July 20, 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 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

• Tranquility Base, The Moon (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1016, July 20, 1969)
  The President's Telephone Conversation With Apollo 11 Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and Col. Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., During Their Walk on the Moon.

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.

• Telephone Conversation With the Apollo 11 Astronauts on the Moon

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

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 July 20, 1969
• Date search for July 20, 1969

All National Archives Units

• Text search for July 20, 1969
• Date search for July 20, 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.

• No President's Daily Brief delivered on this date

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. V, United Nations, 1969-1972

UN Finances and Reduction of the U.S. Assessment

• 148. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission to the United Nations, Washington, July 20, 1969, 1059Z

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, UN 10–4. Unclassified. Drafted by Sidney S. Cummins and Frechtling; cleared by Graham, Richard W. Murray, and Russell P. Whitener; and approved by Frechtling. Also sent to the Mission in Geneva, Montreal, London, Paris, Rome, and Vienna.

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-1574 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-1574-, President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Chief Justice Warren Burger, and guests at the worship service in various groupings. 7/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, State Dining Room. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Warren Burger, Col. Frank Borman, Ron Ziegler, unidentified guests.

Roll WHPO-1575 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-1575-, A White House East Room religious worship service with President Nixon and Pat Nixon in attendance. 7/20/1969, Washington, D.C. East Room, North Portico, White House, State Dining Room. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Colonel & Mrs. Frank Borman, Warren Burger, Rep. & Mrs. John Buchanan, Senator Mark Hatfield & Mrs. Mark Hatfield, Dr. & Mrs. Paul Smith, organists, guests.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1575-20, Receiving line at a White House East Room religious worship service with Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, Frank Borman, and others in attandeance. 7/20/1969, Washington, D.C. East Room, North Portico, White House, State Dining Room. Spiro Agnew, Judy Agnew, Frank Borman.

Roll WHPO-1576 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-1576-, Secretary of the Treasury David Kennedy and Mrs. David Kennedy with an unidentified couple. 7/20/1969, Washington, D.C. North Portico, unidentified room, White House. David Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy, unidentified couple.

Roll WHPO-1577 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-1577-01-10, Oval office preparations for President Nixon's telephone call from the Oval Office, to astronauts on the moon. Col. Frank Borman, Ron Ziegler, and reporters standing outside of the White House. Unidentified White House staff members watching the moon landing. 7/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Ronald Ziegler, Frank Borman, media persons; Frame 3 L-R: Dwight Chapin, Unknown, Roger Ailes, John Price, Bruce Whelihan, Ollie Atkins.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1577-11-16A, President Nixon speaking by telephone from the Oval Office, to the Apollo 11 astronauts, on the moon. 7/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1577-18-19, Col. Frank Borman, Ronald Ziegler, and reporters outside White House on the night of the moon landing. 7/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House. President Nixon, Ron Ziegler, Frank Borman, media persons; Frame 3 L-R: Dwight Chapin, Unknown, Unknown, John Price, Bruce Whelihan, Ollie Atkins.

Roll WHPO-1578 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-1578-00-02, 05-09, President Nixon seated at his Oval Office desk speaking on the green telephone to the Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Buzz Aldrin on the moon. 7/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Ronald Ziegler, Frank Borman, media persons, unidentified man.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1578-01, President Nixon seated at his Oval Office desk speaking on the green telephone to the Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Buzz Aldrin on the moon. 7/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1578-03-04, President Nixon at his Oval Office desk preparing to speak on the green telephone with the Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Buzz Aldrin on the moon. 7/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Ronald Ziegler, Frank Borman, media persons, unidentified man.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1578-11-13, Apollo 8 astronaut Frank Borman at the White House speaking with the press, while Ron Ziegler stands nearby. 7/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Ronald Ziegler, Frank Borman, media persons, unidentified man.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1578-14, News reporter broadcaster Dan Rather standing outside of White House. 7/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House. Dan Rather.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1578-15-17, Apollo 8 astronaut Frank Borman standing with Ron Zielger outside White House. 7/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House. President Nixon, Ronald Ziegler, Frank Borman.

