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March 13, 1969

Introduction

This almanac page for Thursday, March 13, 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: Wednesday, March 12, 1969

Next Date: Friday, March 14, 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.

    Appointments and Nominations

    Congress, Communications to

    • World Weather Program (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 399, March 13, 1969)
      The President's Message to the Congress Transmitting the First Annual Plan for United States Participation in the Program.

    Letters, Memorandums, Etc.

    • Apollo 9 (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 400, March 13, 1969)
      The President's Telegram to the Crew Following Splashdown.

    Statements by the President

    • Manpower Administration (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 398, March 13, 1969)
      Statement by the President on the Reorganization the Manpower Functions of the Department of Labor.

    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 Secretary of Labor George P. Shultz, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Manpower Arnold Weber, and Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler.

    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 George Meany, president of the AFL-CIO, at the White House.
    • The President will accord the personal rank of Ambassador to Gerard C. Smith, Director of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, during his tenure as head of the United States delegation to the Conference of the 18-Nation Disarmament Committee which will convene at Geneva, Switzerland, on March 18.

    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.

    • LAWRENCE H. SILBERMAN, of Hawaii, to be Solicitor for the Department of Labor.
    • HENRY LOOMIS, of Virginia, to be Deputy Director of the United States Information Agency.
    • LARRY A. JOBE, of lincis, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce.
    • MYRON TRIBUS, of New Hampshire, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce.
    • WILLIAM HILL BROWN III, of Pennsylvania, to be a member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for the term expiring July 1, 1973, to which office he was appointed during the last recess of the Senate.
    • DANIEL BARTLETT, JR., of Missouri, to be United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri for the term of 4 years vice Veryl L. Riddle.
    • HAROLD O. BULLIS, of North Dakota, to be United States Attorney for the District of North Dakota for the term of 4 years vice John 0. Garaas.
    • WILLIAM M F. CLAYTON, of South Dakota, to be United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota for the term of 4 years vice Harold C. Doyle.
    • GEORGE W. F. Coos, of Vermont, to be United States Attorney for the District of Vermont for the term of 4 years vice Joseph F. Radigan.
    • VICTOR R. ORTEGA, of New Mexico, to be United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico for the term of 4 years vice John F. Quinn, Jr.
    • HERBERT F. TRAVERS, JR., of Massachusetts, to be United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts for the term of 4 years vice Paul F. Markham.
    • JAMES L. TREECE, of Colorado, to be United States Attorney for the District of Colorado for the term of 4 years vice Lawrence M. Henry.
    • RICHARD VAN THOMAS, of Wyoming, to be United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming for the term of 4 years vice Robert N. Chaffin.

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

    Foreign Assistance Policy, 1969-1972

    Vol. V, United Nations, 1969-1972

    Committee of 24

    Vol. VI, Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

    Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

    • 38. Memorandum From Secretary of Defense Laird to President Nixon, Washington, March 13, 1969

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 70, Vietnam Subject Files, Secretary Laird’s Trip to S. Vietnam, March 5–12, 1969. Secret; Sensitive. Laird and Wheeler arrived in Saigon on March 6 to assess the Vietnam situation. According to a February 20 telegram from Laird to Bunker and W. Abrams, Laird and Wheeler were to hold frank discussions on the state of enemy capabilities, intentions, and strategies; sanctuary issues in Cambodia and Laos; the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces modernization and expansion program; the pacification program; and the ramifications and impact of U.S. force reductions. Laird also proposed a day and a half of field visits to I Corps, and to major U.S. and GVN units in III and IV Corps. (Washington National Records Center, Secretary Laird Files: FRC 330 70 D 0142, Box 2, Folder #13) On March 8 Laird, Wheeler, Bunker, and Berger met with Thieu, Ky, and other Vietnamese officials. (Memorandum of conversation, March 8; ibid.) In a March 29 memorandum to Laird, Kissinger wrote: “the President has reviewed both your and General Wheeler’s reports resulting from your recent trip to South Vietnam. The reports were extremely valuable in preparing the President for the National Security Council meeting on March 28th, and will be retained here for further use in relations to ongoing plans associated with Vietnam.” (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 70, Vietnam Subject Files, Secretary Laird’s Trip to S. Vietnam, March 5–12, 1969)

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

    The Rogers Plan

    • 13. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel , Washington, March 13, 1969, 1732Z

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 604, Country Files, Middle East, Israel, Vol. I. Secret; Priority; Exdis. Drafted by Atherton, cleared in IO, and approved by Sisco. Repeated priority to Amman and to London, Paris, Moscow, Cairo, USUN, Jidda, and Beirut.

