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September 20, 1969

Introduction

This almanac page for Saturday, September 20, 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: Friday, September 19, 1969

Next Date: Sunday, September 21, 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

    • Association of Student Governments (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1289, September 20, 1969)
      The President's Remarks to Student Leaders and University Officials Attending the Association's President's to Presidents Conference.

  • 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.

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

    Trade and Commerce, 1969-1972

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

    The Rogers Plan

    • 50. Memorandum of Conversation, New York, September 20, 1969, 7:30 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1170, Saunders Files, Middle East Negotiation Files, Middle East Settlement—US–USSR Talks. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Yost on September 23. All brackets are in the original except those indicating text omitted by the editors. The dinner meeting was held in the Secretary General’s suite at the United Nations.

    Vol. XXIX, Eastern Europe, 1969-1972

    Hungary

    • 110. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Hungary , Washington, September 20, 1969, 1922Z

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 693, Country Files—Europe, Hungary, Vol. I. Secret; Priority;Exdis. Repeated priority to USUN for Secretary Rogers as Tosec 21. Drafted by Swank and Lisle, cleared by Hillenbrand and Kissinger, and approved by Richardson.

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

    U.S. Policy Towards Terrorism, Hijacking of Aircraft, and Attacks on Civil Aviation: Israeli Attack on Beirut Airport and Hijacking of TWA Flight 840, January-December 1969

    • 23. Telegram 3119 From the U.S. Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State, New York, September 20, 1969, 1902Z

      UN Ambassador Yost noted that he had urged the Syrians to take early action to resolve the TWA Flight 840 situation. Syrian Ambassador to the UN Tomeh urged the U.S. to continue “quiet diplomacy” and suggested that Israel release the captured Syrian pilots a few weeks after the release of the Israeli passengers.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, AV 12 US. Confidential; Limdis. Repeated to Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Rome.

    • 24. Telegram 160323 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel, Washington, September 20, 1969, 1646Z

      While sharing Embassy Tel Aviv’s concern that the Israelis might be losing patience over TWA Flight 840, the Department of State emphasized that it had little leverage to use with the Syrians. The Department rejected suggestions to be more aggressive with Syria by attempting to prevent its election to the UN Security Council, concluding that the prisoner/hostage swap would be the best way to end the crisis.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, AV 12 US. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Seelye and April Glaspie (NEA/ARN) on September 19; cleared by Jones, Wahl, Loy, Davies and Lloyd; and approved by Sisco.

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

    Nigerian Civil War

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

      Kissinger told the President that Norman Cousins, the editor of the Saturday Review, believed his usefulness in the Nigerian situation had ended. Kissinger recommended, and Nixon approved, that Cousins be authorized to pass a message to the Biafran representatives in Paris that a member of Kissingerʼs staff would be available for an informal meeting. Nixon initialed “Approve.”

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 741, Country Files, Africa, Nigeria, Vol. I. Secret; Nodis. Sent for action.

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

      Kissinger recommended a Presidential statement on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) daylight relief flight efforts and a quiet offer of assistance to the ICRC in an attempt to secure Biafran agreement.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 741, Country Files, Africa, Nigeria, Vol. I. Secret; Nodis. Nixon initialed “Approve” and wrote “good work!” below. The memorandum is marked on page one, “Roger Informed” and “File - Special File. Not to Secretariat”. Tab A is not published.

  • 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-2009 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2009-04-11, Pat Nixon talking with Directors of Nursing, NIH. 9/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, State Dining Room. Pat Nixon, Directors of Nursing.

    Roll WHPO-2010 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2010-03-08, Closeup portrait study of President Nixon and daughter Tricia Nixon. 9/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. President Nixon, Tricia Nixon.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2010-09-16, President Nixon in the Oval Office during a meeting with comedian Bob Hope. 9/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Bob Hope.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2010-12, President Nixon standing in the Oval Office during a meeting with comedian Bob Hope. 9/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Bob Hope.

    Roll WHPO-2011 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2011-03A-19A, Closeup portrait of Tricia Nixon. 9/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. Tricia Nixon.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2011-17, Closeup sideways portrait of Tricia Nixon. 9/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. Tricia Nixon.

    Roll WHPO-2012 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2012-03A-16A, President Nixon in the Oval Office during a meeting with comedian Bob Hope. 9/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Bob Hope.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2012-08, President Nixon standing in the Oval Office during a meeting with comedian Bob Hope. 9/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Bob Hope.

    Roll WHPO-2013 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2013-05-27, President Nixon and Tricia Nixon greeting members of the Association of Student Governments. 9/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. President Nixon, Tricia Nixon, student government leaders.

  • 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-690917
      Remarks by President Nixon to members of Association for Student Governments. (9/20/1969)

      Runtime: 11:25

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

Context (External Sources)