October 20, 1969

The Daily Diary files represent a consolidated record of the President's activities. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

• Original typewritten diary (PDF)

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

• United States Advisory Commission on International Education and Cultural Affairs. (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1442, October 20, 1969)
  Announcement of Intention To Nominate Three New Members of the Commission.

News Conferences

• Judge Haynsworth's Nomination to the Supreme Court (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1442, October 20, 1969)
  The President's Remarks at an Informal Meeting With Members of the White House Press Corps, on the Nomination of Judge Clement F. Haynsworth, Jr., as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Proclamations

• Day of Bread and Harvest Festival (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1446, October 20, 1969)
  Proclamation 3943.

Acts Approved by the President

• H.R. 9825 -- Public Law 91-93
  Civil Service Retirement Amendments of 1969.
• S.J. Res. 112 -- Public Law 91-94
  Joint Resolution to amend section 19(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

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.

• Dr. Kofi A. Busia, Prime Minister of Ghana, met with the President at the White House.
• The President met with Republican State Chairmen in the Blue Room at the White House.

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.

• WESLEY L. HJORNEVIK, of Texas, to be Deputy Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity.
• The following-named officer under the provisions of title 10, United States Code, section 3066, to be assigned to a position of importance and responsibility designated by the President under subsection (a) of section 3066, in grade as follows: To be General: LT. GEN. LEWIS BLAINE HERSHEY, 579-52-4352, Army of the United States.

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.

• Remarks at an Informal Meeting With Members of the White House Press Corps on Judge Haynsworth's Nomination to the Supreme Court
• Proclamation 3943—Day of Bread and Harvest Festival

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.

No Federal Register published on this date

The Congressional Record is the official daily record of the debates and proceedings of the U.S. Congress.

• House of Representatives: October 20, 1969
• Senate: October 20, 1969
• Extensions of Remarks: October 20, 1969

Argued

• Detroit & Toledo Shore Line R. Company v. United Transportation Union
• Nacirema Operating Company, Inc. v. Johnson
• Turner v. Fouche

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.

• Transcript of diary entry (PDF)
• Handwritten diary entry (JPG)

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

• Text search for October 20, 1969
• Date search for October 20, 1969

All National Archives Units

• Text search for October 20, 1969
• Date search for October 20, 1969

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.

• President's Daily Brief of 20 October 1969

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. I, Foundations of Foreign Policy, 1969-1972

Foundations of Foreign Policy, 1969-1972

• 41. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, October 20, 1969

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 252, Agency Files, NSC 1969-71. Secret. Sent for information. The memorandum was stamped and initialed by Alexander Butterfield to indicate that it was seen by the President. The attached study was drafted by Robert E. Osgood of the NSC Staff.

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

Coordinating Committee on Export Controls, 1969-1972

• 365. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to the Under Secretary of State (Irwin) , Washington, October 20, 1969

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Country Files-Europe, Box 675, France, Volume III Jan 69-10/31/69. Secret. A copy was sent to the Deputy Secretary of Defense.

Vol. VI, Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970

• 138. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, October 20, 1969

  Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS 64, Memoranda to the President, 1969 October. Top Secret; Sensitive. Sent for action. Drafted by Holdridge on October 16, and sent to Kissinger under a covering memorandum of the same date.

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

• 93. Memorandum of Conversation , Washington, October 20, 1969, 3:30 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 489, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin/Kissinger, 1969, Part 1. Top Secret; Sensitive; Nodis. The conversation was held in the Oval Office of the White House. On October 17, at 4:40 p.m., Dobrynin called Kissinger to arrange a meeting to deliver to Nixon a message from Moscow regarding SALT and U.S.-Soviet relations. According to a transcript of their conversation, “K asked if Dobrynin had requested this [meeting] through the State Department. D said no, he has spoken only to K. K said then he would keep it that way.” (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 360, Telephone Records, 1969–1972, Chronological File) On October 18, Kissinger sent Nixon summary talking points in which he stressed that “Your basic purpose will be to keep the Soviets concerned about what we might do around November 1. You should also make clear that, whether or not they agree to SALT, unless there is real progress in Vietnam, US-Soviet relations will continue to be adversely affected.” The summary talking points and longer attached briefing paper are in the National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 489, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin/Kissinger, 1969, Part 1.

