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February 19, 1969

Introduction

This almanac page for Wednesday, February 19, 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: Tuesday, February 18, 1969

Next Date: Thursday, February 20, 1969

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.

    Addresses and Remarks

    • Department of the Interior (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 288, February 19, 1969)
      The President's Remarks to Employees at the Department.

    Congress, Communications to

    • The Nation's Antipoverty Programs (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 282, February 19, 1969)
      The President's Message to the Congress, With Recommendations on the Office of Economic Opportunity and Its Programs.
    • Head Start Program (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 287, February 19, 1969)
      The President's Message to the Congress Transmitting Report Recommending Delegation of the Program to the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.

    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.

    • Biography of Donald L. Jackson.

    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 the bipartisan leadership of the House and Senate at the White House.
    • The President announced his intention to nominate Donald H. Jackson as a member of the Interstate Commerce Commission.

    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.

    • GRANT HANSEN, of California, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Air Force.
    • G. WARREN NUTTER, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense.
    • JOHN L. McLUCAS, of Massachusetts, to be Under Secretary of the Air Force.
    • CURTIS W. TARE, of California, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Air Force.
    • THADDEUS R. BEAL, of Massachusetts, to be Under Secretary of the Army.
    • EUGENE M. BECKER, of Illinois, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Army.
    • WILLIAM K. BREHM, of Michigan, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Army.
    • JAMES D. HITTLE, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Navy.
    • JOHN G. VENEMAN, of California, to be Under Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare.
    • JAMES E. ALLEN, JR., of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare.
    • JAMES E. ALLEN, JR., of New York, to be Commissioner of Education.
    • GILBERT HAHN, JR., of the District of Columbia, to be Chairman of the District of Columbia Council for the term expiring February 1, 1972.
    • STERLING TUCKER, of the District of Columbia, to be Vice Chairman of the District of Columbia Council for the term expiring February 1, 1972.
    • JERRY A. MOORE, of the District of Columbia, to be a member of the District of Columbia Council for the term expiring February 1, 1972.

  • 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

  • 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 Meetings File, Box 73, Memoranda for the President--Beginning February 16, 1969
      • Memo; Patrick J. Buchanan to The President re: President's first meeting with the bipartisan leadership of Capitol Hill. February 19, 1969. 11 pgs.

    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.

    • President's Speech File, Box 46
      • February 19, 1969, Congressional Leadership Meeting

  • Selective document listing

    White House Press Office

    The White House Press Office during the Presidency of Richard Nixon was responsible for daily communication with the White House press corps. Ronald L. Ziegler was the Press Secretary to the President for Nixon's entire term in office from January 1969 to August 1974 and Gerald Warren served as the Deputy Press Secretary. The office held daily briefings for the press and produced the White House’s press releases. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

    • White House Press Conferences, Box 56
      • News Conference #55 at the White House with Ron Ziegler, February 19, 1969, 10:16 A.M. EST. 2 pgs.
      • News Conference #56 at the White House with Ron Ziegler, February 19, 1969, 4:08 P.M. EST. 5 pgs.

  • 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. I, Foundations of Foreign Policy, 1969-1972

    Foundations of Foreign Policy, 1969-1972

    Vol. III, Foreign Economic Policy; International Monetary Policy, 1969-1972

    International Monetary Policy, 1969-1972

    • 116. Talking Paper Prepared in the Department of the Treasury , Washington, February 19, 1969

      Source: Washington National Records Center, Department of the Treasury, Volcker Group Masters: FRC 56 86 30, VG/LIM/1-VG/LIM/30. Confidential; Limdis. Presidents Nixon and De Gaulle met in Paris on February 28, March 1, and March 2. International monetary issues reportedly were discussed in an expanded meeting on March 1, but no record of that meeting was found. Regarding their final meeting on March 2, see Document 7.

    • 117. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission to the OECD , Washington, February 19, 1969, 0222Z

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, FN 17. Unclassified. Drafted by Enders (E/IMA), cleared by Rogers (EUR/RPE) and Widman (Treasury), and approved by Enders. Repeated to Bonn, Brussels, The Hague, London, and Luxembourg.

