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September 18, 1970

Introduction

This almanac page for Friday, September 18, 1970, 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: Thursday, September 17, 1970

Next Date: Saturday, September 19, 1970

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 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.

    Appointments and Nominations

    • National Labor Relations Board (6 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1236, September 18, 1970)
      Announcement of Intention To Nominate Ralph E. Kennedy To Be a Member.
    • United States Ambassador to Bulgaria (6 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1236, September 18, 1970)
      Announcement of Intention To Nominate Horace G. Torbert, Jr., of the District of Columbia.

    Awards and Citations

    • Presidential Unit Citation (6 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1234, September 18, 1970)
      Announcement of Award to the First Marine Regiment (Reinforced), First Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.

    Executive Orders

    Proclamations

    Acts Approved by the President

    • H.R. 13716 -- Public Law 91-402
      An Act to improve and clarify certain laws affecting the Coast Guard Reserve.
    • H.R. 16416 -- Public Law 91-403
      An Act to reimburse the Ute Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation for tribal funds that were used to construct, operate, and maintain the Uintah Indian irrigation project, Utah, and for other purposes.

    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 W. J. Usery, Jr., Assistant Secretary for Labor-Management Relations, Department of Labor, on the railway labor dispute.

    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.

    • Mrs. Golda Meir, Prime Minister of Israel, met with the President at the White House.
    • The President today announced the appointment of Robert McLellan, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Domestic and International Business, as a member of the President's Commission on Personnel Interchange for a term of 2 years, vice Kenneth N. Davis, Jr.
    • Louise Hutchinson, president of the Women's Press Club, called on the President at the White House.
    • The President hosted a reception at the White House for Capitol Hill staff members.
    • The President announced his intention to nominate L. Clure Morton to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee.
    • The President announced his intention to nominate Curtis C. Crawford, of St. Louis, Mo., to be a member of the Board of Parole.
    • The President today accepted with regret the resignation of Carl L. Klein, Assistant Secretary of the Interior-Water Quality and Research, effective October 18, 1970.

  • 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.

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

Archival Holdings

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

    • 122. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to Secretary of Defense Laird, Washington, September 18, 1970

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–300, NSC System, Institutional File General 1969 through 1974. Confidential. Drafted by Kennedy and Davis and forwarded to Kissinger under cover of an August 25 memorandum in which they stated that many of Laird’s suggestions were “good ones and in line with things we are now trying to do to make the system more effective. Others are not-too-well disguised attempts to remove major issues from the NSC and the interdepartmental arena and get them back into the hands of the ‘agency of primary responsibility.’” (Ibid.)

    Vol. XII, Soviet Union, January 1969-October 1970

    Soviet Military Buildup in Cuba and Crisis in Jordan, August 4-October 9, 1970

    Vol. XX, Southeast Asia, 1969-1972

    Thailand

    Vol. XXI, Chile, 1969-1973

    Two Tracks: U.S. Intervention in the Confirmation of the Chilean President, September 5-November 4, 1970

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

    The Cease-Fire Agreement

    • 162. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, September 18, 1970, 11 a.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Special Files, President’s Office Files, Box 82, Presidential Meetings. Top Secret; Sensitive. The meeting took place in the Oval Office and lasted until 12:32 p.m. (Ibid., White House Central Files, President’s Daily Diary) Nixon approved the meeting with Meir on an August 18 memorandum from Kissinger. (Ibid., NSC Files, Box 607, Country Files, Israel, Vol. VI) According to an August 17 memorandum from Kissinger to Nixon, Meir was unwilling to begin negotiations on Middle East peace until she met personally with the President and established a “clear understanding” with him on “1) boundaries; 2) future actions with respect to the Soviets; and 3) future U.S. arms decisions.” Apparently, she told Rabin: “It is time for a moment of truth between our governments.” (Ibid., White House Special Files, President’s Office Files, Box 82, Presidential Meetings) Haldeman wrote that Kissinger “pled” with him to keep Rogers out of the meeting with Meir “on grounds he’s most hated man in Israel and would be a disaster.” Kissinger offered to “stay out” if it meant that Rogers would also not attend the meeting, and when Haldeman raised the issue with Nixon, “he agreed.” (Haldeman Diaries, Multimedia Edition, September 10, 1970)

    Vol. XXIV, Middle East Region and Arabian Peninsula, 1969-1972; Jordan, September 1970

    Middle East Region

    Jordan, September 1970

    • 264. Minutes of a Washington Special Actions Group Meeting, Washington, September 18, 1970, 8:35-9:05 a.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–114, Washington Special Actions Group, WSAG Minutes (Originals) 1969 and 1970. Top Secret; Sensitive; Nodis. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room.