• 94. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between President Nixon and his Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) , Washington, October 20, 1969, 08:25 p.m.

  Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 360, Telephone Conversations, Chronological File. No classification marking.

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

January-November 1969: The Decision for Okinawa Reversion

• 22. Memorandum From Secretary of Commerce Stans to President Nixon, Washington, October 20, 1969

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 213, Agency Files, Dept of Commerce—1970, Vol. I. No classification marking.

Vol. XX, Southeast Asia, 1969-1972

Thailand

• 29. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, October 20, 1969

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–071, WSAG Meeting 10/6/69 Laos. Top Secret; Sensitive. Sent for action. Drafted by Holdridge. According to a handwritten and stamped notation, the memorandum was returned from the President on October 22.

Philippines

• 195. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to the Under Secretary of State (Richardson) , Washington, October 20, 1969

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, DEF 15–4 PHIL–US. Secret.

Vol. XXXII, SALT I, 1969-1972

Preparations for SALT, January 27-November 12, 1969

• 35. Memorandum of Conversation , Washington, October 20, 1969, 3:30 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 489, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin/Kissinger, 1969 [Part 1]. Top Secret; Sensitive;Nodis. The conversation took place in the Oval Office. On October 17 at 4:40 p.m. Dobrynin called Kissinger to arrange a meeting to deliver a message to Nixon from the Soviet leadership regarding SALT and U.S.-Soviet relations. According to a transcript of their conversation, “K[issinger] asked if Dobrynin had requested this [meeting] through the State Department. D[obrynin] said no, he has spoken only to K.K said then he would keep it that way.” (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 360, Telephone Conversations, Chronological File) The full text of this conversation and the attached message from the Soviet leadership are printed in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, volume XII, Soviet Union, January 1969–October 1970, Document 93.

Vol. XXXIV, National Security Policy, 1969-1972

The Joint Chiefs of Staff Readiness Test

• 85. Memorandum of Conversation , Washington, October 20, 1969, 3:30 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 489, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin–Kissinger, 1969 [Part 1]. Top Secret; Sensitive; Nodis. Drafted by Kissinger. The meeting took place in the Oval Office. The full memorandum of conversation is published in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, volume XII, Soviet Union, January 1969–October 1970, Document 93. See also ibid., volume VI, Vietnam, January 1969–July 1970, Document 139.

• 87. Memorandum From the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Wheeler) to Secretary of Defense Laird, Washington, October 20, 1969

  Source: National Archives, RG 218, Records of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Records of the Chairman, General Wheeler, Box 111, 381, World-Wide Increased Readiness Posture (Oct. 69). Top Secret.

Vol. XL, Germany and Berlin, 1969-1972

Germany and Berlin, 1969-1972

• 36. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, October 20, 1969

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 682, Country Files, Europe, Germany, Vol. III. Secret; Nodis. Sent for information. Sonnenfeldt redrafted the memorandum on October 15 to incorporate Kissinger’s handwritten corrections; two substantive revisions are noted in footnotes below. A note on the memorandum indicates it was returned from the President on October 22.

Vol. XLI, Western Europe; NATO, 1969-1972

France

• 132. Response to National Security Study Memorandum 47 , Washington, October 20, 1969

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–147, National Security Study Memoranda, NSSM 47. Secret. NSSM 47 is Document 123.