    Vol. VI, Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

    Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

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

    Initial Contacts, January-April 22, 1969

    • 19. Talking Points Prepared by the National Security Council Staff for Nixon, Washington, February 19, 1969

      Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, CL 312, Meetings, National Security Council, February–March, 1969. Confidential. Similar talking points were also prepared for Kissinger. (Ibid.) Time did not permit discussion of East-West relations at the NSC meeting on February 19.

    Vol. XXVIII, Southern Africa

    Regional Issues

    • 4. Telegram From the Embassy in South Africa to the Department of State, Cape Town, February 19, 1969, 1543Z

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 19 SW AFR. Confidential. Repeated to Pretoria, London, Paris, USUN, Maseru, Gaborone, Mbabane, Stockholm, Bonn, Helsinki, Madrid, Lusaka, Taipei, Dakar, Dar es Salaam, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Tokyo, Durban, and Johannesburg.

    Vol. XXXII, SALT I, 1969-1972

    Preparations for SALT, January 27-November 12, 1969

    • 5. Minutes of a National Security Council Meeting , Washington, February 19, 1969

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–109, NSC Minutes Originals 1969. Top Secret; Sensitive. According to the President’s Daily Diary, the meeting was held in the Cabinet Room of the White House from 10:26 a.m. to 12:26 p.m. and was attended by: President Nixon, Kissinger, Agnew, Rogers, Laird, David Kennedy, Lincoln, Wheeler, Helms, Packard, Gerard Smith, and Ellis H. Veatch, Director of the Bureau of the Budget’s National Security Programs Division. (Ibid., White House Central Files) The participants were continuing the discussion of strategic policy issues initiated during the February 14 NSC meeting; see Document 4. The full text of the minutes of this meeting is printed in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, volume XXXIV, National Security Policy, 1969–1972, Document 8.

    Vol. XXXIV, National Security Policy, 1969-1972

    Parity, Safeguard, and the SS-9 Controversy

    • 8. Minutes of National Security Council Meeting , Washington, February 19, 1969

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–109, NSC Meeting Minutes, Originals, 1969. Top Secret; Sensitive. No drafting information appears in the minutes. The participants continued the discussion of strategic policy issues begun during the NSC meeting of February 14. According to the President’s Daily Diary, the following attended the meeting, held in the Cabinet Room of the White House from 10:26 a.m. to 12:26 p.m.: the President, Kissinger, Agnew, Rogers, Laird, David Kennedy, Lincoln, General Earle Wheeler, Helms, Packard, Gerard Smith, and Veatch. (Ibid., White House Central Files, President’s Daily Diary)

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

    U.S. Policy Towards Terrorism, Hijacking of Aircraft, and Attacks on Civil Aviation: Israeli Attack on Beirut Airport and Hijacking of TWA Flight 840, January-December 1969

    • 6. Memorandum from Acting Secretary of State Richardson to President Nixon, Washington, February 19, 1969

      Richardson reported that the Department of State had taken action in response to the Zurich El Al attack, and that a discussion had taken place between Israeli Minister Argov and Assistant Secretary of State Sisco. Sisco informed Argov that the U.S. was sending a letter of protest to the UN Security Council and urged France and the UK to do the same. The matter would also be placed on the ICAO Council agenda.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Lot File: 74D 164. Secret.

    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.

    • 1:00, Secy Rogers; Mr. Kissinger
    • 1:05 PM, Governor Harriman; Mr. Kissinger
    • 6:00 PM, Mr. Kissinger; Archbishop Terrence Cooke
    • 7:10 PM, Mr. Wohlstetter; Mr. Kissinger
    • 7:25 PM, Mr. Ehrlichman; Mr. Kissinger

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-0319 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-0319-03-09, President Nixon and Secretary of State William Rogers seated at a conference table. 2/19/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, William Rogers.

    Roll WHPO-0321 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-0321-03-12, Unoccupied dining table set for eight in the Roosevelt Room or "Fish Room." Franklin Roosevelt named this room the Fish Room, where he displayed an aquarium and fishing mementos. President Nixon named this room Roosevelt Room, honoring Theodore Roosevelt, builder of the West Wing, and Franklin for rennovations within it. 2/19/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, West Wing, Roosevelt Room (Fish Room).
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0321-13-20, Unoccupied Cabinet Room and conference table set with ashtrays and notepads. 2/19/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, West Wing. unidentified staff members.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0321-21, 25-36, Various offices with unidentified staff members. 2/19/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, West Wing. unidentified staff members.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0321-22-24, Office scene, Dwight Chapin speaking on the phone at a desk, an unidentified secretary sits at her desk, typing at a typewriter behind him. 2/19/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, West Wing. unidentified staff members.

