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November 24, 1969

Introduction

This almanac page for Monday, November 24, 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: Sunday, November 23, 1969

Next Date: Tuesday, November 25, 1969

Schedule and Public Documents

  • 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

    • Medal of Honor (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1656, November 24, 1969)
      The President's Remarks Upon Presenting the Award to Sfc. Webster Anderson, S. Sgt. Nicky Daniel Bacon, and S. Sgt. Paul R. Lambers.
    • Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1658, November 24, 1969)
      Remarks of the President and Secretary of State William P. Rogers Upon Signing the Instrument of Ratification.
    • Apollo 12 (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1659, November 24, 1969)
      The President's Telephone Conversation With Cmdr. Charles Conrad, Jr., Comdr. Richard F. Gordon, Jr., and Comdr. Alan L. Bean, Following Splashdown and recovery.

    Statements by the President

    • Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1658, November 24, 1969)
      Statement by the President Upon Signing the Instrument of Ratification.
    • Apollo 12 (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1659, November 24, 1969)
      Statement by the President Following Successful Completion of the Mission.

    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 today announced the appointment of Richard G. Lugar as Vice Chairman of the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations and the appointment of Edmund N. Bacon as a member of the Citizens' Advisory Committee on Environmental Quality.

    Nominations Submitted to the Senate

    Does not include promotions of members of the Uniformed Services, nominations to the Service Academies, or nominations of Foreign Service Officers.

    • EMMET E. SHELBY, of Florida, to be United States Marshal for the Northern District of Florida for the term of 4 years. (Reappointment)
    • ANTHONY D. MARSHALL, of New York, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Malagasy Republic.

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

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.

    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)
      Monday, November 24.

      Busy morning with Fulbright for breakfast, three Congressional Medals of Honor, signing of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and a couple of appointments. Afternoon had been kept clear, but we filled it in with an Ambassador, a congressman, meeting with Mayo, and phone calls to the astronauts as they came onto the Hornet. President told them he was promoting all three to Captain.

      Mayo session was for President to tell him that he had decided to go with Ash recommendation for a new Office of Executive Management to replace the Budget Bureau - and he wants Mayo to head it, in new level I post. This is recommendation of Council - on basis that no reorganization plan has ever gone through because of people problems and this is the way to get it done - although all agree Mayo is not the right guy for the long haul. But still better to get the plan going now and improve personnel later. Will greatly enhance chances of avoiding Congressional veto. President can apparently do all this through his reorganization authority - so Congress can't amend, only veto.

      Mayo will probably still resist - even with the big promotion for him, but we should be able to get him to go along. Problem then will be to get him to perform in the broader role, and really get the office set up right. This will be very tough, I fear, because he just doesn't have the scope.

      President took a stab at persuading Wilkinson to head up the new Volunteer Action organization. Great role for him - and gets him out of the White House.

      Still rumbling on retribution for the Senators who stabbed President on Haynsworth. Is having all the good guys for social session tomorrow or breakfast Wednesday. Also leaving Scott and Griffin out of CBW briefing tomorrow at breakfast.

      Big flap with Connie Stuart and Lucy Winchester. Result is Lucy to go, if we can get Pat Nixon to stand firm. Had to get Rose involved because Pat Nixon plans to discuss with her.

      Also have to plan foreign trip to avoid Julie's graduation because of bad guys. (Like Midway to miss Ohio State graduation last year.)
    • 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

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-2475 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2475-, President Nixon speaking at Medals of Honor award ceremony. 11/24/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. President Nixon, Laird, Gen. Wm. Westmoreland, honorees, guests.

    Roll WHPO-2476 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2476-, President Nixon at the Medal of Honor ceremony for Sergeant Webster Anderson, Staff Sergeant Nicky Bacon, and Staff Sergeant Paul Lambers. 11/24/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. President Nixon, Laird, Sgt. Webster Anderson and family, Staff Sgt. Nicky Bacon and family, Staff Sgt. Paul Lambers and family, aides.

    Roll WHPO-2477 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2477-02-9, Marianne Thatcher at her desk. 11/24/1969, Washington, D.C. unknown. Marianne Thatcher, Connie Stuart.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2477-10-13, Connie Stuart at a briefing. 11/24/1969, Washington, D.C. unknown. Marianne Thatcher, Connie Stuart.

    Roll WHPO-2479 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2479-, President Nixon signing the Instrument of Ratification of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Standing nearby looking on are Secretary of State William Rogers and Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird. (AKA "Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty"). 11/24/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Melvin R. Laird, William Rogers, Ron Ziegler.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2479-02, President Nixon signing the Instrument of Ratification of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Standing nearby looking on are Secretary of State William Rogers and Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird. (AKA "Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty"). 11/24/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Melvin R. Laird, William Rogers.

