May 15, 1969

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.

Letters, Memorandums, Etc.

• Associate Justice of the Supreme Court (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 700, May 15, 1969)
  Exchange of Letters Between the President and Associate Justice Abe Fortas on Justice Fortas' Resignation.

News Conferences

• Vietnam and the Paris Peace Talks (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 699, May 15, 1969)
  Remarks of the President and Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge to the Press Following a Joint Meeting of the Cabinet and the National Security Council.

Statements by the President

• Control of Inflation (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 701, May 15, 1969)
  Statement by the President Following a Meeting with Representatives of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, the Joint Council on Economic Education, and the Advertising Council.

Acts Approved by the President

• H.R. 3548 -- Private Law 91-5
  An Act for the relief of Doctor Roberto de la Caridad Miquel.
• H.R. 4064 -- Private Law 91-6
  An Act for the relief of Ana Mae Yap-Diangco.
• S. 1130 -- Public Law 91-13
  An Act to provide for the striking of medals in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of the American Fisheries Society.

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.

• Press conference of David M. Kennedy, Secretary of the Treasury, Robert P. Keim, President of the Advertising Council, Dr. M. L. Frankel, and Archie K. Davis.

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 hosted a breakfast in honor of the observance of Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 17, in the State Dining Room at the White House.
• The President's Commission on an All-Volunteer Armed Force met at the White House.
• David Lilienthal met with the President to discuss his economic planning report on South Vietnam.
• The President and Mrs. Nixon hosted a dinner honoring retired career Ambassadors Charles E. Bohlen, David K. E. Bruce, Robert Murphy, and Llewellyn Thompson.
• The President has accepted the resignation of John Wesley Jones as United States Ambassador to Peru.

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.

• Remarks Following a Meeting With Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge on Vietnam and the Paris Peace Talks.
• Letter Accepting the Resignation of Abe Fortas as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
• Statement on the Control of Inflation.

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 Thursday, May 15, 1969

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

• House of Representatives: May 15, 1969
• Extensions of Remarks: May 15, 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)
• 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 15, 1969
• Date search for May 15, 1969

All National Archives Units

• Text search for May 15, 1969
• Date search for May 15, 1969

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 15 May 1969

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

• 44. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant (Haldeman) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) , Washington, May 15, 1969

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Name Files, Box 817, Haldeman, H.R. Confidential. A copy was sent to Ziegler.

Vol. IV, Foreign Assistance, International Development, Trade Policies, 1969-1972

East-West Trade, 1969-1972

• 296. Memorandum From Secretary of Defense Laird to President Nixon, Washington, May 15, 1969

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, S/S Files: Lot 71 D 175, 5/21/69 NSC Meeting. Confidential.

Vol. XVII, China, 1969-1972

China, 1969

• 13. Minutes of the Senior Review Group Meeting , Washington, May 15, 1969, 2:10-3:55 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–111, SRG Minutes, Originals, 1969. Top Secret. The meeting was held in the White House Situation Room. Lord forwarded the minutes through Halperin to Kissinger on May 19 under a covering memorandum. A notation on the memorandum indicates Kissinger saw it.

Vol. XXVIII, Southern Africa

Regional Issues

• 9. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon , Washington, May 15, 1969

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 747, Country Files, Africa, Zambia, Vol. I. Confidential. Sent for information. A stamped notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it.

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

France

• 127. Response to National Security Study Memorandum 55 , Washington, May 15, 1969

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–151, National Security Study Memoranda, NSSM 55. Secret; Nodis. Prepared by the NSC Interdepartmental Group for Europe, chaired by Hillenbrand.

Vol. E-4, Documents on Iran and Iraq, 1969-1972

Iran 1969

• 15. Telegram 76751 From the Department of State to the Embassies in Jidda, Beirut, and Dhahran , Washington, May 15, 1969, 0043Z

  The Department explained the terms of the agreement between the consortium and the Iranian Government, in which the consortium members had held firm against Iranian demands.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, PET 6 IRAN. Secret. Repeated to London, Tehran and Tripoli. Drafted by Clark (E/ORF/FSE); cleared by Eliot and William D. Brewer, Country Director (NEA/ARP); and approved by Akins.