    Roll WHPO-0322 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-0322-02A, Photo contact sheets and a log book on on shelf in the White House Photo office. 2/19/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, West Wing.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0322-03A-09A, H.R. Haldeman's original office, located next door to the Oval Office, showing the closet that contained Lyndon B. Johnson's electronic recording equipment. Box located in the upper right hand area is the Presidential Locator board. 2/19/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, West Wing.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0322-10A-11A, A male staff member standing talking on the phone at the desk located near a door of H.R. Haldeman's original office, located next door to the Oval Office. 2/19/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, West Wing. unidentified staff member.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0322-12A-28A, 33A-34A, A furnished unoccupied West Wing office. 2/19/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, West Wing.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0322-29A-32A, An unidentified secretary leaning over a folded letter or document making written notations in a West Wing office. 2/19/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, West Wing. unidentified staff secretary.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0322-35A-36A, WHPO staff Photographer Bob Knudsen sits in the White House Photo office talking with office manager Buck May at his desk. Photo prints hang on the wall behind them. 2/19/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, West Wing. Robert L. Knudsen, Buck May.

    Roll WHPO-0323 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-0323-03A-09A, Furnishing in the unoccupied Oval Office: President's Desk, Sofa seating area with standing ashtrays at end of couches, entry doors, three door style windows and alcoves, the wall of flags. 2/19/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, West Wing. none.

    Roll WHPO-0324 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-0324-04-07, President Nixon's personal secretary Rose Mary Woods working at her office desk. 2/19/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, West Wing. unidentified staff member.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0324-08-11, President Nixon's personal secretary Rose Mary Woods' office furnishings; sofa and small table or conference area. 2/19/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, West Wing.

    Roll WHPO-0325 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-0325-00A-02A, Secretary of the Interior Walter Hickel stands next to President Nixon as he greets officials inside the Department of the Interior building. 2/19/1969, Washington, D.C. Department of the Interior. President Nixon, Walter Hickel, Russell Train, Dr. Carl McMurray, Tom Holley, Josef Holbert, Edgar Kaiser. Jr., and other officials.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0325-03A-06A, Secretary of the Interior Walter Hickel speaking with President Nixon inside the Department of the Interior building. 2/19/1969, Washington, D.C. Department of the Interior. President Nixon, Walter Hickel.

    Roll WHPO-0326 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-0326-01-02, Secretary of the Interior Walter Hickel stands next to President Nixon as he greets officials inside the Department of the Interior building. 2/19/1969, Washington, D.C. Department of the Interior. President Nixon, Walter Hickel, Russell Train, Dr. Carl McMurray, Tom Holley, Josef Holbert, Edgar Kaiser. Jr., and other officials.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0326-03-05, President Nixon addressing a large auditorium audience in Department of the Interior building, seen from behind the seated audience. 2/19/1969, Washington, D.C. Department of the Interior. President Nixon, Walter Hickel, Interior Department staff members, press photographers.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0326-06-08, Press Corps News photographers with cameras up, taking photos during President Nixon's (unseen) visit to the Department of the Interior building. 2/19/1969, Washington, D.C. Department of the Interior. President Nixon, Walter Hickel, Interior Department staff members, press photographers.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0326-09-16, Secretary of the Interior Walter Hickel escorts President Nixon away from the Department of the Interior building. 2/19/1969, Washington, D.C. Department of the Interior. President Nixon, Walter Hickel.

  • 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-007
      Remarks by John D. Ehrlichman and Ronald Ziegler to the press concerning the President's European trip. (2/19/1969, Indian Treaty Room, Executive Office Building)

      Runtime: 72:00:00

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

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

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

    P - Formal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-P-690221
      Remarks by President Nixon to Employees at the Department of the Interior. (2/19/1969, Department of the Interior.)

      Runtime: 0:14:30

      Keywords: Environment, clean air

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

Context (External Sources)