August 21, 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 Western White House, San Clemente, California

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.

Meetings With Foreign Leaders

• Visit of President Chung Hee Park of the Republic of Korea (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1168, August 21, 1969)
  Text of President Nixon's Remarks Upon the Arrival of President Park.
• Visit of President Chung Hee Park of the Republic of Korea (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1170, August 21, 1969)
  Remarks of President Nixon and President Park at the Welcoming Ceremony in San Francisco.
• Visit of President Chung Hee Park of the Republic of Korea (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1171, August 21, 1969)
  Exchange of Toasts Between President Nixon and President Park at the Dinner Honoring President Park.

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.

• CLEMENT F. HAYNSWORTH, JR., of South Carolina, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States vice Abe Fortas, resigned.

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 of Welcome in San Francisco to President Chung Hee Park of South Korea.
• Toasts of the President and President Park at a State Dinner in San Francisco.

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 Thursday, August 21, 1969

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 August 21, 1969
• Date search for August 21, 1969

All National Archives Units

• Text search for August 21, 1969
• Date search for August 21, 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 21 August 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. XVII, China, 1969-1972

China, 1969

• 26. Memorandum From Lindsey Grant and Hal Saunders of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) , Washington, August 21, 1969

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1320, NSC Unfiled Material, 1969, 9 of 19. Secret; Exdis. Sent for information. Grant signed for himself and Saunders. Kissinger wrote on the memorandum: “This is to be strictly WH matter. I want no discussion outside our bldg. Has Hal talked to Hilaly[?]”

Vol. XIX, Part 1, Korea, 1969-1972

North Korean Shootdown of a U.S. Reconnaissance Flight and Contingency Planning, January-November 1969

• 35. Memorandum of Conversation , San Francisco, California, August 21, 1969, 4:15-6:15 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1023, Presidential/HAK MemCons, Memcon—The President and President Pak (Korea). Top Secret; Eyes Only. The meeting was held in the St. Francis Hotel. President Park also made a speech to a Korean-American association at the Presidio in San Francisco earlier on August 21, but the primary purpose of his visit was to meet with President Nixon. This memorandum is attached to an undated memorandum from Lake to Kissinger summarizing the meeting and another one on the morning of August 22. Lake stated that President Nixon indicated he would take the following actions: “to inform the Koreans in advance of the time and number of U.S. troop withdrawals from Vietnam, to study sympathetically MAP, military assistance, and other Korean proposals, to plan to encourage more U.S. private investment in Korea, to help the Koreans with surplus agricultural products, to reappraise the Export/Import Bank’s limited capital so as to probably increase it, to talk with General Bonesteel about more fighter planes for Korea, and to visit Korea during his term of office.” (Ibid.)

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

Eighteen-Nation Disarmament Committee; Seabed Arms Control Treaty

• 109. Letter From the Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (Smith) to Secretary of State Rogers, Washington, August 21, 1969

  Smith articulated his thoughts on the new Soviet draft treaty to Rogers, noting that the Soviets embraced the U.S. emphasis on denuclearization over demilitarization and that the Soviet draft was indicative of the new “era of negotiation” the Nixon administration was working to cultivate. Smith then conducted a thorough, comparative analysis of the U.S. and Soviet proposals.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, General Files on NSC Matters, Box 9, NSC Miscellaneous-Seabed. Secret. “Secretary Saw,” is written on page one. Tab B is Document 93.

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

Nigerian Civil War

• 105. Memorandum From Roger Morris of the National Security Council Staff to the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs (Newsom) , Washington, August 21, 1969

  Morris recommended several steps to be taken if a full-scale initiative began to work.
  
  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Records of the Special Coordinator on Relief to Civilian Victims of the Nigerian Civil War, February 1969–June 1970, Lot 70 D 336, Box 519, Geneva. Secret. Copies were sent to Ferguson, Witman, Melbourne, and Brubeck.

• 107. Memorandum From Roger Morris of the National Security Council Staff to the Presidentʼs Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) , Washington, August 21, 1969

  In anticipation of the Presidentʼs meeting with Secretary of State Rogers on August 22, Morris provided Kissinger with a copy of Newsomʼs briefing memorandum for Rogers for the meeting, in which Newsom recommended immediately launching a full-fledged peace probe that Morris considered heavily weighted toward the Federal side. Morris recommended that Kissinger advise the President to pursue a serious peace probe but on a more even-handed basis and with White House participation.
  
  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 148, U.S.-Domestic-Agency Files, State/White House Relationship, Vol. I January 28–October 31, 1969. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for action. The attached memorandum from Assistant Secretary of State Newsom to Rogers, was classified Secret. The Presidentʼs Daily Diary indicates that a meeting between the President, who was at the Western White House, and Rogers did not take place on August 22 nor did they meet before the end of the month. The President and Rogers talked by phone on the evening of August 28.

