May 1, 1970

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

• Original typewritten diary (PDF)

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.

Acts Approved by the President

• S. 3253 -- Public Law 91-237
  An Act to provide that the Federal Office Building and United States Courthouse in Chicago, Illinois, shall be named the "Everett McKinley Dirksen Building".

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.

• Informal remarks of the President following a briefing at the Pentagon.

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 went to the Pentagon to receive a briefing by Department of Defense officials on military operations in Cambodia.

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.

• Federal Register of Friday, May 1, 1970

The Congressional Record is the official daily record of the debates and proceedings of the U.S. Congress.

• Senate: May 1, 1970
• Extensions of Remarks: May 1, 1970

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.

• President's Daily Schedule, Box 100, [President's Daily Schedule, May-June 1970] [1 of 3]
  • The President's Schedule, Friday - May 1, 1970

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, May 1.
  
  Reaction day. President in at 7:30. Had me in at 8:00 - gazing out at Rose Garden and musing about how short a time the spring lasts. Then Kissinger and Ziegler in for review of line for today: cold steel, no give, nothing regarding negotiation - Hanoi can now choose between peace and war. Mainly stay strong, whole emphasis on "back the boys," sell courage of President.
  
  Then he took off for Pentagon briefing. Very pleased when he returned by the reception he had received from secretaries, etc. Battle is going well. Meanwhile I had series of staff meetings to get all cranked up and rolling on the offensive.
  
  President back at 11:00, had me in, reviewed progress. Made a lot of phone calls, thanking people. Had Jack Horner in to thank him for support letter - and gave him three years worth of exclusives. Had great letter from Julie about having to do what is right and glad he had courage to do it. Decided to cancel trip plans for next week. Agreed to meet Senate Foreign Relations Committee, but with House included, and after Armed Forces Committees.
  
  Then took off for boat ride lunch with family, then to Camp David. Afternoon was pretty calm, kept the follow up going. President was really beat, but still riding on reaction. Really needs some good rest.
  
  Called couple of times from Camp David regarding specific follow-up. Some lines he wanted to get out - reaction to a bad story in Baltimore Sun, etc. Lot of personal speculation regarding the poll, hard to tell what he's done and what the reaction is. Looks a lot better than the predictions.
  
  Thought he'd fold early, but he watched movie and called me again afterwards, at 10:30, just to chat a little and get updated.
• 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

• Text search for May 1, 1970
• Date search for May 1, 1970

All National Archives Units

• Text search for May 1, 1970
• Date search for May 1, 1970

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.

• President's Daily Brief of 01 May 1970

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 Intelligence Community and the White House

• 206. Memorandum From the Consultant to the National Security Council (Marshall) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) , Washington, May 1, 1970

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Name Files, Box 825, Marshall, Andrew, Vol. I, 1969–1971. Top Secret; Sensitive. Sent for action. The tabs are attached but not printed.

Foreign Economic Policy

• 363. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon, Washington, May 1, 1970

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 213, Dept of Commerce, Vol. I, 1970. No classification marking. Rogers sent a copy to Stans under cover of a May 15 memorandum in which he sought to “underscore the strong feelings I hold on the subject. Simply stated, I could not efficiently advise on and carry out this nation’s foreign policy if my authority and responsibility were fragmented in this manner you suggest.” (Ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, ORG 1 COM–STATE)

Vol. VI, Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

• 273. Telegram From the Acting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Moorer) to the Commander in Chief, Pacific (McCain), and the Commander, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (Abrams) , Washington, May 1, 1970, 2239Z

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 590, Cambodian Operations, Chronology, Vol. III, Nodis/Khmer, HAK. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Drafted by Paul Kearney, Administrative Assistant to the Chairman of the JCS.

• 274. Minutes of Washington Special Actions Group Meeting , Washington, May 1, 1970, 11:35 a.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–114, WSAG Minutes, Originals, Principals, 5/1/70. Secret; Sensitive. The meeting was held in the White House Situation Room.

