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February 17, 1970

Introduction

This almanac page for Tuesday, February 17, 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: Monday, February 16, 1970

Next Date: Wednesday, February 18, 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

    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 Senator Hugh Scott and Representative Gerald R. Ford following Republican leadership meeting.

    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 transmitted to the Congress the 1969 Annual Report of the Railroad Retirement Board (Government Printing Office, 64 pp.).
    • John J. McCloy, Chairman of the General Advisory Committee on Arms Control and Disarmament, met with the President at the White House.
    • The President has authorized additional allocations of disaster relief assistance as follows: Alabama, $400,000, and Minnesota, $275,000.
    • Dr. Kenneth D. Wells, President of the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, and a group of 30 representatives of private organizations who recently returned from a trip with Dr. Wells to Vietnam, met with the President at the White House.
    • Father Gilbert V. Hartke and a group of students from the Speech and Drama Department of the Catholic University of America who entertained troops and dependents of U.S. families in Germany during the Christmas season, met with the President at the White House.
    • Margery Haury, Miss Indian America, met with the President at the White House. She was accompanied by Senator Clifford P. Hansen of Wyoming.
    • The President and the First Lady hosted a dinner, honoring Lt. Gen. Lewis B. Hershey, retiring Director of the Selective Service System.

  • 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 Intelligence Community and the White House

    • 203. National Security Decision Memorandum 40 , Washington, February 17, 1970

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–213, National Security Decision Memoranda, NSDM 40. Top Secret. Copies were sent to Mitchell and Kissinger. In forwarding NSDM 40 to the President for his signature, Kissinger noted that “in view of recent mention of the 303 Committee in the public media, the directive changes the committee name to coincide with the number assigned to the NSDM itself, which is 40.” (Undated memorandum; National Security Council, 303/40 Committee Records, The 40 Committee)

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

    International Development Policy, 1969-1972

    Vol. VI, Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

    Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

    • 185. Memorandum for Record , Paris, February 17, 1970

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 106, Kissinger Office Files, Country Files, East Asia, Vietnam, “S” Mister, Vol. 2. No classification marking. Drafted by Walters.

    Vol. VI, Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

    Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

    • 187. Memorandum From Secretary of Defense Laird to President Nixon, Washington, February 17, 1970

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 224, Agency Files, DOD, Vol. IV, 1 February 1970–20 April 1970. Secret; Sensitive. Nixon wrote the following note at the top of the page: “K[issinger]—an excellent report. Note RN’s notes.”

    Vol. XIX, Part 1, Korea, 1969-1972

    U.S. Troop Reductions and Related Defense Issues, November 1969-February 1971

    Vol. XX, Southeast Asia, 1969-1972

    Philippines

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

    Iran 1970

    • 46. Telegram 602 From the Embassy in Iran to the Department of State, Tehran, February 17, 1970, 1425Z

      Ambassador MacArthur relayed the Shah’s urgent demand for a response to the matters he had raised with President Nixon in October, particularly oil.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, DEF 12–5 IRAN. Secret; Exdis. On February 19, in Telegram 25377, Sisco responded sympathetically to MacArthur’s plea for the government to be forthcoming towards the Shah’s requests, but added that the Shah’s appetite was difficult to satiate. (Ibid., POL IRAN-US)

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

    Nigerian Civil War

    • 187. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, February 17, 1970

      Kissinger seconded a recommendation from Ambassador to Nigeria Trueheart and Under Secretary Richardson that Secretary of State Rogers, while seeing Major General Gowon, Chairman of the Supreme Military Council of Nigeria, the next day, deliver a personal letter from the President and extend an invitation to visit the United States. Both steps were calculated to improve strained relations. Kissinger expressed concern that if the United States did not express continuing interest in relief efforts, failure to do so might be taken as satisfaction with current measures.

      Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 4, Memoranda to the President, Jan–Feb 1970, Feb 1970, folder 2. Secret; NODIS. The attachments are not published. Nixon approved both the letter and the invitation but wrote in regard to the latter, “but keep it very vague.” Kissinger noted on page one, “To Haig-Rush.” Attached, but not published, was a February 18 handwritten note from Haig to Kissinger stating, “Iʼve implemented this with very vagueʼ caveat. Note, Richardson cable sent w/out our clearance!”

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

    American Republics Regional

    • 25. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, February 17, 1970. , Washington, February 17, 1970

      President Nixon approved the cash sale of jet military aircraft to Argentina and postponed decision on the broader issue of restriction waivers for arms sales to other Latin American countries.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 797, Country Files, Latin America, Latin America General, Volume 3, November 1969–May 1970. Secret. Sent for action. Nixon initialed for approval on February 20. Attached but not published at Tab A is the February 2 NSC Under Secretaries Committee Decision 26. In NSDM 42, February 19, Nixon approved the sale of the aircraft. (Ibid., NSC Files, Box 363, Subject Files, National Security Decision Memoranda (NSDMs), Numbers 1 through 50, January 1969–April 1970)

    Cuba

    • 213. Telegram 23858 From the Department of State to All ARA Diplomatic Posts, February 17, 1970, 1640Z. , February 17, 1970, 1640Z

