September 20, 1972

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 Camp David, Maryland

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.

Digitized versions can be found at HathiTrust.

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.

• Statement About Signing the National Heart, Blood Vessel, Lung, and Blood Act of 1972

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.

• Federal Register of Wednesday, September 20, 1972

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

• House of Representatives: September 20, 1972
• Senate: September 20, 1972
• Extensions of Remarks: September 20, 1972

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)
• Original audio recording (MP3)

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 September 20, 1972
• Date search for September 20, 1972

All National Archives Units

• Text search for September 20, 1972
• Date search for September 20, 1972

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 September 1972

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. II, Organization and Management of U.S. Foreign Policy, 1969-1972

Managing the Department of State

• 346. Memorandum From the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Management (Macomber) to the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs (Richardson), Washington, September 20, 1972

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Office of the Deputy Under Secretary for Management, Management Reform Task Force Papers: Lot 74 D 394, MR: TF IX, Openness. No classification marking. Drafted by Steven, and sent through S/S. A copy was sent to EUR. Printed from a copy that indicates Macomber signed the original.

Vol. XV, Soviet Union, June 1972-August 1974

Economic Normalization and Soviet Jewish Emigration, September-December 1972

• 49. National Security Decision Memorandum 190, Council for International Economic Policy Decision Memorandum 12, Washington, September 20, 1972

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 495, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin/Kissinger, Vol. 13. Secret; Sensitive; Nodis. Copies were sent to the Secretaries of Commerce and Treasury.

• 50. National Security Decision Memorandum 191, Council for International Economic Policy Decision Memorandum 13, Washington, September 20, 1972

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 495, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin/Kissinger, Vol. 13. Secret; Nodis. Copies were sent to the Secretaries of State and Treasury.

Vol. XXI, Chile, 1969-1973

Cool and Correct: The U.S. Response to the Allende Administration, November 5, 1970-December 31, 1972

• 310. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the 40 Committee (Ratliff) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, September 20, 1972

  Source: Department of State, Bureau of Intelligence and Research, INR/IL Historical Files, Chile, July–December 1972. Secret; Eyes Only; Outside System. Sent for action. Concurred in by Jorden and Kennedy. The memorandum was initialed by Haig.

Vol. XXXIX, European Security

Prelude to Negotiations, June 1972-November 1972

• 114. Minutes of a Joint Verification Panel and Senior Review Group Meeting, Washington, September 20, 1972, 4:10-5:13 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–113, SRG Meeting Minutes, Originals, 1972–73. Secret; Nodis. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room.

Vol. E-2, Documents on Arms Control and Nonproliferation, 1969-1972

Conferences on Nuclear and World Disarmament and Soviet UN Initiative on Non-Use of Force

• 341. Telegram 171873 From the Department of State to the Mission to the United Nations, Washington, September 20, 1972, 2129Z

  The telegram transmitted a Soviet verbal statement urging U.S. support for the Soviet proposal for a UN resolution rejecting of the use of force in international relations and forever prohibiting the use of nuclear weapons.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–1973, DEF 18–6. Limited Official Use. Also sent to Moscow. Drafted by McIntyre (IO/UNP); cleared by Kadilis (EUR/SOV); and approved by Armitage (UNP).

• 342. Telegram 172239 From the Department of State to the Mission to the United Nations, Washington, September 20, 1972, 2317Z

  The telegram reported on Soviet Minister Counselor Vorontsov’s discussion with Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs De Palma of the Soviet proposal for a UN resolution on the non-use of force and prohibition of nuclear weapons.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–1973, DEF 18–6. Limited Official Use. Also sent to Moscow. Drafted by McIntyre (IO/UNP); cleared by Armitage (UNP), Kadilis (EUR/SOV), and in substance by Martin (PM/DCA); and approved by De Palma (IO).

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

Iraq 1972

• 324. Memorandum From David A. Korn, NEA/IRN, to the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Sisco), Washington, September 20, 1972

  Analyzing the recent Soviet-Iraqi communiqué, Korn judged that the ties between Moscow and Baghdad were continuing but had not been extended.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, NEA/ARN, Office of Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq Affairs, Lot 75D442, Box 14, POL REL, IRAQ/USSR, 1972. Confidential.

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

Burundi

• 222. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, September 20, 1972

  Kissinger reported on the warfare in Burundi between the Hutus and the Tutsis and the reactions of the international community. In a lengthy handwritten note in response to Kissingerʼs memorandum, Nixon deplored the U.S. reaction as cynical and callous and instructed Kissinger to tell the Africa Bureau in the Department of State to recommend at a minimum how to express U.S. moral outrage. He also ordered the immediate recall of Ambassador Yost for consultations.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 735, Country Files, Africa, Burundi, Vol. I. Administratively Confidential. Sent for information. Drafted by F.E. Rondon and based on a report that he and Richard Kennedy forwarded to Kissinger on September 20. (Ibid.) The memorandum is stamped: “The President Has Seen.” The President hand wrote a lengthy note on page two of the memorandum, which was transcribed in the White House on September 21. The transcription is included as part of the document.

