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April 16, 1970

Introduction

This almanac page for Thursday, April 16, 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, April 15, 1970

Next Date: Friday, April 17, 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

    Awards and Citations

    • Presidential Unit Citation (6 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 532, April 16, 1970)
      Announcement of Award to the 3rd Platoon, Company A, 2d Battalion, 27th Infantry, 2d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, United States Army.

    Congress, Communications to

    • United States Postal Service (6 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 532, April 16, 1970)
      The President's Message to the Congress Recommending Postal Reorganization and Pay Legislation.

    Letters, Memorandums, Etc.

    • Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (6 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 531, April 16, 1970)
      The President's Message to Ambassador Gerard C. Smith, Chief of the United States Delegation to the Vienna Negotiations.

    Statements by the President

    • Reform of the Welfare System (6 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 537, April 16, 1970)
      Statement by the President on House Action Approving the Family Assistance Act of 1970.

    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.

    • Fact sheet on the proposed postal reorganization and salary adjustment act of 1970.
    • Fact sheet on the proposed postal revenue act of 1970.
    • Press conference of Winton M. Blount, Postmaster General, and George Meany, President, AFL-CIO, on the President's message on postal reorganization and pay legislation.

    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.

    • President Rafael Caldera of Venezuela has accepted an invitation from the President to make a state visit to Washington on June 2 and 3. He will be accompanied by his wife.

    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.

    • WILLAM J. BAUER, of Illinois, to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois for the term of 4 years, vice Thomas A. Foran, resigning.
    • REAR ADM. CHESTER R. BENDER, United States Coast Guard, to be Commandant of the United States Coast Guard with the rank of Admiral.

  • 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

    Vol. V, United Nations, 1969-1972

    U.S. Position Papers and Assessments of General Assembly Sessions

    Vol. VI, Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

    Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

    • 234. Minutes of Washington Special Actions Group Meeting , Washington, April 16, 1970, 5:50-5:58 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–114, WSAG Minutes, Originals, 1969–1970. Top Secret; Sensitive; Nodis. The meeting was held in the White House Situation Room. Robert Behr sent these minutes plus those of the April 14 and 15 meetings (Documents 230 and 233) to Kissinger on April 21. Kissinger initialed and wrote, “OK” on Behr’s memorandum.

    Vol. XL, Germany and Berlin, 1969-1972

    Germany and Berlin, 1969-1972

    • 82. Memorandum of Conversation , Bonn, April 16, 1970

      Source: Department of State, EUR/CE Files: Lot 85 D 330, JDean—Memos of Conversation 1970. Secret. Drafted by Dean on April 24. Copies were sent to Rush, Hillenbrand, Sutterlin, Packman, Morris, Bremen, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, and Stuttgart. The luncheon meeting was held at the Ambassador’s Residence.

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

    Iran 1970

    • 62. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, April 16, 1970

      After weighing the pros and cons, Kissinger recommended that Nixon approve the Ambassador’s military stretch-out proposal.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 601, Country Files, Middle East, Iran, Vol. I, 1/20/69–5/31/70. Secret; Nodis. According to a note on an April 14 memorandum from Rogers to Nixon, the President approved the plan on April 17, and Richardson notified the Shah on April 20. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, DEF 19–8 US-IRAN.)

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

    The Horn

    • 286. Telegram 56735 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Italy, Washington, April 16, 1970, 2241Z

      The telegram reported that Assistant Secretary Newsom had informed Italian Ambassador Ortona that the shipping issue required the United States to terminate its aid to Somalia. Concerned that Somalia might rupture diplomatic relations as a result, Newsom had expressed the hope that the Italian ambassador to Somalia would counsel moderation.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL Somali-US. Secret. Drafted by Holmes, cleared in EUR/AIS, and approved by Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Newsom. Repeated to Mogadiscio.

    Vol. E-5, Part 2, Documents on North Africa, 1969-1972

    Libya

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

    Haiti

  • 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-3348 Photographer: unk. | Color or B&W: unk.

    • Frame(s): WHPO-3348-.4/16/1970, none none. none.

    Roll WHPO-3349 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-3349-02A-27A, President Nixon attending meeting of Postal/Bi-Partisan Congressional Leadership. 4/16/1970, Washington, D.C. White House Cabinet Room. President Nixon, Postmaster Gen. Blount, Senators McGee, Fong, Cong. Dulski, Corbet, AFL Pres. Meany, AFL Sec. Treas. Kirkland.

    Roll WHPO-3350 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-3350-02A-27A, President Nixon attending meeting of Postal/Bi-Partisan Congressional Leadership. 4/16/1970, Washington, D.C. White House Cabinet Room. President Nixon, Postmaster Gen. Blount, Senators McGee, Fong, Cong. Dulski, Corbet, AFL Pres. Meany, AFL Sec. Treas. Kirkland.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-3350-10A, President Nixon attending meeting of Postal/Bi-Partisan Congressional Leadership. 4/16/1970, Washington, D.C. White House Cabinet Room. President Nixon, George Meany, Gale Mcgee, Hiram Fong.

    Roll WHPO-3351 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-3351-01-10, President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman seated outside on garden lawn whicker chairs, during a meeting. Trees in bloom with pink flowers in foreground. 4/16/1970, Washington, D.C. White House Rose Garden. President Nixon, H.R. Haldeman.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-3351-08, President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman seated outside on garden lawn whicker chairs, during a meeting. Trees in bloom with pink flowers in foreground. 4/16/1970, Washington, D.C. White House Rose Garden. President Nixon, H.R. Haldeman.

    Roll WHPO-3352 Photographer: Grove, Andrew | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-3352-02A-36A, The Executive Office Building. 4/16/1970, Washington, D.C. Executive Office Building. none.

  • 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-047
      Press briefings by Gerald Warren Postmaster-General Winton Blount and AFL-CIO president George Meaney. (4/16/1970, Press Center)

      Runtime: 0:39:47

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

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

    P - Formal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-P-700414
      Remarks by President Nixon on Family Assistance Plan. (4/16/1970)

      Runtime: 2:00

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

Context (External Sources)