Vol. E-1, Documents on Global Issues, 1969-1972

U.S. Policy Towards International Production and Trafficking in Illegal Drugs

• 146. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Richardson and Attorney General Mitchell to President Nixon, Washington, October 20, 1969

  In response to the President’s request, Richardson and Mitchell submitted under a covering memorandum an 18-page analysis of international trafficking in heroin, current methods to suppress it, and additional recommendation actions.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, SOC 11-5 US. Confidential. Redrafted by Levitsky (S/S).

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

Iran 1969

• 27. Memorandum From Harold Saunders of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) , Washington, October 20, 1969

  Prior to the Shah’s visit, Saunders reviewed the debate between the Departments of State and Defense over whether to accommodate Iranian military demands.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 920, VIP Visits, Shah, Washington, 10/21–10/23/69. Tab A is Document 28. Tab B is not published. A handwritten notation on the source text reads: “Back from HAK, October 22, 1969.”

• 28. Letter from Secretary of State Rogers to Secretary of Defense Laird, Washington, October 20, 1969

  Rogers impressed upon Laird the importance of indicating to the Shah a willingness to meet Iran’s defense needs.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 7 IRAN. Secret. The letter is a true copy of the original in the Washington National Records Center, OSD Files, FRC 330–75–089, Box 74, Iran 1969, 091.112.

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

The Horn

• 278. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, October 20, 1969

  Kissinger informed the President that, according to intelligence, an army takeover in Somalia was not likely but there might be some tribal fighting. All leading candidates to succeed assassinated Somali President Shermarke were pro-Western.
  
  Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS 64, Memoranda to the President, October 1969. Top Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information.

Vol. E-5, Part 2, Documents on North Africa, 1969-1972

Algeria

• 17. Memorandum of Conversation , New York, October 20, 1969

  U.S. representatives met with the Head of the Algerian Delegation to the UN to discuss a rapprochement between Washington and Algiers. Specifically, the group discussed the three key impediments to the U.S.-Algerian relationship—the U.S. war in Vietnam, Algeria’s role in the Maghreb, and the protection of the Palestinians in the Middle East.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–1969, POL ALG-US. Confidential; Exdis. Drafted by Bray. The conversation took place in New York City. In telegram 2288 from Algiers, December 29, the Interests Section recorded a similar conversation with an advisor to President Boumediene, who noted that Algeria “needs ‘opportune moment’ for renewal [of relations.] Although US is on right track in Vietnam, progress is too slow to provide right occasion. Some step on Middle East issue would be more appropriate.” (Ibid.)

Vol. E-10, Documents on American Republics, 1969-1972

American Republics Regional

• 16. National Security Decision Memorandum 28, Washington, October 20, 1969. , Washington, October 20, 1969

  The President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs, Henry Kissinger, informed Secretary of State William Rogers and AID Administrator Hannah that the President had decided to untie all AID procurement loans to Latin America.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–211, NSDM Files, NSDM 28. Confidential. A copy was sent to the Secretaries of Treasury and Commerce, and the Director of the Bureau of the Budget. For the text of Nixon’s October 31 speech see Public Papers: Nixon, 1969, pp. 893–901. The October 15 NSC meeting is published as Document 14. In an October 17 memorandum to the President, Hannah advocated Nixon only untie U.S. assistance used to acquire local currencies for financing local costs of development programs in Latin America. (Ibid., NSC Files, Box 193, Agency Files, AID, January 1969–December 1969, Vol. 1)

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.

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-2205 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-2205-01-33, President Nixon, with Rogers Morton and James Allison, greeting individually the Republican State Chairmen. 10/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Rogers Morton, James Allison, Republican State Chairmen.

Roll WHPO-2206 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-2206-03-08, President Nixon and the Republican State Chairmen. 10/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Republican State Chairmen.

Roll WHPO-2207 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-2207-01A-28A, President Nixon, Rogers Morton, James Allison, and Republican State Chairmen individually and in a group setting. 10/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Rogers Morton, James Allison, Republican State Chairmen.