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-1867 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-1867-07-22, John Davies accepting a certificate from unidentified persons. 8/21/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, grounds. John Davies, unidentified persons.

Roll WHPO-1868 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-1868-02, Crowd awaiting President Nixon's arrival at Hamilton AFB. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, CA Hamilton Air Force Base, Presidio Army Post. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, Chung Hee Park, Mrs. Park, aides, military honor guard, crowd.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1868-03-05, Passengers on helicopter with a Super 8 Camera. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, CA Hamilton Air Force Base, Presidio Army Post. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, Chung Hee Park, Mrs. Park, aides, military honor guard, crowd.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1868-06-07, President Nixon greeting Korean President Chung Hee Park & his wife. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, CA Hamilton Air Force Base, Presidio Army Post. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, Chung Hee Park, Mrs. Park, aides, military honor guard, crowd.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1868-08-09, 16-20, President Nixon and Korean President Chung Hee Park standing on a podium. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, CA Hamilton Air Force Base, Presidio Army Post. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, Chung Hee Park, Mrs. Park, aides, military honor guard, crowd.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1868-10-15, President Nixon reviewing the honor guard with Korean President Chung Hee Park. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, CA Hamilton Air Force Base, Presidio Army Post. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, Chung Hee Park, Mrs. Park, aides, military honor guard, crowd.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1868-21-26, President Nixon and Korean President Chung Hee Park walking with them and Pat Nixon. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, CA Hamilton Air Force Base, Presidio Army Post. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, Chung Hee Park, Mrs. Park, aides, military honor guard, crowd.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1868-27-30, President Nixon and President Chung Hee Park await their limousine. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, CA Officer's Club, Presidio Army Post. President Nixon, Chung Hee Park, aides.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1868-27-30, President Nixon and Korean President Chung Hee Park en route to the St. Francis Hotel. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, CA Hamilton Air Force Base, Presidio Army Post. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, Chung Hee Park, Mrs. Park, aides, military honor guard, crowd.

Roll WHPO-1869 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-1869-03-07, Henry Kissinger, Secretary of State William Rogers, and Henry Cabot Lodge awaiting President Nixon and Pat Nixon's arrival. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, California St. Francis Hotel, exterior. Henry Kissinger, William Rogers, Henry Cabot Lodge, crowd.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1869-08-23, President Nixon and Pat Nixon greeting the crowd outside the St. Francis hotel. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, California St. Francis Hotel, exterior. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Kissinger, William Rogers, Henry Cabot Lodge, crowd.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1869-24-26, Unidentified men mugging for the camera. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, California St. Francis Hotel, exterior. unidentified men (Marlon Brando possibly).

Roll WHPO-1870 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-1870-02-05, President Nixon and Pat Nixon shaking hands with members of the crowd at Hamilton Air Force Base. 8/21/1969, California Hamilton Air Force Base, Presidio Army Post, San Francisco. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Chung Hee Park, Mrs. Park, honor guard, crowds.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1870-10, President Nixon and President Chung Hee Park of South Korea reviewing the honor guard during Park's state arrival ceremony. 8/21/1969, California Hamilton Air Force Base, Presidio Army Post, San Francisco. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Chung Hee Park, Mrs. Park, honor guard, crowds.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1870-11-15, President Nixon and President Chung Hee Park of South Korea walking to the reception at the Officer's Club. 8/21/1969, California Hamilton Air Force Base, Presidio Army Post, San Francisco. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Chung Hee Park, Mrs. Park, honor guard, crowds.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1870-17-22, President Nixon seated with President Chung Hee Park of South Korea. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, California St. Francis Hotel. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Chung Hee Park, Mrs. Park, military honor guard, Adele Rogers.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1870-23, Pat Nixon sitting with Mrs. Park, the First Lady of South Korea, and Adele Rogers. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, California St. Francis Hotel. Pat Nixon, Mrs. (Yuk Young-soo) Park, Adele Rogers.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1870-23-27, Pat Nixon sitting with Mrs. Park First Lady of South Korea and Adele Rogers. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, California St. Francis Hotel. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Chung Hee Park, Mrs. Park, military honor guard, Adele Rogers.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1870-28-36, President Nixon, Pat Nixon, President Chung Hee Park of South Korea, Mrs. Park with military honor guard before Park's State Dinner. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, California St. Francis Hotel. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Chung Hee Park, Mrs. Park, military honor guard, Adele Rogers.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1870-6-09, Welcoming remarks by President Nixon and President Chung Hee Park of South Korea. 8/21/1969, California Hamilton Air Force Base, Presidio Army Post, San Francisco. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Chung Hee Park, Mrs. Park, honor guard, crowds.

