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April 20, 1969

Introduction

This almanac page for Sunday, April 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: Saturday, April 19, 1969

Next Date: Monday, April 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 Camp David, Maryland

  • 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

Archival Holdings

Any selection of archival documents will necessarily be partial. You should use the documents and folders identified below as a starting place, but consult the linked collection finding aids and folder title lists and the collections themselves for context. Many documents to be found this way do not lend themselves to association with specific dates, but are essential to a complete understanding of the material.

  • Selective document listing

    President's Office Files

    The President's Office Files consists of materials drawn together by the Special Files Unit from several administrative subdivisions within the White House Office. It is the handwriting and sensitive papers sent to the Staff Secretary that now comprise much of the President's Office Files. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

    • Annotated News Summaries, Box 28, News Summaries - April 1969 [During this period, the Staff Secretary only removed pages from the News Summaries which contained President Nixon's handwriting, often leaving the document with no date. Although there are no specific documents dated April 20, 1969, you should also consult the full folder for the month.]

  • 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)
      Sunday, April 20.

      Left for Camp David yesterday afternoon after the Klein-Harlow meeting. President invited Mitchells to dinner at Aspen and the rest of us for movie later. Saw Dr. Zhivago. Strange to sit in room with leader of free world and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces and watch the pictures of the Russian Revolution, Army overthrow, etc. We all had the same thought.

      Kissinger very concerned about Rogers' speech to Associated Press tomorrow. Has draft and some points are directly contrary to President's position. Kissinger called Rogers to discuss and Rogers blew up saying he and the other Cabinet officers were tired of Kissinger and Ehrlichman telling them what the President thinks and wants. Said President can tell him himself. This, plus major confrontation between Burns and Kennedy regarding Tax Reform Bill going up tomorrow that Ehrlichman can't arbitrate, decided us to get Mitchell and discuss whole staff versus Cabinet problem with President before it becomes a real one.

      Had long talk on this at Aspen. President taking view that these things are inevitable and expected. Should not become overly concerned. Take them in stride - lose the little battles - so can fight to the win on really important ones. He seemed interested in the subject, but not anxious to overrate it.

      Kissinger's problem with State is well-recognized and understood by President - he just doesn't want to let it develop into pushing Kissinger into the Rostow position.

      On domestic - real problem is Burns-Moynihan dichotomy. Cabinet officers will accept and welcome White House direction, but object to conflicting White House direction from various sources. Problem for Ehrlichman is to get control so White House speaks with one voice in implementing or transmitting President's views, while still keeping open all channels of input. Hard to do with such strong and divergent characters.

      Long talk with Ehrlichman (and Harlow yesterday) regarding salaries and White House office setup for White House staff. We are all agreed we should substantially raise the middle management group to comparability level within government. Will be hard to convince President. Also agreed we should clean out West Wing and make it a true executive suite - with principals and their immediate personal staffs. President will be all for this.
    • 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

    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.

    • No President's Daily Brief delivered on this date

  • 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 can be found in the National Archives Catalog.

Context (External Sources)