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May 21, 1969

Introduction

This almanac page for Wednesday, May 21, 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, May 20, 1969

Next Date: Thursday, May 22, 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

    • Chief Justice of the United States (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 727, May 21, 1969)
      Remarks of the President and Judge Warren Earl Burger Upon the Announcement of the President's Intention To Nominate Judge Burger.

    Appointments and Nominations

    • President's Council on Youth Opportunity (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 725, May 21, 1969)
      Announcement of Designation of Robert J. Brown and Charles B. Wilkinson as Members and of the Secretary of Transportation as a Permanent Member.
    • Office of Emergency Preparedness (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 726, May 21, 1969)
      Announcement of Intention To Nominate Haakon Lindjord as an Assistant Director.
    • United States-Mexico Commission for Border Development and Friendship (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 726, May 21, 1969)
      Announcement of Designation of Charles A. Meyer as Chairman of the U.S. Section and of Antonio F. Rodriguez as Commissioner and Director.
    • United Nations Children's Fund (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 726, May 21, 1969)
      Announcement of Appointment of Isabella J. Jones as United States Representative on the Executive Board.
    • Mississippi River Commission (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 727, May 21, 1969)
      Announcement of Intention To Nominate Major General Andrew P. Rollins, Jr., USA, as a Member and President of the Commission.

    Statements by the President

    Swearing-In Ceremonies

    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.

    • HAAKON LINDJORD, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness, vice Charles S. Brewton, resigned.

  • 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. V, United Nations, 1969-1972

    Expansion of UN Headquarters

    Vol. VI, Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

    Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

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

    Establishment of the Kissinger-Dobrynin Channel; Dialogue on the Middle East; and the Sino-Soviet Dispute, April 23-December 10, 1969

    Vol. XIX, Part 2, Japan, 1969-1972

    January-November 1969: The Decision for Okinawa Reversion

    • 12. Memorandum of Conversation , Washington, May 21, 1969

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 533, Country Files, Far East, Japan, Vol. I. Secret. Drafted by Sneider. Lawrence Eagleburger, acting on behalf of Kissinger, approved the distribution of this memorandum of conversation to the Departments of State and Defense.

    Vol. XXI, Chile, 1969-1973

    A "Noisy Democracy": The Decline of Eduardo Frei, January-December 1969

    • 14. Letter From President Nixon to Chilean President Frei, Washington, May 21, 1969

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, INCO COPPER CHILE. Unclassified. President Nixon signed the letter based on Kissinger’s recommendation in a May 19 memorandum. (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 773, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, Vol. I) Vaky informed Kissinger that he revised the Department of State draft of the letter “to express at least some mild words of caution to Frei.” (Memorandum from Vaky to Kissinger, May 17; ibid.)

    Vol. XXXII, SALT I, 1969-1972

    Preparations for SALT, January 27-November 12, 1969

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

    Eighteen-Nation Disarmament Committee; Seabed Arms Control Treaty

    • 104. Telegram 80903 From the Department of State to the Mission in Geneva, Washington, May 21, 1969, 1715Z

      The telegram transmitted instructions to table the U.S draft of the seabeds treaty to offset focus on the Soviet proposal, but to submit it without Articles VII and VIII. These articles were deleted to appease German concerns articulated at the May 19 North Atlantic Council meeting.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–1969, POL 33–6. Confidential; Immediate. It was repeated to immediate Bonn, USNATO, and USUN. Drafted by Malin (ACDA/IR); cleared in substance by Hillenbrand (EUR) and McIntyre (IO/UNP); and approved by Kranich (ACDA/IR).

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

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

    • 21. Telegram 7466 From the Mission to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to the Department of State, Paris, May 21, 1969, 1750Z

      The telegram reported the results of the Pakistan consortium meeting, May 19–20.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, AID 9 PAK. Limited Official Use. Joint State/AID message. Sent also to Rawalpindi. Repeated to New Delhi for Spain. The consortium of governments and institutions organized to provide development assistance to Pakistan met in Paris, May 19–20, under the chairmanship of the World Bank. The meeting was attended by representatives of Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The International Monetary Fund also sent observers.

  • 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-1107 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-1107-02-36, John Davies meeting with representatives of the Herb Society of America. 5/21/1969, Washington, D.C. White House grounds. John Davies, unidentified persons.