Vol. E-5, Part 1, Documents on Sub-Saharan Africa, 1969-1972

Nigerian Civil War

• 65. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, May 15, 1969

  In a status report on the war, Kissinger told the President that the fighting and diplomacy were stalemated. Biafra could win only through political exhaustion on the Federal side. U.S. policy was being carried out, i.e., political non-involvement and basic neutrality.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 741, Country Files, Africa, Nigeria, Vol. I. Secret. Sent for information. The document is stamped, “The President Has Seen.” Nixon wrote on page one, “HK—I hope the Biafrans survive!”

• 66. Memorandum From the Acting Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Walsh) to the Presidentʼs Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) , Washington, May 15, 1969

  According to Walshʼs report, Bishop Swanstrom had requested that the U.S. Government sell two additional C–97s to Joint Church Aid U.S.A., Inc. (JCA) despite FMG opposition. The FMG was linking surface corridor negotiations to sale of additional aircraft. The U.S. Government decided it would replace one JCA C–97 that crashed and was a total loss. Attachments 1 and 2, Incoming Correspondence and Suggested reply, are not published.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 27–9 Biafra-Nigeria. Confidential.

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 of many of these transcripts can be found on the Yale University Library website.

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-1049 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-1049-01A-15A, President Nixon attends the Armed Forces Day Breakfast at the White House. 5/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, State Dining Room. Unidentified guests.

Roll WHPO-1050 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-1050-01-12, President Nixon and attendees at the Armed Forces Day Breakfast. 5/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Kitchen and State Dining Room. President Nixon, guests, kitchen staff.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1050-13-16, In the kitchen of unidentified staff. 5/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Kitchen and State Dining Room. President Nixon, guests, kitchen staff.

Roll WHPO-1054 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-1054-02A-03A, Susan Ingram with Vice President Agnew. 5/15/1969, Washington, D.C. Spiro Agnew, Susan Ingram.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1054-04A-28A, Portrait of Susan Ingram. 5/15/1969, Washington, D.C. Spiro Agnew, Susan Ingram.

Roll WHPO-1055 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-1055-02A-06A, Two unidentified men sitting on the Rose Garden steps from behind. 5/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Rose Garden. unidentified men.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1055-07A-11A, Ron Ziegler briefing the press. 5/15/1969, Washington, D.C. Ronald Ziegler, press corps members.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1055-12A-23A, President Nixon and several of his appointees meeting with members of the Advertising Council, the Joint Council on Economic Education, and the Chamber of Commerce of the U.S. 5/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, David Kennedy, Winton Blount, Paul McCracken, Arthur Burns, Charles Walker, unidentified attendees.

Roll WHPO-1056 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-1056-02A-08A, Ron Ziegler speaking during a press briefing. 5/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House,. Ron Ziegler, press corps members.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1056-09A-28A, President Nixon and several of his appointees meeting with members of the Advertising Council, the Joint Council on Economic Education, and the Chamber of Commerce of the U.S. 5/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, David Kennedy, Paul McCracken, Arthur Burns, Winton Blount, Charles Walker, Henry C. Wehde, Vieton Bloede, Robert P. Keirn, T. S. Thompson, Charles E. Wilson, Marvin K. Bower, Dr. M. L. Frankel, Arch N. Booth, Archie K. Davis, Carl H. Madden, Thomas B. McCabe.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1056-20A, President Nixon and several of his appointees meeting with members of the Advertising Council, the Joint Council on Economic Education, and the Chamber of Commerce of the U.S. 5/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, David Kennedy, Paul McCracken, Arthur Burns, Winton Blount, Charles Walker, Henry C. Wehde, Vieton Bloede, Robert P. Keirn, T. S. Thompson, Charles E. Wilson, Marvin K. Bower, Dr. M. L. Frankel, Arch N. Booth, Archie K. Davis, Carl H. Madden, Thomas B. McCabe.

