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May 11, 1969

Introduction

This almanac page for Sunday, May 11, 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, May 10, 1969

Next Date: Monday, May 12, 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 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.

    News Conferences

  • 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.

    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 - May 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. In addition to the individual documents listed below, you should also consult the full folder for the month.]
      • News Summary, May 11, 1969
      • Sunday Morning, May 11, 1969

  • 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, May 11.

      Rockefeller was late for his meeting, so I went over at 10:00 for yesterday's canceled schedule meeting. Nothing very important, but President had obviously been doing a lot of general thinking about planning his time. Feels we haven't adequately weighed priorities in each week's schedule (problem is, we do, but then he cuts schedule up by changes and we get screwed up while trying to re-group).

      Has decided to go with peace plan announcement on Wednesday evening - either as statement or press conference. Kissinger all stirred up because he thinks Hanoi may be folding - has had some feelers. Also problem because Rogers wants to announce the peace plan - instead of President - also wants to modify.

      We are canceling all possible schedule through Wednesday to allow time for preparation. He's really pre-occupied with this. Hope it works.

      Came back to DC on the Airborne Command Post, and they staged a briefing and a test exercise. Pretty scary. They went through the whole intelligence and operational briefings, with interruptions, etc., to make it realistic.

      Fascinating plane - with command room set-up, all kinds of communications, display boards, rear projection, etc. Took President a while to get into the thing (his mind was on the peace plan) but he finally did, and was quite interested. Asked a lot of questions about our nuclear capability, and kill results. Obviously worries about the lightly tossed-about millions of deaths.
    • 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. II, Organization and Management of U.S. Foreign Policy, 1969-1972

    The NSC System

  • 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-1033 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-1033-02A-05A, The ocean and Key Biscayne Compound grounds. 5/11/1969, Key Biscayne, Florida Key Biscayne Compound. President Nixon, Nelson Rockefeller, unidentified persons.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-1033-06A-12A, President Nixon, Nelson Rockefeller, and others outside at a press conference. 5/11/1969, Key Biscayne, Florida Key Biscayne Compound. President Nixon, Nelson Rockefeller, unidentified persons.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-1033-13A-15A, Air Force Colonel Dr. Walter R. Tkach, Charles G. Bebe Rebozo on the grounds at the Key Biscayne Presidential residence. 5/11/1969, Key Biscayne, Florida Key Biscayne Compound. Col. Dr. Walter R. Tkach, Charles Bebe Rebozo.

    Roll WHPO-1034 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-1034-02, President Nixon walking an unidentified official, past a line of press photographers and reporters in group, seen from behind during a press conference with President Nixon and Governor Rockefeller (unseen). 5/11/1969, Key Biscayne, Florida Key Biscayne Compound. unidentified press corps photographers and reporters.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-1034-03-05, President Nixon standing informally with Attorney General John Mitchell, HEW Secretary Robert Finch, and Vice President Agnew. President Nixon with an unidentified man. 5/10/1969, Key Biscayne, Florida Key Biscayne Compound. President Nixon, Spiro Agnew, Robert Finch, John Mitchell, unidentified man.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-1034-07-09, President Nixon and Governor Rockefeller standing near palm trees during an outdoor press conference. Press Secretary Ron Ziegler stands nearby. 5/11/1969, Key Biscayne, Florida Key Biscayne Compound. President Nixon, Nelson Rockefeller, Ron Ziegler, press photographers and reporters.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-1034-08, President Nixon and Governor Rockefeller standing near palm trees during an outdoor press conference. Press Secretary Ron Ziegler stands nearby. 5/11/1969, Key Biscayne, Florida Key Biscayne Compound. President Nixon, Nelson Rockefeller, Ron Ziegler, press photographers and reporters.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-1034-10-13, Press photographers and reporters in a large group, seen from behind, during a press conference with President Nixon and Governor Rockefeller (unseen). 5/11/1969, Key Biscayne, Florida Key Biscayne Compound. unidentified press corps photographers and reporters.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-1034-14, 16, Single portrait of an unidentified photographer wearing more than one camera. 5/11/1969, Key Biscayne, Florida Key Biscayne Compound. unidentified photographer.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-1034-15, Single portrait of an unidentified staff member holding a camera and parcels. Possibly Tim Ellsworth. 5/11/1969, Key Biscayne, Florida Key Biscayne Compound. unidentified photographer or staff member.

    Roll WHPO-1047 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-1047-00-01, Governor Nelson Rockefeller and others outside President Nixon's Florida home in Key Biscayne. 5/11/1969, Key Biscayne, Florida Key Biscayne Compound. Nelson Rockefeller, unidentified others.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-1047-03-04, Unidentified persons outisde Nixon's Florida home. 5/11/1969, Key Biscayne, Florida Key Biscayne Compound. Nelson Rockefeller, unidentified others.

  • 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-690513
      Remarks by President Nixon Prior to the Departure of Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller for Latin America, with remarks by Rockefeller. (5/11/1969, Key Biscayne, Fla)

      Runtime: 2:21

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

Context (External Sources)