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

The Cease-Fire Agreement

• 111. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union and the Mission to the United Nations , Washington, May 1, 1970, 0302Z

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 712, Country Files, Europe, USSR, Vol. VIII. Secret; Priority; Nodis. Drafted on April 29 by Atherton, cleared by Sisco and Richardson and in IO and EUR, and approved by Rogers.

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

Guatemala

• 336. Telegram 1630 From the Embassy in Guatemala to the Department of State, May 1, 1970, 0048Z. , May 1, 1970, 0048Z

  Ambassador Davis met with President Méndez Montenegro’s private secretary López Padilla to discuss the security situation in Guatemala and the right-wing “Ojo por Ojo” counter-terror organization.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 785, Country Files, Latin America, Guatemala, Vol. I. Secret; Exdis; Priority. A stamped notation on the telegram indicates that it was received in the White House Situation Room on May 1 at 8:35 a.m.

Peru

• 615. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Eliot) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), May 1, 1970. 

  In this memorandum, Executive Secretary Eliot provided President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger an information report on the principle provisions of the April 1970 Peruvian mining law and described possible implications for U.S. investment and relations with Peru.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 792, Country Files, Latin America, Peru, Vol. 1, Through June 70. Confidential. Robert Snow signed for Eliot above Eliot’s typed signature. Watts requested the study in an April 17 memorandum to Eliot. (Ibid.)

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.

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-3450 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-3450-02A-05A, President Nixon meeting with Assistant H. R. Haldeman, Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler and Jack Horner of the Washington Star. 5/1/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Mr. Haldeman, Mr. Ziegler, Mr. Horner.

Roll WHPO-3451 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-3451-01A-27A, President Nixon meeting with Defense Secretary Melvin Laird and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 5/1/1970, Washington, D.C. The Pentagon. President Nixon, Mr. Laird.

Roll WHPO-3452 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-3452-02-14, Unidentified individuals on White House grounds. 5/1/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, South Lawn. unknown.

Roll WHPO-3461 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-3461-04-14, Senator Hraska and high school students from Nebraska. 5/1/1970, Washington, D.C. White House Lawn. Sen. Hraska.

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.

H - White House Staff Member Recordings

• WHCA-SR-H-171
  Press briefing by Ronald Ziegler and Henry Kissinger. (5/1/1970, Press Center, White House)
  
  Runtime: 55:00:00
  
  Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media, press secretary
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by WJN (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

P - Formal Presidential Remarks

• WHCA-SR-P-700501
  Remarks by President Nixon on arriving and departing the Pentagon. (5/1/1970, Pentagon)
  
  Runtime: 0:03:06
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by either WHCA or NBC (tape case say "Fed by NBC"); Recorded by WFN (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  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-3695
  Weekly News Summary.
  All networks
  Runtime: 00:31:09
  
  14. President Nixon at the Pentagon. Time Code Start: 22:08. Keywords: Presidents, travel, Nixon trips, domestic, United States Department of Defense headquarters, Armed Forces. Network: CBS.
  
  15. Excerpt from President Nixon's Cambodian Speech. Time Code Start: 24:37. Keywords: Presidents, speeches, Cambodia, Vietnam War. Network: NBC.
  
  16. President Nixon at the Pentagon. Time Code Start: 26:37. Keywords: Presidents, travel, Nixon trips, domestic, United States Department of Defense headquarters, Armed Forces. Network: NBC.
  
  17. President Nixon at the Pentagon. Time Code Start: 27:20. Keywords: Presidents, travel, Nixon trips, domestic, United States Department of Defense headquarters, Armed Forces. Network: NBC.
  
  18. President Nixon at the Pentagon. Time Code Start: 29:04. Keywords: Presidents, travel, Nixon trips, domestic, United States Department of Defense headquarters, Armed Forces. Network: ABC.

• LIFE magazine of May 1, 1970

• New York Times of May 1, 1970

• AP Images photos from May 1, 1970
• Getty Images photos from May 1, 1970

The Vanderbilt Television News Archive is the world's most extensive and complete archive of television news. They have been recording, preserving and providing access to television news broadcasts of the national networks since August 5, 1968.

• May 1970 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• May 1, 1970