Roll WHPO-2208 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-2208-02A-08A, President Nixon sitting informally during a meeting with Kofi A. Busia, Prime Minister of Ghana, and Ghanaian officials. 10/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Kofi A. Busia, Ghanaian officials.
• Frame(s): WHPO-2208-07A, President Nixon sitting informally during a meeting with Kofi A. Busia, Prime Minister of Ghana, and Ghanaian officials. 10/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Kofi A. Busia, Ghanaian officials.
• Frame(s): WHPO-2208-09A-32A, President Nixon with Rogers Morton and James Allison. 10/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Rogers Morton, James Allison.
• Frame(s): WHPO-2208-17A-21A, No negatives - contact sheet only., President Nixon with Rogers Morton and James Allison. 10/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Rogers Morton, James Allison.

Roll WHPO-2209 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-2209-04-10, President Nixon sitting informally with Kofi A. Busia, Prime Minister of Ghana. 10/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Kofi A. Busia, Ghanaian official.
• Frame(s): WHPO-2209-11-12, President Nixon standing with Rogers Morton, James Allison, and a Republican State Chairman. 10/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Rogers Morton, James Allison, unidentified men.

Roll WHPO-2210 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-2210-01A-26A, Judy Agnew visiting the Japanese Embassy. 10/20/1969, Washington, D.C. Embassy of Japan. Judy Agnew, unidentified women.

Roll WHPO-2211 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-2211-02A-03A, 10A-11A, President Nixon and Graham Martin, Ambassador to Italy, walking in the Rose Garden. 10/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Rose Garden. President Nixon, Graham Martin.
• Frame(s): WHPO-2211-04A-09A, President Nixon and Graham Martin, Ambassador to Italy, sitting in the Rose Garden. 10/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Rose Garden. President Nixon, Graham Martin.

Roll WHPO-2212 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-2212-02A-04A, President Nixon and Graham Martin, Ambassador to Italy, walking in the Rose Garden. 10/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Rose Garden. President Nixon, Graham Martin.
• Frame(s): WHPO-2212-05A-12A, President Nixon and Graham Martin, Ambassador to Italy, sitting in the Rose Garden. 10/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Rose Garden. President Nixon, Graham Martin.

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-3474
  Weekly News Summary.
  All networks
  Runtime: 0:30
  
  1. Vice President Agnew on Moratorium (Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam). Time Code Start: 00:40. Keywords: Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam, Vietnam War, demonstrations, rally, protesters, demonstraters, students, anti-war. Network: CBS.
  
  2. Cronkite/Rather: Supreme Court nominee Clement Haynsworth; President Nixon says won't take him off list, vicious character assassination and guilty by association of worst kind. President praises Judge. Time Code Start: 00:62. Keywords: law officials, judges, justices, courts, trials, investigations, nominees, Presidents, speeches, rebuttals. Network: CBS.
  
  3. Vice President Agnew on Moratorium (Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam). Time Code Start: 00:93. Keywords: Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam, Vietnam War, demonstrations, rally, protesters, demonstraters, students, anti-war. Network: CBS.
  
  4. Vice President Agnew on Moratorium (Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam). Time Code Start: 01:05. Keywords: Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam, Vietnam War, demonstrations, rally, protesters, demonstraters, students, anti-war. Network: NBC.
  
  5. Jarriel: Supreme Court nominee Clement Haynsworth; President Nixon says won't take him off list, vicious character assassination and guilty by association of worst kind. President praises Judge. Time Code Start: 01:47. Keywords: law officials, judges, justices, courts, trials, investigations, nominees. Network: ABC.

• New York Times of October 20, 1969

• AP Images photos from October 20, 1969
• Getty Images photos from October 20, 1969

The Vanderbilt Television News Archive is the world's most extensive and complete archive of television news. They have been recording, preserving and providing access to television news broadcasts of the national networks since August 5, 1968.

• October 1969 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• October 20, 1969