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November 19, 1970

Introduction

This almanac page for Thursday, November 19, 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: Wednesday, November 18, 1970

Next Date: Friday, November 20, 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.

    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 met with members of the President's Advisory Council on Executive Organization, chaired by Roy Ash, and hosted a dinner for the Council at the White House.
    • The President today accepted the decision of C. William Kraft, Jr., to retire from active service as United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, effective November 11, 1970.

  • 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.

  • Argued

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

    East-West Trade, 1969-1972

    • 320. Memorandum From Secretary of Commerce Stans to President Nixon, Washington, November 19, 1970

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 401, Trade General, Volume II 4/70-12/70. Confidential. Attached to a November 19 memorandum from Stans to Kissinger informing him he had given the memorandum to the President that morning and requesting a meeting. Stans, Siciliano, and Flanigan met with the President from 12:13 to 12:43 p.m. on November 19. (Ibid., White House Central Files, President’s Daily Diary)

    Vol. V, United Nations, 1969-1972

    Chinese Representation in the United Nations

    • 312. National Security Study Memorandum 107, Washington, November 19, 1970

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 365, Subject Files, NSSMs. Secret; Sensitive. Copies were sent to Laird, Moorer, Stans, and Kennedy. In a November 10 memorandum to Wright, Holdridge, Sonnenfeldt, and Kennedy, Lord noted that Kissinger wanted “both an inter-agency effort and an in-house NSC study” of this issue. (Ibid., RG 59, S/P Files: Lot 77 D 112, Policy Planning Staff, Director’s Files, Winston Lord Chron, November 1970) Nixon was initially unaware of NSSM 107. On November 22 he wrote a short note to Kissinger: “On a very confidential basis, I would like for you to have prepared in your staff—without any notice to people who might leak—a study of where we are to go with regard to the admission of Red China to the UN. It seems to me that the time is approaching sooner than we might think when we will not have the votes to block admission. The question we really need an answer to is how we can develop a position in which we can keep our commitments to Taiwan and yet will not be rolled by those who favor admission of Red China.” (Ibid.) Kissinger responded with a short note on November 27 explaining to Nixon that the studies were already underway. (Ibid.)
      Also on November 19 NSSM 106 called upon the Interdepartmental Group for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, together with representatives of the Treasury and Commerce Departments, to study long- and short-range U.S. policy goals toward China, U.S. policy toward Taiwan, tactics to be pursued to implement these policies, coordination of policies with other countries having particular interests in China, and the effects of U.S.-China policy on relations with the Soviet Union and on U.S. interests in Southeast Asia. (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 365, Subject Files, NSSMs)NSSM 106 is printed in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, volume XVII, China, 1969–1972.

    Vol. XIII, Soviet Union, October 1970-October 1971

    "A Moment of Unusual Uncertainty": Meeting Between Nixon and Gromyko, October 12-December 31, 1970

    • 50. Memorandum for the Record, Washington, November 19, 1970

      Source: National Security Council, Intelligence Files, 40 Committee Minutes. Secret; Eyes Only. Drafted by Chapin on December 10. Copies were sent to Mitchell, Packard, Johnson, Moorer, and Helms. According to Kissinger’s Record of Schedule, the meeting was held from 5:35 to 6:15 p.m. (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 438, Miscellany, 1968–76)

    Vol. XVII, China, 1969-1972

    China, 1970

    • 97. National Security Study Memorandum 106, Washington, November 19, 1970

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Boxes H–176 and 177, NSSM Files, NSSM 106. Secret; Sensitive. Copies were sent to Stans and Kennedy. According to an October 19 memorandum from Lord to Kissinger, the impetus for the study came in part from an October 8 letter fro. Richard Moorsteen. Kissinger noted on this memorandum: “I agree with Moorsteen. Do it as NSSM of policy review for SRG.” (Ibid., RG 59, S/P Files: Lot 77 D 112, Policy Planning Staff, Director’s Files, Winston Lord Chronology, November 1970. Moorsteen’s letter was attached.) Moorsteen had served on Richardson’s staff in 1969 as a Foreign Service Reserve officer. In a November 18 memorandum to Kissinger, Holdridge, Colonel Kennedy, Wright, and Sonnenfeldt noted that Kissinger transmitted his request for the draft NSSM through Lord and that the study would be under the chairmanship of the Under Secretary of State. (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 520, Country Files, Far East, China, Vol. V) The Department of State was also moving ahead with a re-evaluation of policy toward the PRC. In a November 18 memorandum to Nixon, Rogers announced that he had ordered the Department of State, under the coordination of EA, to initiate a “thorough study and review” of Sino-American relations and Chinese representation in the United Nations. This was undertaken at the suggestion of Brown, in his November 17 memorandum to Rogers. (Both ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, UN 6 CHICOM) Documentation on Chinese representation in the United Nations, including NSSM 107, November 17, is in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, volume V.