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

Uganda

• 254. Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (Haig) to President Nixon, Washington, September 20, 1972

  Haig reported that an Interdepartmental Task Force had been updating contingency plans for Uganda; a daily update would be included in the Presidentʼs morning brief.
  
  Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 295, Memoranda to the President, September 1972. Secret. The memorandum is stamped, “The President Has Seen,” and Nixon wrote “good” on it, and also “K—we must have contingencies for every possible nutty thing which might happen between now election.”

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.

Visit the White House Tapes finding aid to learn about the taping system's operation and archival processing.

White House Telephone

• 30-9; Unknown between 7:46 p.m. & 8:03 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); White House operator
• 30-10; 8:03 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Colson, Charles W.

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-D0427 Photographer: Grove, Andrew | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-D0427-, Bob Brown standing with a group of men. 9/20/1972, Washington, D.C. unknown. Robert Brown, unidentified men.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D0427-, Bob Brown seated with a group of men. 9/20/1972, Washington, D.C. unknown. Robert Brown, unidentified men.

Roll WHPO-D0448 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-D0448-, Vice President Agnew delivering a speech at a convention. 9/20/1972, Columbus, Ohio unknown. Agnew, delegates.

Roll WHPO-D0449 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-D0449-, Vice President Agnew standing with an unidentified man and delivering a speech at a convention. 9/20/1972, Columbus, Ohio unknown. Agnew, unidentified man, delegates.

Roll WHPO-D0450 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-D0450-07-14, Vice President Agnew speaking to and greeting students at a school. 9/20/1972, St. Louis, Missouri unidentified site. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, unidentified men, women, and students.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D0450-15-19, Vice President Agnew at a luncheon and speaking from a podium. 9/20/1972, St. Louis, Missouri unidentified site. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, unidentified men, women, and students.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D0450-20-28, Vice President Agnew conducting a press conference. 9/20/1972, St. Louis, Missouri unidentified site. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, unidentified men, women, and students.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D0450-29, Vice President Agnew waving before entering a plane. 9/20/1972, St. Louis, Missouri unidentified site. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, unidentified men, women, and students.

Roll WHPO-D0451 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-D0451-, Vice President Agnew conducting a press conference and greeting people. 9/20/1972, Columbus, Ohio unidentified sites. Agnew, press corps members, unidentified persons.

Roll WHPO-D0452 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-D0452-, Vice President Agnew speaking at a luncheon, conducting a press conference (18A), and greeting policemen (19A). 9/20/1972, St. Louis, Missouri various sites. Agnew, Judy Agnew, unidentified persons, policemen.

Roll WHPO-D0453 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-D0453-03-08, Vice President Agnew and Judy Agnew arriving at the airport. 9/20/1972, Columbus, Ohio airport. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, unidentified persons, crowd, delegates.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D0453-09-27, Vice President Agnew and Judy Agnew greeting the crowds along a street and in a building. 9/20/1972, Columbus, Ohio street, building. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, unidentified persons, crowd, delegates.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D0453-28-37, Vice President Agnew addressing a convention. 9/20/1972, Columbus, Ohio building. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, unidentified persons, crowd, delegates.

Roll WHPO-D0454 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-D0454-, Vice President Agnew greeting people in the crowd, standing with an unidentified man, and addressing a convention. 9/20/1972, Columbus, Ohio street, building. Agnew, unidentified man, crowd, delegates.

Roll WHPO-D0458 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-D0458-04-15, Pat Nixon arriving at NASA's Ames Research Center and speaking to a crowd. 9/20/1972, Sunnyvale, California grounds, Ames Research Center. Pat Nixon, band, crowd.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D0458-16-18, Pat Nixon walking up a stairway to a plane and waving goodbye. 9/20/1972, Sunnyvale, California airport. Pat Nixon, band, crowd.

Roll WHPO-D0459 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-D0459-, Pat Nixon at various sites outside of and inside the Ames Research Center NASA. 9/20/1972, Sunnyvale, California outside of, inside Ames Research Center. Pat Nixon, officials, band, crowd.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D0459-23, Pat Nixon seated with her arm in a robotic extendable arm unit, while an unidentified technician stands nearby, inside the Ames Research Center NASA. 9/20/1972, Sunnyvale, California Ames Research Center. Pat Nixon, unidentified official.

Roll WHPO-D0460 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-D0460-, Pat Nixon arriving in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Pat Nixon outside of and inside campaign headquarters. 9/20/1972, Idaho Falls, Idaho airport, campaign headquarters. Pat Nixon, crowd, campaign workers.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D0460-22A, Pat Nixon speaking to supporters standing outside Congressman Orval Hansen's office and Nixon's Idaho Falls campaign headquarters. 9/20/1972, Idaho Falls, Idaho airport, campaign headquarters. Pat Nixon, crowd, campaign workers.