      Responding to ongoing public and official debate over the possibility of reintegrating Cuba into the Organization of American States and the hemispheric community, the Department of State ordered its diplomatic posts to reaffirm to the Foreign Ministers of each of the countries in the Western Hemisphere that no change in U.S. policy was contemplated.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL CUBA–US. Secret. It was drafted by Crimmins, Hurwitch, and Funseth; cleared by Meyer, Bowden (EUR/SOV), Gardiner (INR/DDG), Jova, Feldman, and Vaky; and approved by Johnson. It was repeated to Belgrade, Bonn, Bucharest, Budapest, London, Moscow, Paris, Prague, Rome, Sofia, USUN, and Warsaw. In intelligence brief INRB–26 from Cline to Rogers, February 5, INR analyzed increased pressure to reintegrate Cuba into the OAS. (Ibid., POL CUBA–LA)

  • 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-2965 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2965-05-29, A closeup portrait study of Leonard Garment. 2/17/1970, Washington, D.C. Leonard Garment.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2965-27, A closeup portrait study of special consultant Leonard Garment. 2/17/1970, Washington, D.C. Leonard Garment.

    Roll WHPO-2966 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2966-02-07, Mike Farrell with a group of children. 2/17/1970, Washington, D.C. White House South Lawn. Mike Farrell.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2966-08-17, Presidential Heads of State gifts, including tea set and ornate vase. 2/17/1970, Washington, D.C.

    Roll WHPO-2967 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2967-05-17, President Nixon meeting with Dr. Kenneth Wells and other members of the Freedoms Foundation's "Vietnam Pilgrimage". 2/17/1970, Washington, D.C. White House Cabinet Room. President Nixon, Dr. Kenneth Wells.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2967-20-23, President Nixon meeting with Father Gilbert Hartke and members of the Catholic University Speech and Drama Department. 2/17/1970, Washington, D.C. White House Oval Office. President Nixon, Father Gilbert Hartke.

    Roll WHPO-2968 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2968-01-05, President Nixon meeting with Dr. Kenneth Wells and other members of the Freedoms Foundation's "Vietnam Pilgrimage". 2/17/1970, Washington, D.C. White House Cabinet Room. President Nixon, Dr. Wells.

    Roll WHPO-2969 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2969-01A-10A, President Nixon signing Foreign Affairs Message as Henry Kissinger and members of the National Security Council (NSC) stand nearby. 2/17/1970, Washington, D.C. White House Cabinet Room. President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, NSC staff members attending are: John Holdridge, Richard Smyser, Lindsey Grant, Winston Lord, Captain Robert Sansom, Walter Slocombe, Roger Morris, Harold Saunders, Helmut Sonnenfeldt, William Hyland, Colonel Richard Kennedy, Mrs. Jean Davis, William Watts, Peter Rodman, General Alexander Haig, Tony Lake, Robert Houdek, Commander Jonathan Howe.

    Roll WHPO-2970 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2970-00A-07A, President Nixon poses with Senator Clifford Hansen and Margery Haury, Miss Indian America (American Indian). 2/17/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Senator Hansen, Margery Haury.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2970-04A, President Nixon poses with Senator Clifford Hansen and Margery Haury, Miss Indian America (American Indian). 2/17/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Senator Hansen, Margery Haury.

    Roll WHPO-2971 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2971-00A-06A, President Nixon sitting and meeting with Congressmen E. Ross Adair, Thomas E. Morgan and Wayne L. Hays. 2/17/1970, Washington, D.C. White House Oval Office. President Nixon, Congressmen Adair, Morgan and Hays.

    Roll WHPO-2972 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2972-03A-20A, Mr. Braaksama presents a model of the ship John Wesley to John Davies. 2/17/1970, Washington, D.C. White House. John Davies, Mr. Braaksama.

    Roll WHPO-2974 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2974-10, President Nixon and Pat Nixon pose for an official state portrait by the Grand stairway with General Lewis B. Hershey and Mrs. Hershey, before attending a state dinner honoring the General. 2/17/1970, Washington, D.C. White House State Dining Room. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, General Hershey, Mrs. Hershey.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2974-10-12, President Nixon and Pat Nixon pose for an official state portrait by the Grand stairway with General Lewis B. Hershey and Mrs. Hershey, before attending a state dinner honoring the General. 2/17/1970, Washington, D.C. White House State Dining Room. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, General Hershey, Mrs. Hershey.

  • 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-128
      Press briefing by Ronald Ziegler, Hugh Scott, and Gerald Ford after a Republican Congressional Leadership meeting. (2/17/1970, Roosevelt Room, White House)

      Runtime: 18:00

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media, press secretary

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

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

    P - Formal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-P-700216
      Remarks by President Nixon at dinner honoring Gen. Lewis Hershey with Hershey. (2/17/1970)

      Runtime: 1:01:35

      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-3638
      Weekly News Summary.
      All networks
      Runtime: 0:30

      3. Report on President Nixon and Pennsylvania Freedom Foundation discusses Vietnam. Time Code Start: 05:08. Keywords: Presidents, Vietnam War,. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)