    • 266. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union, Washington, September 18, 1970, 2252Z

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 23–9 JORDAN. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Walter Smith (NEA/UAR); cleared by Dubs (EUR/SOV); and approved by Davies. It was repeated to Amman (Priority), Beirut, USINT Cairo, London, Paris, Tel Aviv, and USUN.

    Vol. XXXII, SALT I, 1969-1972

    From Stalemate to Breakthrough, August 24, 1970-May 20, 1971

    • 104. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, September 18, 1970

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 879, SALT, SALT talks (Vienna), Vol. XII, July 20–September 1970. Top Secret. K. Wayne Smith and Sonnenfeldt forwarded Gerard Smith’s August 18 “Report of the U.S. Delegation to the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks in Vienna” to Kissinger, under an action memorandum dated September 11. Kissinger initialed approval of their recommendations to initiate a working group study of the form of a SALT agreement, to summarize Smith’s report for Nixon, and to send Smith’s report only to McCloy of the GAC. Kissinger wrote the following remark in the margin of the paragraph dealing with the form of an agreement: “The President wants treaty.” (Ibid.)

    Vol. E-1, Documents on Global Issues, 1969-1972

    U.S. Policy Towards Terrorism, Hijacking of Aircraft, and Attacks on Civil Aviation: U.S. Response to Hijackings by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Additional Anti-Hijacking Measures, September 1970-June 1972

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

    Cuba

    • 224. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, September 18, 1970., Washington, September 18, 1970

      President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger reported on aerial reconnaissance of Cuba.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 782, Country Files, Latin America, Soviet Naval Activity in Cuban Waters, Vol. I (Cienfuegos). Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Nixon wrote on the third page: “I want a report on a crash basis on (1) what CIA can do to support any kind of action which will irritate Castro (2) what actions we can take which we have not yet taken to boycott nations dealing with Castro (3) most important what actions we can take covert or overt to put missiles in Turkey—or a sub base in the Black Sea—anything which will give us some trading stock.” Attached but not published at Tab A is a note from the Soviet Embassy, given to Kissinger during his August 4 meeting with Vorontsov. (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 of many of these transcripts can be found on the Yale University Library website.

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-4460 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-4460-03A-11A, Pat Nixon visiting an elementary school in Chicago, Illinois. 9/18/1970, Chicago, Illinois Pat Nixon, unidentified elementary school principals and teachers.

    Roll WHPO-4461 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-4461-04-15, President Nixon seated informally in the Oval Office during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. 9/18/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Golda Meir.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-4461-08A, President Nixon seated informally in the Oval Office during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. 9/18/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Golda Meir.

    Roll WHPO-4462 Photographer: Unknown copier | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-4462-00A-19A, Copies of the cover of President Nixon's book, "Setting the Course.". 9/18/1970, unknown unknown.

    Roll WHPO-4463 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-4463-, Pat Nixon presenting awards to the Peru earthquake volunteer group. 9/18/1970, Washington, D.C. The State Department Building,. Pat Nixon, unidentified Peru earthquake volunteers.

    Roll WHPO-4464 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-4464-02A-06A, White House photographer Bob Knudsen. 9/18/1970, unknown unknown. Bob Knudsen.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-4464-07A-11A, White House photographer Ollie Atkins. 9/18/1970, unknown unknown. Ollie Atkins.

    Roll WHPO-4465 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-4465-, Pat Nixon presenting awards to the Peru Earthquake Volunteer Group. 9/18/1970, Washington, D.C. The State Department Building,. Pat Nixon, unidentified Peru Earthquake Volunteers.

    Roll WHPO-4466 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-4466-, President Nixon and Pat Nixon with Louise Hutchinson, the President of the Women's Press Club. 9/18/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Pat Nixon; Louise Hutchinson, President of the Women's Press Club.