Roll WHPO-D0461 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-D0461-, Pat Nixon shaking hands with individuals prior to leaving. 9/20/1972, Yellowstone, Wyoming; Idaho Falls, Idaho unidentified site, airport; airport. Pat Nixon, National Park Service personnel, individuals, crowd.
• Frame(s): WHPO-D0461-24, Crowd of supporters and well wishers awaiting Pat Nixon's arrival in Idaho Falls, Idaho. 9/20/1972, Yellowstone, Wyoming; Idaho Falls, Idaho unidentified site, airport; airport. Pat Nixon, National Park Service personnel, individuals, crowd.

Roll WHPO-D0462 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-D0462-, Pat Nixon leaving Yellowstone Park (5-16) and arriving in Idaho Falls (21-33). 9/20/1972, Yellowstone, Wyoming; Idaho Falls, Idaho airports. Pat Nixon, National Park Service officials, local officials, crowd.

Roll WHPO-D0463 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-D0463-, Pat Nixon at various sites. 9/20/1972, Idaho Falls, Idaho various unidentified sites. Pat Nixon, officials, unidentified persons, crowd.

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.

L - White House Press Office Briefings

• WHCA-SR-L-026
  Press briefing by Ronald Ziegler. (9/20/1972, White House Press Lobby)
  
  Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media, press secretary
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

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-5780
  "A Public Affair: Election '72". U.S. Senator Thomas Eagleton (D-MO).
  PBS
  Runtime: 0:30
• WHCA-5781
  Fonda-Hayden Interview, From Detroit. actress and anti-Vietnam war activist Jane Fonda; jazz singer composer Mel Tormé, Dr. Wardell Pomeroy.
  Daphne Productions and Roland & Jaffee Productions
  Runtime: 00:58:44
• WHCA-5783
  Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 01:28:24
  
  19. Reasoner/Collins/Mariano: Vietnam, Quang Tri. Time Code Start: 46:50. Keywords: Vietnam War. Network: ABC.
  
  20. Smith/Bell: POWs released and make statements. Time Code Start: 51:04. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War, releases. Network: ABC.
  
  21. Reasoner/Gill: Democratic law suit over Watergate; Vice President Agnew. Time Code Start: 53:24. Keywords: Vice Presidents, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: ABC.
  
  22. Smith/Murphy: McGovern runs into pro-President Nixon crowd in Ohio. Time Code Start: 55:36. Keywords: Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates. Network: ABC.
  
  23. Reasoner: AFL-CIO President George Meany axes Colorado AFL-CIO. Time Code Start: 59:07. Keywords: leaders, labor, unions, American Federation of Labor, Congress of Industrial Organizations, ending, dismissals. Network: ABC.
  
  24. Chancellor: POWs released (film). Time Code Start: 59:37. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War, releases. Network: NBC.
  
  25. Chancellor: FBI investigate wheat deal. Time Code Start: 61:31. Keywords: U.S., American, Soviet Union, USSR, Russia, agriculture, food, crops, products, sales, agreements, business, imports, exports, trade, Federal Bureau of Investigations, government, organizations, crime. Network: NBC.
  
  26. Chancellor/Perkins/Nessen: Vice President Agnew in St. Louis, Missouri; Sargent Shriver in Minnesota, Minnesota. Time Code Start: 62:27. Keywords: Vice Presidents, Presidential elections, campaigns, campaigning, candidates. Network: NBC.
  
  27. Brinkley: Commentary on news media. Time Code Start: 66:05. Keywords: radio, television, TV, the press, network broadcasting corporations. Network: NBC.
  
  28. Chancellor/Briggs: AFL-CIO President George Meany suspends Colorado labor leader. Time Code Start: 67:32. Keywords: leaders, labor, unions, American Federation of Labor, Congress of Industrial Organizations. Network: NBC.
  
  29. Chancellor/Duke: Tax increases (Representative Mills and Senator Saxbe). Time Code Start: 69:29. Keywords: taxes, taxation, revenue, increases. Network: NBC.
  
  30. Cronkite/Hart: POWs released (film). Time Code Start: 71:56. Keywords: Vietnam War, Vietnam Prisoner of War, releases. Network: CBS.
  
  31. Cronkite/Morton: McGovern and Vietnam veterans. Time Code Start: 79:30. Keywords: Vietnam War, veterans. Network: CBS.
  
  32. Sevareid: Election polls. Time Code Start: 81:56. Keywords: public opinions, polls, approval ratings, Gallup poll, Harris poll, Presidential elections, campaigns, primaries, candidates, voting. Network: CBS.
  
  33. Hart: Report from Hanoi, Vietnam. Time Code Start: 84:47. Keywords: Vietnam War. Network: CBS.

• New York Times of September 20, 1972

• AP Images photos from September 20, 1972
• Getty Images photos from September 20, 1972

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.

• September 1972 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• September 20, 1972