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January 31, 1970

Introduction

This almanac page for Saturday, January 31, 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: Friday, January 30, 1970

Next Date: Sunday, February 1, 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.

    Addresses and Remarks

    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 Paul W. McCracken, Chairman, and Hendrik S. Houthakker and Herbert Stein, members, Council of Economic Advisers, on the Economic Report.
    • Press conference of George P. Shultz, Secretary of Labor, and James D. Hodgson, Under Secretary of Labor, on the railway labor dispute.

  • 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.

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. VI, Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

    Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

    • 175. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State, Saigon, January 31, 1970, 1140Z

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 15–1 VIET S. Secret; Nodis. On January 12 Nixon asked White House Staff Assistant John Brown to send Kissinger a memorandum asking that Bunker do “some quiet work” on corruption in South Vietnam. (Memorandum from Lake to Brown, January 21; ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 142, Vietnam Country Files, Vietnam, Vol. XIV–2, 16–30 January 1970) Kissinger dispatched a backchannel message to Bunker asking him what could be done about corruption in South Vietnam. (Telegram WH003 to Bunker, January 21; ibid., Box 410, Backchannel Messages, Southeast Asia, 1970) Bunker responded in backchannel message 622 from Saigon, January 23, to the White House for Kissinger’s eyes only, on the ways to combat it much as he explained the problem and solutions to Thieu as reported in telegram 1515 from Saigon. (Ibid.) In a January 26 memorandum to Nixon, Kissinger summarized Bunker’s initial response to the request for “quiet work” on corruption and indicated Bunker planned to raise the issue with Thieu in the next few days. (Ibid., Box 142, Vietnam Country Files, Vietnam, Vol. XIV–2, 16–30 January 1970)

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

    Expansion of the Kissinger-Dobrynin Channel and Further Discussions on the Middle East, December 11, 1969-July 28, 1970

    Vol. E-2, Documents on Arms Control and Nonproliferation, 1969-1972

    Chemical and Biological Warfare; Geneva Protocol; Biological Weapons Convention

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

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

    • 46. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, January 31, 1970

      Kissinger summarized a letter to Nixon from Pakistani President Yahya in which Yahya pressed for a decision on military supply policy. Nixon indicated that he was disposed to respond favorably.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 759, Presidential Correspondence File, Pakistan (1969–1970). Secret. Sent for information. The attached letter from President Yahya to President Nixon is dated January 19. The December 20 letter to which Yahya responded can be found ibid. The reference to a speech on November 3, 1969, is to Nixon’s address to the nation on the war in Vietnam. For text, see Public Papers: Nixon , 1969, pp. 901–909. Nixon underlined the last seven words of point 5 and added the following handwritten instructions in the margin: “1 Let’s give them spare parts immediately as basis of keeping the US word. 2 I lean to the Turkish tanks unless it raises too much hell with Congress. I don’t care about Indian reaction.” He also wrote on the memorandum: “K–doesn’t this show advantage of our letter idea? Let’s continue the practice on a selective basis.”

  • 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-2872 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2872-02-20, The wedding of Nancy Hardin (daughter of the Secretary of Agriculture) and Douglas Rogers (son of the Secretary of State). 1/31/1970, Washington, D.C. National Presbyterian Church. President Nixon, Julie Eisenhower, David Eisenhower, Nancy Hardin, Douglas Rogers.

    Roll WHPO-2873 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2873-03-06, The wedding of Nancy Hardin (daughter of the Secretary of Agriculture) and Douglas Rogers (son of the Secretary of State). 1/31/1970, Washington, D.C. National Presbyterian Church. President Nixon, Julie Eisenhower, David Eisenhower, Nancy Hardin, Douglas Rogers.

    Roll WHPO-2874 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2874-02A-17A, Swearing-in ceremony of Dr. Arthur F. Burns as Chairman of the Federal Reserve System's Board of Governors. 1/31/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, Dr. Arthur F. Burns, Agnew, Attorney General John Mitchell.

    Roll WHPO-2875 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2875-02A-34A, President Nixon and Julie Nixon Eisenhower attend the swearing-in ceremony of David Eisenhower as a U.S. Navy Officer Candidate. 1/31/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Commander Robert Larson's office. President Nixon, David Eisenhower, Julie Nixon Eisenhower.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2875-10A, President Nixon and Julie Nixon Eisenhower attend the swearing-in ceremony of David Eisenhower as a U.S. Navy Officer Candidate. 1/31/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Commander Robert Larson's office. President Nixon, David Eisenhower, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, possibly Robert lawson.

    Roll WHPO-2876 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2876-02A-04A, Commander Robert Larson. 1/31/1970, Washington, D.C. WWhite House, East Wing, Commander Robert Larson's Office. Robert Larson.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2876-05A-16A, President Nixon and Julie Nixon standing next to David Eisenhower during his Naval swearing-in ceremony as an officer candidate in the U. S. Navy, conducted by Commander Robert Larson. 1/31/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, East Wing, Commander Robert Larson's Office. President Nixon, David Eisenhower, Julie Eisenhower, Commander Robert Larson.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2876-08A, President Nixon and Julie Nixon standing next to David Eisenhower during his Naval swearing-in ceremony as an officer candidate in the U. S. Navy, conducted by Commander Robert Larson. 1/31/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, East Wing, Commander Robert Larson's Office. President Nixon, Julie Eisenhower, David Eisenhower, Commander Robert Larson.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2876-17A-19A, Unknown. 1/31/1970, Washington, D.C. White House.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2876-19A-22A, Paul Fischer (White House AV Technician). 1/31/1970, Washington, D.C. White House. Paul Fischer.