Roll WHPO-1579 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-1579-, Religious Worship service at White House East Room, attended by President Nixon and astronaut Colonel and Mrs. Frank Borman. 7/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Colonel and Mrs. Frank Borman, Reprfesentative John H. Buchanan, Jr., Senator Mark Hatfield, Dr. Paul S. Smith & Mrs Paul S. Smith, guests.

Roll WHPO-1580 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-1580-, Worship service at White House with President Nixon and Pat Nixon in attendance. 7/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Colonel and Mrs. Frank Borman, Reprfesentative John H. Buchanan, Jr., Senator Mark Hatfield, Dr. Paul S. Smith & Mrs Paul S. Smith, guests.

Roll WHPO-1581 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-1581-, Dr. Paul Smith leading East Room Religious worship service. 7/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, Colonel and Mrs. Frank Borman, Reprfesentative John H. Buchanan, Jr., Senator Mark Hatfield, Dr. Paul S. Smith & Mrs Paul S. Smith, guests.

Roll WHPO-1582 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-1582-23, A television split screen image showing scenes of astronauts walking on the moon's surface and President Nixon seated at his Oval Office desk speaking on the telephone to the Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Buzz Aldrin on the moon. 7/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House. President Nixon, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1582-28, A television split screen image showing scenes of astronauts walking on the moon's surface and President Nixon seated at his Oval Office desk speaking on the telephone to the Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Buzz Aldrin on the moon. 7/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House. President Nixon, Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin.

Roll WHPO-1583 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-1583-, A television split screen image showing scenes of astronauts walking on the moon's surface and President Nixon seated at his Oval Office desk speaking on the telephone to the Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Buzz Aldrin on the moon. 7/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House. President Nixon, Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1583-18, A television split screen image showing what appears to be the lunar module and President Nixon seated at his Oval Office desk speaking on the telephone to the Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Buzz Aldrin on the moon. 7/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House. President Nixon, possibly Neil Armstrong or Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin.

Roll WHPO-1602 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-1602-, President Nixon at his Oval Office desk, talking on the green telephone to the Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Buzz Aldrin on the moon at 11:45-11:46-am. See also color slides E065-06, E065-12, E065-20. 7/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1602-01, President Nixon at his Oval Office desk, talking on the green telephone to the Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Buzz Aldrin on the moon at 11:45-11:46-am. See also color slides E065-06, E065-12, E065-20. 7/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon.
• Frame(s): WHPO-1602-02, President Nixon at his Oval Office desk, talking on the green telephone to the Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Buzz Aldrin on the moon at 11:45-11:46-am. See also color slides E065-06, E065-12, E065-20. 7/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon.

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.

I - Various Administration Events

• WHCA-SR-I-013
  Sunday worship service, with Dr. Paul Smith [see P-690713]. (7/20/1969, East Room, White House)
  
  Runtime: 30:00:00
  
  Keywords: NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, space program, astronauts, Apollo 11, Church service, worship service, prayer service, religion
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by GLT (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

P - Formal Presidential Remarks

• WHCA-SR-P-690713
  Remarks by President Nixon at White House worship service with remarks by Senator Hatfield, Congressman John H. Buchanan, Dr. Paul Smith, Colonel Borman [see WHCA SR I-13]. (7/20/1969)
  
  Runtime: 2:03
  
  Keywords: NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, space program, astronauts, Apollo 11, Church service, worship service, prayer service, religion
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

• WHCA-SR-P-690714
  President Nixon's telephone call from the Oval Office to Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Eugene "Buzz" Aldrin on the Moon, with remarks by astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin. (7/20/1969, Oval Office, White House)
  
  Runtime: 0:02:39
  
  Keywords: NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, space program, astronauts
  
  Production credits: Mult feed supplied by ABC; Recorded by WHCA
  
  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-3375
  Landing of Apollo 11 on the Moon; Agnew Interview AND Live Broadcast from the Moon, Part One. News coverage of the first astronauts landing on the moon. Richard Nixon, Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong.
  CBS
  Runtime: 1:00
• WHCA-3376
  Apollo 11 - Live Broadcast From the Moon (includes phone from the President), Part Two. News coverage of the first astronauts landing on the moon.
  CBS
  Runtime: 00:52:25

• New York Times of July 20, 1969

• AP Images photos from July 20, 1969
• Getty Images photos from July 20, 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.

• July 1969 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• July 20, 1969