Roll WHPO-1059 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-1059-03-15, Retiring Ambassadors Charles Bohlen, David Bruce, Llewelyn Thompson, and their wives, and Robert Murphy and his daughter with President Nixon and Pat Nixon prior to a dinner in their honor. 5/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Grand Staircase and Grand Hallway and State Dining Room. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Charles Bohlen, Mrs. Bohlen, David Bruce, Mrs. Bruce, Llewelyn Thompson, Mrs. Thompson, Robert Murphy, Rosemary Murphy, guests.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1059-16-19, Guests at dinner honoring retiring ambassadors. 5/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Grand Staircase and Grand Hallway and State Dining Room. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Charles Bohlen, Mrs. Bohlen, David Bruce, Mrs. Bruce, Llewelyn Thompson, Mrs. Thompson, Robert Murphy, Rosemary Murphy, guests.

Roll WHPO-1060 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-1060-05A-06A, Retiring ambassadors Charles Bohlen, David Bruce, Llewelyn Thompson and their wives. Robert Murphy and his daughter with President Nixon and Pat Nixon prior to a dinner honoring them. 5/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Grand Hallway and East Room. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Charles Bohlen, Mrs. Bohlen, David Bruce, Mrs. Bruce, Llewelyn Thompson, Mrs. Thompson, Robert Murphy, Rosemary Murphy, guests.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1060-07A-12A, Entertainers after the dinner honoring retiring ambassadors. 5/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Grand Hallway and East Room. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Charles Bohlen, Mrs. Bohlen, David Bruce, Mrs. Bruce, Llewelyn Thompson, Mrs. Thompson, Robert Murphy, Rosemary Murphy, guests.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1060-13A-18A, Guests in the hallway at the dinner honoring retiring ambassadors. 5/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Grand Hallway and East Room. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Charles Bohlen, Mrs. Bohlen, David Bruce, Mrs. Bruce, Llewelyn Thompson, Mrs. Thompson, Robert Murphy, Rosemary Murphy, guests.

Roll WHPO-1085 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-1085-02-11, President Nixon and Ambassador Lodge standing on the Rose Garden steps with members of the Paris negotiating team. 5/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Rose Garden. President Nixon, Henry Cabot Lodge, Philip Habib, Lawrence Walsh.

Roll WHPO-1086 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-1086-01-06, President Nixon and Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. standing on the Rose Garden portico steps with members of the Paris Peace Talks negotiating team. 5/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Rose Garden. President Nixon, Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., Philip Habib, Lawrence Walsh, Ron Ziegler, Henry Kissinger.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1086-05, President Nixon, Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., Philip Habib, and Lawrence Walsh stand on the Rose Garden portico steps. 5/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Rose Garden. President Nixon, Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., Philip Habib, Lawrence Walsh.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1086-07-09, Henry Kissinger and Ron Ziegler at the White House portico. 5/15/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Rose Garden. President Nixon, Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., Philip Habib, Lawrence Walsh, Ronald Ziegler, Henry Kissinger.

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.

G - Cabinet Officer Briefings

• WHCA-SR-G-023
  Press briefing by Secretary of the Treasury David Kennedy regarding inflation. (5/15/1969, Roosevelt Room, The White House)
  
  Runtime: 0:22:31
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by NBC; No WHCA engineer initials listed
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

J - Entertainment at the White House

• WHCA-SR-J-102
  Peter Nero Trio [see P-690517]. (5/15/1969)
  
  Runtime: 35:04:00
  
  Keywords: Musician, musicians, music, celebrities, musicians, music, celebrities, performance, American popular music
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

P - Formal Presidential Remarks

• WHCA-SR-P-690516
  Remarks by President Nixon Following a Meeting With Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge on Vietnam and the Paris Peace Talks, introducing Lodge to the press [possibly includes news conference with Lodge]. (5/15/1969, Rose Garden at the White House)
  
  Runtime: 0:45
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

• WHCA-SR-P-690517
  Remarks by President Nixon introducing Peter Nero to dinner guests, with Nero [see WHCA SR J-102]. (5/15/1969)
  
  Runtime: 2:45
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

• New York Times of May 15, 1969

• AP Images photos from May 15, 1969
• Getty Images photos from May 15, 1969

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 1969 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• May 15, 1969