    Roll WHPO-2878 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2878-02A-06A, British Prime Minister Harold Wilson attending a National Security Council (NSC) Meeting. 1/31/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. Harold Wilson, Henry Kissinger.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2878-07A-15A, The wedding of Nancy Hardin (daughter of the Secretary of Agriculture) and Douglas Rogers (son of the Secretary of State). 1/31/1970, Washington, D.C. National Presbyterian Church. President Nixon, Julie Eisenhower, David Eisenhower, Nancy Hardin, Douglas Rogers.

    Roll WHPO-2879 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2879-01-22, The wedding of Nancy Hardin (daughter of the Secretary of Agriculture) and Douglas Rogers (son of the Secretary of State). 1/31/1970, Washington, D.C. National Presbyterian Church. President Nixon, Julie Eisenhower, David Eisenhower, Nancy Hardin, Douglas Rogers.

    Roll WHPO-2880 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2880-04-07, Economic Meeting. 1/31/1970, Washington, D.C. White House.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2880-08-16, Swearing-in ceremony of Dr. Arthur Burns as Chairman of the Federal Reserve System's Board of Governors. 1/31/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. President Nixon, Arthur Burns, William Brennan, Helen (Bernstein) Burns, guests.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2880-12, Swearing-in ceremony of Dr. Arthur Burns as Chairman of the Federal Reserve System's Board of Governors. 1/31/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. President Nixon, Arthur Burns, William Brennan, Helen (Bernstein) Burns, guests.

    Roll WHPO-2881 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2881-02A-20A, Swearing-in ceremony of Arthur F. Burns as Chairman of the Federal Reserve System's Board of Governors. 1/31/1970, Washington ,DC White House, East Room. Arthur Burns, Helen (Bernstein) Burns, President Nixon, Associate Justice William Brennan.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2881-15A, Swearing-in ceremony of Arthur F. Burns as Chairman of the Federal Reserve System's Board of Governors. 1/31/1970, Washington ,DC White House, East Room. Arthur Burns, Helen (Bernstein) Burns, President Nixon, Associate Justice William Brennan.

    Roll WHPO-2882 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2882-03-13, Economic Meeting. 1/31/1970, Washington, D.C. White House.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2882-14A-23A, Swearing-in ceremony of Arthur F. Burns as Chairman of the Federal Reserve System's Board of Governors. 1/31/1970, Washington, D.C. White House East Room. President Nixon, Arthur Burns, Associate Justice William J. Brennan.

    Roll WHPO-2883 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2883-01-08, President Nixon seated informally in the Oval Office during a meeting with Arthur Burns. 1/31/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Vice President Agnew, Arthur Burns, members of the cabinet.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2883-08, President Nixon seated informally in the Oval Office during a meeting with Arthur Burns. 1/31/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Arthur Burns.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2883-10A-22A, Cabinet members ceremony presenting chair to Dr. Arthur Burns. 1/31/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, Vice President Agnew, Arthur Burns, members of the cabinet: John Mitchell, David Kennedy, William Rogers, Melvin Laird, Walter Hickel, George Romney, George Shultz, Clifford Hardin, Maurice Stans, Robert Finch, John Volpe, Moynihan, Donald Rumsfeld, Robert Mayo, Arthur Burns, Bryce N. Harlow.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2883-17, President Nixon, Vice President Agnew and members of the cabinet in the cabinet room. 1/31/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, Spiro Agnew, John Mitchell, David Kennedy, William Rogers, Melvin Laird, Walter Hickel, George Romney, George Shultz, Clifford Hardin, Maurice Stans, Robert Finch, John Volpe, Moynihan, Donald Rumsfeld, Robert Mayo, Arthur Burns, Bryce N. Harlow, two unidentified officials or aides.

    Roll WHPO-2890 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2890-02-30, A party for General Don Hughes. 1/31/1970, Washington, D.C. Don Hughes.

    Roll WHPO-2891 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2891-02-35, A party for General Don Hughes. 1/31/1970, Washington, D.C. Don Hughes.

    Roll WHPO-2892 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2892-02A-19A, A party for General Don Hughes. 1/31/1970, Washington, D.C. Don Hughes.

  • 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-039
      Briefing by Secretary of Labor George Shultz on the railroad strike, with Ronald Ziegler, Hodgson/Hudson (?). (1/31/1970, Roosevelt Room, The White House)

      Runtime: 21:00

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

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

    H - White House Staff Member Recordings

    • WHCA-SR-H-118
      Paul McCracken, Ronald Ziegler, Hendrick Houthakker, and Herb Stein remarks regarding report of the Council of Economic Advisors. (1/31/1970, Indian Treaty Room, Executive Office Building)

      Runtime: 60:00:00

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

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

    P - Formal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-P-700123
      Presentation of Cabinet chair to AB with AB. (1/31/1970)

      Runtime: 6:45

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
    • WHCA-SR-P-700124
      Remarks by President Nixon at the Swearing In of Dr. Arthur F. Burns as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. (1/31/1970)

      Runtime: 7:06

      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-3621
      "Firing Line". President Richard Nixon, Jack Valenti.
      NBC, CBS
      Runtime: 1:00

Context (External Sources)