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November 20, 1970

Introduction

This almanac page for Friday, November 20, 1970, 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: Thursday, November 19, 1970

Next Date: Saturday, November 21, 1970

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.

    Appointments and Nominations

    Checklist of White House Press Releases

    The releases listed below, made public by the Office of the White House Press Secretary during the period covered by this issue, are not included in the issue.

    • Press conference of Maurice J. Williams, Deputy Administrator, Agency for International Development, Robert J. Pranger, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Policy Plans and National Security Council Affairs, Stephen R. Tripp, Coordinator of Disaster Relief, AID, William F. Spengler, Country Director for Pakistan, Department of State, and Harriet S. Crowley, Director, Office of Private Overseas Programs, AID, on relief efforts in East Pakistan.

    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.

    • The President visited the headquarters of the Retail Clerks International Association at the Suffridge Building, 1775 K St., N.W., in Washington, D.C., and met with the Board of Directors there.
    • The President met with the National Commission on Productivity.

  • 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.

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

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. XX, Southeast Asia, 1969-1972

    Thailand

    • 98. Minutes of Washington Special Actions Group Meeting, Washington, November 20, 1970, 10:44-11:19 a.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–114, WSAG Minutes, Originals, 1969 and 1970. Top Secret; Sensitive. The meeting was held in the White House Situation Room.

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

    • 185. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Jordan, Washington, November 20, 1970, 1646Z

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 616, Country Files, Middle East, Jordan. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Sisco; cleared by Kissinger, Johnson, and Helms; and approved by Rogers. All brackets are in the original except those indicating text that remains classified.

    Vol. XXXIX, European Security

    "Bureaucratic Steamroller," January 1969-November 1970

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

    Iran 1970

    • 100. Memorandum From Harold Saunders of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, November 20, 1970

      Saunders informed Kissinger that Ambassador MacArthur had requested permission to offer the U.S. Government’s agreement in principle to the sale of the seventh and eighth squadrons of F–4s.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 601, Country Files, Middle East, Iran, Vol. II, 6/1/70–12/70. Secret; Exdis. Sent for information. Tehran 5021 is not published. Kissinger wrote on the memorandum, “There is nothing to resolve. Pres. wants to go ahead. Al—take up with [Laird’s aide, Assistant Brigadier General Robert E.] Pursley.”

    Vol. E-7, Documents on South Asia, 1969-1972

    India and Pakistan: Pre-Crisis, January 1969-February 1971

    • 99. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, November 20, 1970

      Kissinger summarized a “delicate” issue relating to U.S. efforts to respond to the disaster in East Pakistan. If the U.S acted on the Embassy’s assessment of the needs of the situation, it could contribute to the impression that the Government of Pakistan was not managing the situation effectively.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 624, Country Files, Middle East, Pakistan, Vol. III, 1 Oct 70–28 Feb 71. Confidential. Sent for information. A handwritten notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it.

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

    Costa Rica

    • 181. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, November 20, 1970., Washington, November 20, 1970

      President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger forwarded CIA’s proposal for a confrontation with President José Figueres regarding his relationship with the Soviets. President Nixon approved the recommendation.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 779, Country Files, Latin America, Costa Rica. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Sent for action. The memorandum was a “non-log” item. Attached at Tab A is a November 17 memorandum from Helms to Kissinger, Document 180. A December 16 note from Nachmanoff to Kissinger, indicates that “Ambassador Stewart has agreed to undertake the mission” (Ibid.)

    Ecuador

    • 304. Airgram A–268 From the Embassy in Ecuador to the Department of State, November 20, 1970.

      Since President Velasco’s assumption of supreme power on June 22, he had made changes in military personnel so they would have more to gain by keeping him in power than deposing him.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 15–1 ECUADOR. Confidential. Drafted on November 18 by Shumate; cleared by Breidenbach, Blaikie, Morgan, and the Ambassador; and approved by Chaplin. Repeated to the Consulate in Guayaquil and USCINCO/POLAD.

    Guatemala

  • 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-5101 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5101-02A-07A, Framed painting being presented to John Davies. 11/20/1970, Washington, D.C. White House. John Davies, unidentified presenter.

    Roll WHPO-5102 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5102-01A-14A, 33A-35A, President Nixon touring the Retail Clerks' Building. 11/20/1970, Washington, D.C. Suffridge House, Retail Clerks' Building. President Nixon, James Suffridge, James Housewright, James Hodgson, William Usery, Jr.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5102-15A-32A, President Nixon meeting with members of the Retail Clerks International Association with James Suffridge, President Emeritus of the Retail Clerks International Association, James Housewright, President of the Retail Clerks International Association , James Hodgson, Secretary of Labor, and William Usery, Jr., Assistant Secretary of Labor. 11/20/1970, Washington, D.C. Suffridge House, Retail Clerks' Building. President Nixon, James Suffridge, James Housewright, James Hodgson, William Usery, Jr.