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

    Iraq 1969-1971

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

    U.S.-African Policy

    • 1. Central Intelligence Agency Report, Office of National Estimates Memorandum , Washington, March 13, 1969

      The CIA reported that a decline of prospects for Communist-oriented radicalism in Africa had apparently led Moscow to some shifts in emphasis in its approach to black Africa. The African elite tended to view Soviet ideology as irrelevant and was still culturally attuned to the West.

      Source: Central Intelligence Agency Files, DDI Files, Job 79–R00967A, Box 1, Folder 1. Secret.

  • 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-0486 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-0486-00-03, President Nixon talking with AFL-CIO President George Meany and Labor Secretary George Shultz. 3/13/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, George Meany, George Shultz.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0486-01A, President Nixon sitting and talking with AFL-CIO President George Meany and Labor Secretary George Shultz. 3/13/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, George Meany, George Shultz.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0486-04-06, Pat Buchanan with Dwight Chapin, and Ron Ziegler. 3/13/1969, Washington, D.C. White House. Patrick J. Buchanan, Dwight Chapin, Ronald Ziegler.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0486-07-13, President Nixon with Defense Secretary Melvin Laird. 3/13/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Melvin Laird.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0486-12A, President Nixon seated informally in the Oval Office during a meeting with Defense Secretary Melvin Laird. 3/13/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Melvin Laird.

    Roll WHPO-0487 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-0487-, President Nixon with Defense Secretary Melvin Laird. 3/13/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Melvin Laird.

    Roll WHPO-0488 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-0488-, Swearing-in of D.C. Councilmen Gilbert Hahn, Sterling Tucker, and Jerry Moore. 3/13/1969, Washington, D.C. Gilbert Hahn, Sterling Tucker, Jerry Moore, their respective families, unidentified persons.

    Roll WHPO-0506 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-0506-02A-06A, Pat Nixon arriving outside the Washington Coliseum to attend the Ringling Brothers Circus and greeted by Mr. & Mrs. Israel Feld and Miss Karen Feld. 3/13/1969, Washington, D.C. Washington Coliseum. Pat Nixon, Gerry Van der Heuval, Israel Feld, Mrs. Israel Feld, Karen Feld.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0506-07A-35A, Pat Nixon seated inside the attend the Ringling Brothers Circus with a group of children and a circus clown. Roman Catholic nuns and priests can be seen sitting in the back row behind the children. 3/13/1969, Washington, D.C. Washington Coliseum. Pat Nixon, children, clowns, Catholic nuns and priests.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0506-26, Pat Nixon seated inside the Ringling Brothers Circus with a group of children and a circus clown. Roman Catholic nuns and priests can be seen sitting in the back row behind the children. 3/13/1969, Washington, D.C. Washington Coliseum. Pat Nixon, children, clowns, Catholic nuns and priests.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0506-36, Pat Nixon seated inside the Ringling Brothers Circus with a group of children and circus clown. Roman Catholic nuns and priests can be seen sitting in the back row behind the children. 3/13/1969, Washington, D.C. Washington Coliseum. Pat Nixon, children, clowns, Catholic nuns and priests.

    Roll WHPO-0507 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-0507-, Pat Nixon greeted by Mr. & Mrs. Israel Feld, Karen Feld, and at the Ringling Bros. Circus. 3/13/1969, Washington, D.C. Washington Coliseum. Pat Nixon, Israel Feld, Mrs. Israel Feld, Karen Feld, unidentified men.

    Roll WHPO-0508 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-0508-03-10, Pat Nixon with Mr. & Mrs. Israel Feld, Karen Feld, and unidentified man. 3/13/1969, Washington, D.C. Washington Coliseum. Pat Nixon, Israel Feld, Mrs. Israel Feld, Karen Feld, unidentified man.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0508-11-13, Pat Nixon inside with children, watching the Ringling Bros. Circus. 3/13/1969, Washington, D.C. Washington Coliseum. Pat Nixon.

    Roll WHPO-0509 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-0509-03A-05A, President Nixon with Rep. Earl Ruth of North Carolina prior to a Congressional eeception, presenting an Albemarle (North Carolina) school student newspaper dedicated to President Nixon. 3/13/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, possibly the yellow Oval Room. President Nixon, Congressman Earl Ruth.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-0509-06A-08A, President Nixon with Rep. Roger Zion of Indiana, prior to a Congressional Reception. 3/13/1969, Washington, D.C. White House. President Nixon, Congressman Roger Zion.

  • 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-008
      Remarks by Secretary George Shultz regarding reorganization of the Manpower Division of the Labor Department. (3/13/1969, Roosevelt Room, The White House)

      Runtime: 30:00:00

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by CBS; No WHCA engineer initials listed

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

    H - White House Staff Member Recordings

    • WHCA-SR-H-011
      Swearing-in ceremony for Gilbert Hahn, Chairman of the District of Columbia City Council. (3/13/1969, Roosevelt Room, White House)

      Runtime: 5:00

      Keywords: ceremonies

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

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

Context (External Sources)