    Roll WHPO-2480 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2480-, President Nixon at his desk. 11/24/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon.

    Roll WHPO-2481 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2481-, President Nixon with John Ehrlichman and his uncle, Ben Ehrlichman. 11/24/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Ehrlichman, Ben Ehrlichman.

    Roll WHPO-2482 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2482-01A-10A, President Nixon seated with Robert Neumann, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan. 11/24/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Robert Newmann, Otto Passman.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2482-12A-23A, President Nixon seated and standing with Congressman Otto Passman. 11/24/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Robert Newmann, Otto Passman.

    Roll WHPO-2483 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2483-, Julie Robinson at her desk. 11/24/1969, Washington, D.C. unknown. Julie Robinson.

    Roll WHPO-2484 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2484-02-11, Newly discovered chambers under White House just east of the indoor swimming pool. 11/24/1969, Washington, D.C. Swimming Pool area, White House.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2484-12-18, Bud Wilkinson standing with an unidentified man. 11/24/1969, Washington, D.C. unknown. Bud Wilkinson, unidentified man.

    Roll WHPO-2485 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2485-, President Nixon talking on the telephone with the Apollo XII (Apollo 12) astronauts on board the USS Hornet. 11/24/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2485-32A, President Nixon talking on the telephone with the Apollo XII (Apollo 12) astronauts on board the USS Hornet. 11/24/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon.

    Roll WHPO-2486 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2486-01-05, Cameramen setting up broadcasting equipment in the Oval Office for a television broadcast of President Nixon's phone call to the Apollo 12 astronauts. 11/24/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. unidentified television technicians.

  • 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-691115
      Remarks by President Nixon on Presenting the Medal of Honor to Three Members of the United States Army. (11/24/1969, East Room, the White House)

      Runtime: 0:14:25

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by RRN (initials of WHCA engineer)

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original. Technical notes: 31 seconds of silence at end of recording removed from access copies.
    • WHCA-SR-P-691116
      Remarks by President Nixon on signing ratification of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty with Secretary Rogers. (11/24/1969)

      Runtime: 1:55

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
    • WHCA-SR-P-691117
      Live televised remarks by President Nixon in a telephone conversation with Apollo 12 crew Charles "Pete" Conrad, Richard Gordon, and Alan Bean aboard USS Hornet following splashdown and recovery. (11/24/1969, Oval Office, White House)

      Runtime: 0:02:24

      Keywords: NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, space program, astronauts

      Production credits: Audio feed (probably pool feed) supplied by ABC; No WHCA engineer initials listed

      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-3532
      Interview with Apollo 12 Astronauts; Apollo 12 Splashdown.
      NBC
      Runtime: 1:00
    • WHCA-3533
      Apollo 12 Splashdown.
      NBC
      Runtime: 1:00
    • WHCA-3534
      Apollo 12 splashdown with Nixon phone call.
      NBC
      Runtime: 01:05:10
    • WHCA-3535
      Apollo 12 astronauts with President.
      NET (National Educational Television, PBS)
      Runtime: 01:03:30
    • WHCA-3536
      Mr. Agnew and the News.
      CBS
      Runtime: 00:58:57
    • WHCA-3541
      Weekly News Summary.
      All networks
      Runtime: 00:58:00

      1. President Nixon talks to Apollo 12 astronauts. Time Code Start: 00:30. Keywords: NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, space, space program, astronauts, moon, flights. Network: CBS.

      2. President Nixon's remarks at Arms Treaty Signing. Time Code Start: 01:22. Keywords: bills, laws, signings, treaty, treaties, signing ceremony, SALT, S.A.L.T., Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, Russia, Soviet Union, USSR, Cold War, détente. Network: CBS.

      3. President Nixon's remarks to Apollo 12 astronauts. Time Code Start: 03:19. Keywords: NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, space, space program, astronauts, moon, flights. Network: NBC.

      4. President Nixon awarding the Medal of Honor to recipients. Time Code Start: 04:02. Keywords: Presidents, awards, medals, Armed Forces, Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard, organizations. Network: NBC.

      5. White House artifatcs found under swimming pool. Time Code Start: 05:26. Keywords: archeology, artifacts, discoveries, history, government buildings, water. Network: NBC.

      6. President Nixon's remarks to Apollo 12 astronauts. Time Code Start: 06:16. Keywords: NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, space, space program, astronauts, moon, flights. Network: ABC.

      7. Report on President Nixon's Day. Time Code Start: 08:42. Keywords: Presidents, daily activities, meetings, lifestyles. Network: ABC.

Context (External Sources)