President Nixon presents the White House Fellows of 1969-1970 in the White House State Dining Room, June 16, 1969.
On June 16, 1969, President Nixon announced his appointments of the White House Fellows for the class of 1969-1970. Established just 5 years prior, the White House Fellows program proved to be not only helpful to the individuals selected for the year-long program, but also tremendously helpful to the White House itself. President Nixon thought so himself:
At the time that it was developed five years ago, it was generally thought that those who would be selected as Fellows from around the country would have an opportunity to broaden their perspectives; having been scholars in their particular fields…What we have found–I think this has been true certainly of this Administration and I would imagine it has been true of the other Administrations as well–what we have found is that the presence of the White House Fellows in the Departments has broadened our perspective.
Below, view the announcement listing the 1969-1970 White House Fellows. Of the 18 White House Fellows appointed, included was our very own Geoffrey Shepard, now producer of the Nixon Legacy Forums cosponsored by the Richard Nixon Foundation and National Archives and Records Administration. Shepard completed his fellowship under the tutelage of the Treasury Secretary David M. Kennedy, and in 1970, was hired by John Ehrlichman to join the White House Domestic Council staff.
Other members to note from the 1969-1970 White House Fellows class were William “Bill” J. Kilberg and Barbara “Bobbie” D. Greene (later Barbara Kilberg following her marriage with Bill). Bobbie Kilberg was assigned to John Ehrlichman under the White House Domestic Council and was primarily involved in constructing, successfully so, President Nixon’s far-reaching Native American Policy. Bill Kilberg served his White House Fellowship under George Shultz, who at the time was the Secretary of Labor. He then was appointed by President Nixon and confirmed by the Senate as Solicitor of the U.S. Department of Labor. He attained this post at a very young age of 27.
The President closed the program with words of congratulations and conveyance of the importance with which their work would be regarded in the 365 days ahead:
I again want to congratulate collectively all of the winners who are standing behind me. Some of their superiors–we should not call them that, but some of those who will be giving them their assignments–the Cabinet officers are here and the Under Secretaries and Deputies in the various Cabinet positions. That is an indication of the importance we attach to the work they will be doing. We know you will have an interesting year in Washington, and we hope when you leave next year things will be better than they are today.