    Vol. XX, Southeast Asia, 1969-1972

    Thailand

    Vol. XXI, Chile, 1969-1973

    Cool and Correct: The U.S. Response to the Allende Administration, November 5, 1970-December 31, 1972

    • 183. Minutes of a Meeting of the Senior Review Group, Washington, November 19, 1970, 4:04-5:53 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–111, SRG Minutes Originals, 1970. Top Secret; Sensitive. The meeting was held in the White House Situation Room. All brackets are in the original. The decisions made at the meeting were circulated to the members of the Senior Review Group in a November 27 memorandum from Kissinger. (Ibid., Box H–49, Senior Review Group, Chile, 11/19/70)

    • 184. Memorandum for the Record, Washington, November 19, 1970

      Source: National Security Council, Nixon Intelligence Files, Subject Files, Chile, 1970. Secret; Eyes Only. Drafted on December 10. A copy was sent to Mitchell, Packard, Johnson, Moorer, and Helms.

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

    Vol. XXXVI, Energy Crisis, 1969-1974

    March 10, 1970-April 2, 1971

    • 62. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Netherlands, Washington, November 19, 1970, 0043Z

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, PET 12–3 EUR. Secret. Drafted on November 17 by Archie M. Bolster (E/ORF/FSE); cleared in EUR, EUR/FBX, EUR/RPE, EUR/RPM, PM/ISP, E, and E/ORF/FSE; and approved by Trezise. Repeated to USNATO Brussels, Bonn, and USOECD Paris.

    Vol. XXXIX, European Security

    "Bureaucratic Steamroller," January 1969-November 1970

    • 37. Minutes of a National Security Council Meeting, Washington, November 19, 1970, 10 a.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–109, NSC Minutes, Originals 1970, 1 of 3. Top Secret. The meeting was held in the Cabinet Room. According to the President’s Daily Diary, the meeting lasted from 10:09 a.m. to 12:12 p.m. (Ibid., White House Central Files, President’s Daily Diary)

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

    Western Europe Region and NATO

    • 53. Minutes of a National Security Council Meeting, Washington, November 19, 1970, 10 a.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–110, NSC Meeting Minutes, NSC Minutes Originals 1970. Top Secret. The meeting took place in the White House Cabinet Room. According to the President’s Daily Diary, the meeting lasted from 10:09 a.m. to 12:12 p.m. (Ibid., White House Central Files) In Kissinger’s briefing memorandum to the President, he wrote: “Since we cannot expect to deter the Soviets with our strategic forces, we and our Allies must maintain strong enough conventional forces to be able to meet Soviet aggression or the threat of it implicit in their substantial forces. Unless we and our Allies rework our NATO strategy and forces so that they can provide this capability, we will soon experience the gradual ‘neutralization’ of Western Europe. To avoid this situation, we must act vigorously to maintain NATO’s conventional capability while developing a strategy for its use that makes sense in this fundamentally new strategic situation.” Kissinger proposed doing more than give general support to the concept of MBFR, including consideration of various approaches to the subject, in order to improve NATO’s military position for the following reasons: “We have not been able to identify negotiable ‘collateral constraints’ which would inhibit Pact mobilization and reinforcement without harming NATO at the same time. We have just scratched the surface in thinking about verification problems. The political and arms control advantages of an MBFR agreement could prove to be illusory if the Soviets tried to use MBFR to weaken the will of the Alliance to maintain adequate defense forces.” (Ibid., NSC Files, Box 260, Agency Files, NATO, Vol. IX) Kissinger wrote about these comments in White House Years, pp. 401–402.

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

    U.S. Policy Towards International Production and Trafficking in Illegal Drugs

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

    Iran 1970

    • 99. Letter From Secretary of State Rogers to Secretary of Defense Laird, Washington, November 19, 1970

      Replying to Laird’s October 27 letter, Rogers emphasized that the joint study of Iranian forces would be the best means of moderating the Shah’s ambitions for further costly aircraft.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, DEF 12–5 IRAN. Secret. Drafted by Miklos; and cleared by Chapman, Davies, and Sisco.

