigon government. Feels we have great chance to take hard line and Rogers gave it away. Spent rest of the day in the sun and sailing. Tough.

      Kissinger called to say had canceled Sunday strike (ref. activity in Bonn) and Packard very disturbed - wanted to call President, feels we're wrong, should go ahead even if have to hold off ABM. Kissinger will figure out recommendation and call President this afternoon. Rogers still opposed - and he reflects establishment press view. Kissinger feels better to be clobbered now by Times, etc., if it will help end war sooner. He thinks it will. Rogers is right regarding immediate reaction, but not for long haul. Have to do it before starting private talks.
    • 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. XX, Southeast Asia, 1969-1972

    Thailand

    • 4. Memorandum of Conversation , Bangkok, March 9, 1969, 10-11:15 a.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 560, Country Files, Far East, Thailand, Vol. I. Secret. The meeting was held at Prime Minister Thanom’s residence. A notation on the memorandum indicates that Kissinger saw it. The memorandum of conversation was attached to a March 18 covering memorandum from Colonel Robert E. Pursley, Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, to Kissinger.

    Vol. XXXIV, National Security Policy, 1969-1972

    Parity, Safeguard, and the SS-9 Controversy

  • 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.

    Chronological File, Box 1, Folder March 3-13, 1969 [2 of 2]

    • 11:50 AM, Secy Rogers; Mr. Kissinger
      Secy Rogers
      Mr. Kissinger 11:50 a. m.

      Rogers said he was LDXing over a statement to HAK; it's a little stronger. HAK said he would put it before the President immediately. Rogers said this is getting sites and signing contracts with long-term lead-time items, etc. It does suggest a delay in the deployment. It may well be that we could state it some other way, but Rogers doesn't know just where we are in our planning. HAK said it's about where Rogers knows it is. It isn't frozen and concrete, and the President must look at it very carefully. There was discussion about pros and cons on the Hill; HAK saw nose-count Bryce has, and it raises problems.

      Rogers said HAK should tell the President he doesn't have strong views on it. HAK said his understanding is Rogers will support whatever the President does, but in the meantime wanted him to consider the statement Rogers was sending over.

      There was brief mention of Richard Goodwin's trip to Peru--and the consensus was that Goodwin was not a very high type.*

      HAK told Rogers that Habib had been in to see him for about 15 minutes--the President noted he was here, so he saw Habib for about 10 minutes--just to get his impressions -- Habib told him what was in the long cable which the President hadn't seen.

      Rogers said he got a cable from Cabot in which he asked to proceed to work out private talks (the cable is in the Cherokee series, so HAK didn't have a copy).

      HAK said he thinks what the President is now thinking is to give authority -- there hasn't been any shelling this week -- early next week. Rogers said if we gave them the go-ahead they couldn't do it until next week. Rogers said, "Do I have permission to seek talks March 14 or a suitable time thereafter?" HAK said I would suggest we do it as of 17th or 18th. HAK said why don't you let me raise it with the President? HAK told Pres when we got cable over here in reply to cable that came in yesterday morning, he wanted to look it over, and there's no obstacle in principle. Rogers said Bill Bundy stated he would send it over this morning. Bundy showed it to Rogers, who has no problem with it. The President did say he wanted to see it. Rogers hopes they can get it out tonight.

      *read, mean, awful

Context (External Sources)