    Roll WHPO-1108 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-1108-02A-19A, Swearing-in ceremony of Robert Ellsworth as the Permanent U.S. Representative to NATO. 5/21/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Rose Garden. President Nixon, Spiro Agnew, Robert Ellsworth, Mrs. Robert Ellsworth, Bill Ellsworth, Ann Ellsworth, Judge George Hart, guests.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-1108-07A, Swearing-in ceremony of Robert Ellsworth as the Permanent U.S. Representative to NATO. 5/21/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Rose Garden. President Nixon, Spiro Agnew, Robert Ellsworth, Mrs. Robert Ellsworth, Bill Ellsworth, Ann Ellsworth, Judge George Hart, guests.

    Roll WHPO-1109 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-1109-05-14, Swearing-in ceremony of Robert Ellsworth as the Permanent U.S. Representative to NATO. 5/21/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Rose Garden. President Nixon, Spiro Agnew, Robert Ellsworth, Mrs. Robert Ellsworth, Bill Ellsworth, Ann Ellsworth, Judge George Hart, guests.

    Roll WHPO-1110 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-1110-, The American flag in the Oval Office. 5/21/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office.

    Roll WHPO-1114 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-1114-, President Nixon introducing his nominee for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Warren Burger, during a televised announcement. 5/21/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. President Nixon, Warren Burger, Mrs. Warren Burger, Margaret Elizabeth Burger, Mr. & Mrs. Wade Burger, Agnew, John Mitchell, other Cabinet members, guests.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-1114-03A, President Nixon introducing his nominee for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Warren Burger, during a televised announcement. 5/21/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. President Nixon, Warren Burger, Mrs. Warren Burger, Margaret Elizabeth Burger, Mr. & Mrs. Wade Burger, Agnew, John Mitchell, other Cabinet members, guests.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-1114-05A, Vice President Agnew, and other cabinet members sitting in a group listening while President Nixon (not in picture) introduces his nominee for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Warren Burger, during a televised announcement. 5/21/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. Spiro Agnew, John Mitchell, Melvin Laird, Robert Finch, George Romney, George Shultz, Clifford Hardin, John Mitchell, Arthur Burns, and other Cabinet members.

    Roll WHPO-1115 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-1115-, President Nixon, in a televised announcement, introducing his nominee Warren Burger, for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. 5/21/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. President Nixon, Warren Burger, Spiro Agnew, Cabinet members, Burger family members, guests.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-1115-10A, President Nixon introducing his nominee for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Warren Burger, during a televised announcement. 5/21/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. President Nixon, Warren Burger, Spiro Agnew, Cabinet members, Burger family members, guests.

    Roll WHPO-1116 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-1116-, President Nixon with his nominee for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Warren Burger. 5/21/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. President Nixon, Warren Burger, Mrs. Warren Burger, Margaret Elizabeth Burger, Mr. & Mrs. Wade Burger.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-1116-02A, President Nixon introducing his nominee for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Warren Burger, during a televised announcement. 5/21/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. President Nixon, Warren Burger.

    Roll WHPO-1117 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-1117-, President Nixon introducing his nominee for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Warren Burger, during a televised announcement. 5/21/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. President Nixon, Warren Burger, Mrs. Warren Burger, Margaret Elizabeth Burger, Mr. & Mrs. Wade Burger.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-1117-04A, President Nixon introducing his nominee for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Warren Burger, during a televised announcement. 5/21/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. President Nixon, Warren Burger.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-1117-08A, President Nixon introducing his nominee for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Warren Burger, during a televised announcement. 5/21/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. President Nixon, Warren Burger, Mrs. Warren Burger.

    Roll WHPO-1118 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-1118-, President Nixon introducing his nominee to be Supreme Court Chief Justice, Warren Burger. 5/21/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. President Nixon, Warren Burger, guests.

    Roll WHPO-1119 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-1119-, President Nixon speaking. 5/21/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Rose Garden. President Nixon.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-1119-18, Candid closeup of President Nixon smiling. 5/21/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Rose Garden. President Nixon.

  • 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.

    P - Formal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-P-690524
      Remarks by President Nixon at the Swearing In of Robert Ellsworth as United States Permanent Representative to NATO, with Ellsworth, Judge Hart. (5/21/1969, Rose Garden at the White House)

      Runtime: 2:08

      Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
    • WHCA-SR-P-690525
      Remarks by President Nixon Announcing the Nomination of Judge Warren Earl Burger To Be Chief Justice of the United States, with Remarks by Justice Burger. (5/21/1969, East Room at the White House)

      Runtime: 3:27

      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-3341
      President Nixon Announces [the Appointment of] the Chief Justice. Richard Nixon.
      CBS
      Runtime: 0:10

Context (External Sources)