    Vol. E-7, Documents on South Asia, 1969-1972

    India and Pakistan: Pre-Crisis, January 1969-February 1971

  • 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-5094 Photographer: Schumaker, Byron | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5094-01-15, Pat Nixon, with the White House Chefs in the kitchen, viewing the Thanksgiving turkey and vegetables. 11/19/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Kitchen. Pat Nixon, unidentified White House Chefs.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5094-07, Pat Nixon working with the White House Chefs in the kitchen arranging fruit in a large cornucopia for the Thanksgiving dinner table. 11/19/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Kitchen. Pat Nixon, unidentified White House Chefs.

    Roll WHPO-5095 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5095-03-17, John Ehrlichman meeting with singer entertainer Pearl Bailey. 11/19/1970, Washington, D.C. White House. John Ehrlichman, Pearl Bailey.

    Roll WHPO-5096 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5096-03-19, John Ehrlichman meeting with singer entertainer Pearl Bailey. 11/19/1970, Washington, D.C. White House. John Ehrlichman, Pearl Bailey.

    Roll WHPO-5097 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5097-02-21, Pat Nixon with the White House Chefs in the kitchen viewing Thanksgiving turkey and vegetables. Platter prepared for hospitalized servicemen and women. 11/19/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Kitchen. Pat Nixon; White House Chefs: Hans Raffert, Henry Haller, Heinz Bender.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5097-13, Pat Nixon with the White House Chefs in the kitchen viewing a Thanksgiving turkey and vegetable platter that had been prepared for hospitalized servicemen and women. 11/19/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Kitchen. Pat Nixon; White House Chefs: Hans Raffert, Henry Haller, Heinz Bender.

    Roll WHPO-5098 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5098-02-19, Pat Nixon attending the Cabinet Wives Luncheon, seated at a long table. 11/19/1970, Washington, D.C. Blair House. Mrs. Pat Nixon, Cabinet Members' wives including Martha Mitchell, Warkella LaHenry.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5098-02-19, Pat Nixon with Cabinet Members' Wives at the Cabinet Wives Luncheon. 11/19/1970, Washington, D.C. Blair House. Mrs. Pat Nixon, Cabinet Members' wives including Martha Mitchell, Warkella LaHenry.

    Roll WHPO-5099 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5099-02-20, Pat Nixon hosting the luncheon for Nixon Administration's Cabinet member's wives. 11/19/1970, Washington, D.C. Blair House. Pat Nixon, Cabinet Member's Wives.

    Roll WHPO-5100 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5100-01-06, President Nixon meeting with Secretary of Commerce Maurice Stans, Peter Flanigan and Under Secretary of Commerce Rocco Siciliano. 11/19/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Maurice H. Stans, Peter Flanigan, Rocco Siciliano.

  • 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-701111
      Remarks by President Nixon in toast to Ash Council. (11/19/1970)

      Runtime: 22:02

      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-3987
      Weekly News Summary.
      All networks
      Runtime: 1:00

      18. Red China and the United Nations (U.N.) (People's Republic of China). Time Code Start: 29:17. Keywords: organization of nations, intergovernmental alliance, organization of nations, intergovernmental alliance, People's Republic of China, investigations, admissions, People's Republic of China. Network: CBS.

      19. Trade Bill. Time Code Start: 30:56. Keywords: bills, laws, business, exchanges, agreements, contracts, profits, finance, sales, buying, selling. Network: ABC.

      20. Changes in President Nixon's cabinet. Time Code Start: 32:34. Keywords: Presidents, cabinet, advisors, appointments. Network: ABC.

      21. Frank Reynolds: commentary on FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. Time Code Start: 34:06. Keywords: Federal Bureau of Investigations, surveillance, espionage, spying, leaders. Network: ABC.

      22. Report on political campaign spending. Time Code Start: 36:07. Keywords: elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates, costs, finances, funding. Network: NBC.

      23. Report on Trade Bill. Time Code Start: 36:52. Keywords: bills, laws, business, exchanges, agreements, contracts, profits, finance, sales, buying, selling. Network: NBC.

      24. President Nixon's Foreign Aid Bill. Time Code Start: 38:34. Keywords: Presidents, bills, laws, financial aid, funding. Network: NBC.

      25. Trade Bill. Time Code Start: 39:22. Keywords: bills, laws, business, exchanges, agreements, contracts, profits, finance, sales, buying, selling. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)