    Roll WHPO-4470 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-4470-, Vice President Agnew in a meeting with his staff. 9/18/1970, Washington, D.C. Unidentified Conference Room in White House. Spiro Agnew unidentified staff members.

    Roll WHPO-4471 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-4471-, President Nixon meets with the Prime Minister of Israel, Golda Meir. 9/18/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Golda Meir.

    Roll WHPO-4472 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-4472-, President Nixon seated informally in the Oval office during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, Ambassador Yitzhak Rabin, Alexander Haig and Assistant Secretary of State Joseph Sisco. 9/18/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Golda Meir, Joseph Sisco, Alexander Haig, Yitzhak Rabin.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-4472-08, President Nixon seated in the Oval office during a meeting with Prime Minister Golda Meir, Israeli Ambassador Yitzhak Rabin, Alexander Haig, and Assistant Secretary of State Joseph Sisco. News photographers in the foreground record the event. 9/18/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Golda Meir, Joseph Sisco, Alexander Haig, Yitzhak Rabin, news photographers.

    Roll WHPO-4473 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-4473-, President Nixon visiting a reception for Capitol Hill Staff members. 9/18/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Attorney General John N. Mitchell, unidentified Capitol Hill Staffers.

  • 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-266
      Press briefing by Gerald Warren and Willie Ussery on the railway dispute. (9/18/1970, Press Center, White House)

      Runtime: 10:00

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media

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

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

    P - Formal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-P-700911
      Remarks by President Nixon at party for Capitol Hill staff members. (9/18/1970)

      Runtime: 9:30

      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-3853
      "Black Perspective" with Frank Jones (OEO). Richard Nixon.
      Undetermined
      Runtime: 00:30:00
    • WHCA-3854
      "The Name of the Game" with Robert Finch.
      Undetermined
      Runtime: 1:30
    • WHCA-3856
      Weekly News Summary - Tape II.
      All networks
      Runtime: 1:00

      17. Smith: Jordan. Time Code Start: 23:15. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, war, Jordanian. Network: ABC.

      18. Gill: U.S. contingency plans for Jordan. Time Code Start: 23:50. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, war, Jordanian. Network: ABC.

      19. Smith: Israel's Prime Minister Golda Meir visit. Time Code Start: 25:14. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, Israeli, Prime Ministers, meetings. Network: ABC.

      20. Scali: Israel's Prime Minister Golda Meir visit at the State Department. Time Code Start: 25:48. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, Israeli, Prime Ministers, meetings. Network: ABC.

      21. Jarriel: Israel's Prime Minister Golda Meir at the White House. Time Code Start: 27:00. Keywords: Presidents, Middle East, Mideast, Israeli, Prime Ministers, meetings. Network: ABC.

      22. Jones: Israel's Prime Minister Golda Meir news conference. Time Code Start: 28:00. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, Israeli, Prime Ministers, meetings, media, press conferences, news conferences, interviews. Network: ABC.

      23. Smith: Commentary on the Middle East. Time Code Start: 29:27. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, war. Network: ABC.

      24. McGee: Israel's Prime Minister Golda Meir visit. Time Code Start: 31:04. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, Israeli, Prime Ministers. Network: NBC.

      25. Nessen: Israel's Prime Minister Golda Meir visit. Time Code Start: 31:48. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, Israeli, Prime Ministers. Network: NBC.

      26. Brinkley: Police shooting in Toledo, Ohio; Black youth kills Toledo policeman; police attack Black Panther headquarters; John M. McClellan charged with murder. Time Code Start: 43:08. Keywords: murder, shootings, law enforcement officers, security, weapons, guns, firearms, violence, militants, activists, organizations, African Americans. Network: NBC.

      27. Schieffer: Marines heading to the Mediterranean. Time Code Start: 34:46. Keywords: Armed Forces, military, troops, ships, travel. Network: CBS.

      28. Cronkite/Rather: Presidential action on Jordan; 6th Fleet nears country to evacuate Americans if needed;U.S. military on alert; will intervene if Iraq or Syria intervenes or American lives threatened. Time Code Start: 36:41. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, war, Jordanian. Network: CBS.

      29. Kalb: Israel's Prime Minister Golda Meir visit. Time Code Start: 38:05. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, Israeli, Prime Ministers. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)