Roll WHPO-1871 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-1871-04A-08A, President Nixon, President Chung Hee Park of South Korea and other guests shaking hands before the State Dinner in Park's honor. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, California St. Francis Hotel. President Nixon, President Chung Hee Park, William Rogers, entertainers, unidentified hotel official.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1871-09A-13A, Los Romeros Guitar Quartet performing for and speaking with President Nixon and President Chung Hee Park of South Korea at the State Dinner performance in the St. Francis Hotel. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, California St. Francis Hotel. Celedonio Romero, Celin Romero, Pepe Romero, Angel Romero, President Nixon, President Chung Hee Park.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1871-14A-17A, Secretary of State William Rogers accepting a presentation from the Vice President of Western International Hotels. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, California St. Francis Hotel. William Rogers, entertainers, unidentified hotel official.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1871-18A-21A, President Nixon receiving a model cable car from San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto and other officials. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, California St. Francis Hotel. President Nixon, President Chung Hee Park, Joseph Alioto, unidentified hotel official, unidentified men, news photographers.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1871-22A-27A, President Nixon and President Chung Hee Park of South Korea making joint statements on stage at the podium. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, California St. Francis Hotel. President Nixon, President Chung Hee Park, Joseph Alioto, unidentified hotel official, unidentified men, news photographers.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1871-25A, President Nixon and President Chung Hee Park of South Korea making joint statements on stage at the podium. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, California St. Francis Hotel. President Nixon, Chung Hee Park.

Roll WHPO-1872 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-1872-03A-09A, President Nixon sitting with President Chung Hee Park of South Korea. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, California St. Francis Hotel. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Chung Hee Park, Mrs. Chung Hee Park, Adele Rogers, honor guard.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1872-10A-23A, Pat Nixon seated with Mrs. President Chung Hee Park of South Korea and Adele Rogers. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, California St. Francis Hotel. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Chung Hee Park, Mrs. Chung Hee Park, Adele Rogers, honor guard.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1872-24A-26A, President Nixon standing and holding a certficate with an unidentified person. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, California St. Francis Hotel. President Nixon, unidentified person.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1872-27A-32A, Portrait study of President Nixon, Pat Nixon, President Chung Hee Park of South Korea and Mrs. Chung Hee Park prior to entering the State Dinner. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, California St. Francis Hotel. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Chung Hee Park, Mrs. Chung Hee Park, Adele Rogers, honor guard.

Roll WHPO-1873 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-1873-02A-03A, 08A-09A, 12A-19A, President Nixon and President Chung Hee Park of South Korea on the review platform during Park's arrival ceremony. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, CA Hamilton Air Force Base. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Chung Hee Park, Mrs. Chung Hee Park, troops.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1873-04A-07A, President Nixon and President Chung Hee Park of South Koreak reviewing the troops during Park's arrival ceremony. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, CA Hamilton Air Force Base. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Chung Hee Park, Mrs. Chung Hee Park, troops.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1873-10A-11A, Woman and children in crowd, dressed in South Korean traditional ethnic costumes. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, CA Hamilton Air Force Base. crowd.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1873-14A, President Nixon and President Chung Hee Park of South Korea on the reviewing platform during the arrival ceremony for President Park at the White House south lawn. Pat Nixon and Mrs. Chung Hee Park stand nearby. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, CA Hamilton Air Force Base. President Nixon, Chung Hee Park.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1873-20A, President Nixon, Pat Nixon, President Chung Hee Park of South Korea and Mrs. Park. 8/21/1969, San Francisco, CA Hamilton Air Force Base. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Chung Hee Park, Mrs. Chung Hee Park, troops.

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.

E - Secretary of Defense Briefings

• WHCA-SR-E-006
  Press conference by Sec. Def. Melvin Laird at the Pentagon. (8/21/1969, Pentagon)
  
  Runtime: 37:00:00
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by OPI; Recorded by JFH (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

J - Entertainment at the White House

• WHCA-SR-J-108
  The Romeros [see P-690823]. (8/21/1969)
  
  Runtime: 26:30:00
  
  Keywords: Musician, musicians, music, celebrities, performance, classical music
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

P - Formal Presidential Remarks

• WHCA-SR-P-690822
  Remarks by President Nixon at the arrival ceremony in San Francisco for President Chung Hee Park of South Korea, with remarks by President Park. (8/21/1969, Crissy Field (Presidio), San Francisco, California)
  
  Runtime: 0:27:33
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; no initials of WHCA engineer
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

• WHCA-SR-P-690823
  Exchange of toasts by President Nixon and President Park at a State Dinner in San Francisco [see WHCA SR J-108]. (8/21/1969, St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, Calif.)
  
  Runtime: 9:49
  
  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-3418
  "Dennis Wholey" with David & Julie Eisenhower.
  Armed Forces Radio and Television
  Runtime: 0:10

• New York Times of August 21, 1969

• AP Images photos from August 21, 1969
• Getty Images photos from August 21, 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.

• August 1969 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• August 21, 1969