    Roll WHPO-5103 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5103-02-07, 17, President Nixon touring the Retail Clerks' Building in Washington, D.C. 11/20/1970, Washington, D.C. Suffridge House, Retail Clerk's Building. President Nixon, Members of the Board of Directors of the RCIA and employees.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5103-08-16, President Nixon meeting with members of the Retail Clerks International Association with James Suffridge, President Emeritus of the Retail Clerks International Association, James Housewright, President of the Retail Clerks International Association , James Hodgson, Secretary of Labor, and William Usery, Jr., Assistant Secretary of Labor. 11/20/1970, Washington, D.C. Suffridge House, Retail Clerks' Building. President Nixon, James Suffridge, James Housewright, James Hodgson, William Usery, Jr.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5103-11, President Nixon meeting with Secretary of Labor James Hodgson and Assistant Secretary of Labor William Usery, Jr., and members of the Retail Clerks International Association including James Suffridge, President Emeritus, and James Housewright, President. 11/20/1970, Washington, D.C. Suffridge House, Retail Clerks' Building. President Nixon, James Hodgson, William Usery, Jr., members of the Retail Clerks International Association.

    Roll WHPO-5104 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5104-05-08, President Nixon meeting with National Commission on Productivity. 11/20/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Cabinet Room. President Nixon, members of the National Commission on Productivity.

    "

    Roll WHPO-5105 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5105-03A-23A, President Nixon standing with Arthur Burns, Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board. 11/20/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Arthur F. Burns.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5105-07A-35A, President Nixon seated during a meeting with Peter MacDonald, Chairman of the American Indian Navajo Council. 11/20/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Peter MacDonald, H.R. Haldeman, Assistant, Peter Mac Donald, Chairman, Navajo Council Leonard Garment, Special Consultant, Ronald L. Ziegler, Press Secretary, members of the press.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-5105-24A-35A, Unidentified man walking down hallway. 11/20/1970, Washington, D.C. White House, hallway. unidentified man.

    "

    Roll WHPO-5109 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-5109-04A-11A, Pat Nixon greeting members of the Committee for the Preservation of White House. 11/20/1970, Washington, D.C. White House. Pat Nixon, members of the Committee for the Preservation of White House.

  • 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.

    H - White House Staff Member Recordings

    • WHCA-SR-H-298
      Press briefing by Constance Stuart and Clem Conger. (11/20/1970, Family Theater, White House)

      Runtime: 0:26:30

      Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media

      Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by RSM (initials of WHCA engineer)

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

    P - Formal Presidential Remarks

    • WHCA-SR-P-701112
      Remarks by President Nixon to Board of directors of Retail Clreks Assn. at their HQ in Washington, DC. (11/20/1970)

      Runtime: 14:49

      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-3986
      "The Mike Douglas Show". Ramsay Clark, former Attorney-General.
      NBC
      Runtime: 1:00
    • WHCA-3987
      Weekly News Summary.
      All networks
      Runtime: 1:00

      26. Foreign Aid. Time Code Start: 40:50. Keywords: bills, laws, financial aid, funding. Network: CBS.

      27. Report on President Nixon and economy. Time Code Start: 43:13. Keywords: economy, economics, budgets, finances, recession, inflation, money. Network: ABC.

      28. President Nixon's Welfare Bill. Time Code Start: 45:10. Keywords: bills, laws, Family Assistance Programs, government aid, financial aid, health and welfare assistance, financial aid. Network: ABC.

      29. Report on proposed admission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations (U.N.). Time Code Start: 46:46. Keywords: organization of nations, intergovernmental alliance, People's Republic of China, admissions. Network: ABC.

      30. Howard K. Smith: Commentary on the Trade Bill. Time Code Start: 48:16. Keywords: bills, laws, business, exchanges, agreements, contracts, profits, finance, sales, buying, selling. Network: ABC.

      31. People's Republic of China and the United Nations (U.N.). Time Code Start: 50:04. Keywords: organization of nations, intergovernmental alliance, People's Republic of China, admissions. Network: NBC.

      32. President Nixon's Welfare Bill; Foreign Aid Bill. Time Code Start: 53:00. Keywords: bills, laws, Family Assistance Programs, government aid, financial aid, health and welfare assistance, financial aid, world, trade. Network: NBC.

      33. The People's Republic of China and the United Nations (U.N.). Time Code Start: 55:00. Keywords: organization of nations, intergovernmental alliance, People's Republic of China, admissions. Network: CBS.

      34. People's Republic of China to the United Nations (U.N.). Time Code Start: 57:22. Keywords: organization of nations, intergovernmental alliance, People's Republic of China, admissions. Network: CBS.

Context (External Sources)