Foreign Relations of the United States, 1917–1972, Volume VIII, Public Diplomacy, 1969-1972

4. Memorandum From President Nixon to the President’s Counsel (Ehrlichman)¹

Washington, February 4, 1969

Will you give me a report on what will specifically be done on my suggestion to have Klein at the domestic level and Shakespeare² at the international level collect the best, brief affirmative comments with regard to the Inauguration³ and also the press conference and seeing that they are properly distributed.

Such phrases, for example, from the Houston Chronicle, “Mr. Nixon is off to an excellent start,” from the Denver Post, “In two decades of public life Richard Nixon has never spoken more wisely, more appropriately and more effectively. It was an excellent speech, dignified in tone, perceptive in insight, sound in emphasis. It constitutes an auspicious beginning for a new Administration.”

The purpose of following up on this suggestion is that this will indicate a pattern I would like to see followed in the future.

1. Source: Nixon Library, White House Central Files, Subject Files, FG 230, Box 1, EX FG 230. No classification marking. Printed from an uninitialed copy.
2. On January 13, the President named Shakespeare as his nominee for USIA Director. During the 1968 presidential campaign, Shakespeare had served as Republican presidential candidate Nixon’s television adviser. (“CBS Executive, Shakespeare, Named to Head USIA,” Washington Post, January 14, 1969, p. A5 and “A New Spokesman for the U.S.: Frank Joseph Shakespeare Jr.,” New York Times, January 14, 1969, p. 26) The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held hearings on January 27 to consider Shakespeare’s nomination. For the transcript of the hearing, see Nomination of Frank J. Shakespeare, Jr., to be Director, United States Information Agency: Hearing, Ninety-First Congress, first session, January 27, 1969. (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1969). See also “Nixon Choice for U.S.I.A. Calls Truth the Best Policy,” New York Times, January 28, 1969, p. 15 and Warren Unna, “No Praise for Prose: Senators Deflate a Nominee,” Washington Post, January 28, 1969, p. A1. The Senate confirmed Shakespeare on February 7.
3. The President delivered his inaugural address from the East Front of the Capitol at 12:16 p.m. on January 20. His inaugural address is printed in Public Papers: Nixon, 1969, pp. 3–4. An excerpt is also printed in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. I, Foundations of Foreign Policy, 1969–1972, Document 9.