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November 20, 1969

Introduction

This almanac page for Thursday, November 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: Wednesday, November 19, 1969

Next Date: Friday, November 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 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.

    Announcements

    • Regulation of Pesticides (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1632, November 20, 1969)
      Announcement of Review by Environmental Quality Council of Report by the Commission on Pesticides.

    Awards and Citations

    • Presidential Unit Citation (5 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1631, November 20, 1969)
      Announcement of Award to 1st Platoon, Company B, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, United States Army.

    Resignations and Retirements

    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 Dr. Lee A. DuBridge, Science Advisor to the President; Walter J. Hickle, Secretary of the Interior; Clifford M. Hardin, Secretary of Agriculture; Robert H. Finch, Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare; John A. Volpe, Secretary of Transportation; Dr. Ned D. Bayley, Jr., Director, Science and Education, Department of Agriculture; and Edward N. Cole, President, General Motors Corporation, following the meeting of the Environmental Quality Council.

    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 and Prime Minister Sato of Japan viewed a model of the United States Pavilion for EXPO '70, the Japan World Exposition, to be held in Osaka in 1970. Howard L. Chernoff, Commissioner General of the Pavilion, described the Pavilion and exhibits in a meeting at the White House.
    • Heads of the four major automotive companies and the president of the American Petroleum Institute attended the meeting of the Environmental Quality Council at the White House, for a discussion of automobile exhaust pollution.
    • The President transmitted to the Congress amendments to the requests for appropriations in the fiscal 1970 budget for the District of Columbia in the amount of $20 million in Federal funds and $3,706,000 in local District of Columbia funds. The President also reported to the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the progress of the District of Columbia highway projects listed in section 23(b) of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1968, indicating that the District Government had begun work on each of the designated projects and had committed itself to complete those projects.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Argued

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. V, United Nations, 1969-1972

    Expansion of UN Headquarters

    Vol. XII, Soviet Union, January 1969-October 1970

    Establishment of the Kissinger-Dobrynin Channel; Dialogue on the Middle East; and the Sino-Soviet Dispute, April 23-December 10, 1969

    • 102. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Washington, November 20, 1969, 0016Z

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 711, Country Files, Europe, USSR, Vol. VI. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by Buchanan and approved by Dubs, McGuire, Okun, Levitsky, and Springsteen. Repeated to Moscow, Bucharest, Budapest, Prague, Sofia, and Warsaw. On November 21, the Department of State included in its submission to the President’s Daily Brief the statement: “Ambassador Dobrynin has presented an informal aide-mémoire to Secretary Rogers on the question of a European Security Conference.” (Ibid.) This telegram was attached to a memorandum describing the Soviet démarche from Sonnenfeldt to Kissinger on December 23.

    Vol. XVII, China, 1969-1972

    China, 1969

    • 47. Minutes of the Senior Review Group Meeting, Washington, November 20, 1969, 3:05-4 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–111, SRG Minutes, Originals, 1969–1970. Secret. The meeting was held in the White House Situation Room. Davis forwarded the minutes to Kissinger on November 25 under a covering memorandum, in which she noted that Sonnenfeldt and Holdridge had reviewed them. (Ibid.) Cargo also prepared a short report on this meeting. (Ibid., RG 59, S/S Files: Lot 80 D 212, National Security Files, NSSM 63)

    Vol. XIX, Part 2, Japan, 1969-1972

    January-November 1969: The Decision for Okinawa Reversion

    • 31. Memorandum of Conversation , Washington, November 20, 1969, 10:15 a.m.

      Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS 63, Memcons, Presidential File, 1969. Top Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Wickel on November 24. The meeting took place at the White House. The President’s Daily Diary indicates that Nixon, Sato, and two interpreters met from 10:18 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Central Files, Daily Diary) On November 19 Nixon received talking points from Kissinger for the next day’s meetings with Sato. (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS 63, Memcons, Presidential File, 1969) He also received pre-arranged “Procedural Steps” for dealing with the textile question. These indicated that Sato would inform Nixon “that there are serious bilateral textile discussions going on in Geneva and he will hold himself personally responsible for the achievement of a comprehensive agreement by the end of December 1969 to be reduced to writing. This agreement should be kept confidential until and during the GATT meeting but he pledges that during the GATT meeting he will do his utmost to achieve agreement in accordance with the understanding reached in December.” (Ibid.) See Document 30.

    Vol. XX, Southeast Asia, 1969-1972

    Thailand

    Vol. XXI, Chile, 1969-1973

    A "Noisy Democracy": The Decline of Eduardo Frei, January-December 1969

    Vol. XXIX, Eastern Mediterranean, 1969-1972

    Cyprus

    Vol. XXXVI, Energy Crisis, 1969-1974

    February 20, 1969-February 19, 1970

    • 19. Notes on a Meeting of the Cabinet Task Force on Oil Import Control With President Nixon, Washington, November 20, 1969

      Source: National Archives, RG 220, Records of the Cabinet Task Force on Oil Import Control, Box 22, Meetings Files, Philip Areeda’s Notes from Meeting with the President, 11/20/69. No classification marking. According to the President’s Daily Diary, Nixon met with Flanigan, Shultz, and Areeda from 4:37 to 5 p.m. and again from 5:32 to 6:50 p.m. (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Central Files)

    • 20. Notes on a Meeting of the Cabinet Task Force on Oil Import Control With President Nixon, Washington, November 20, 1969, 4:40-5:10 p.m. and 5:30-6:45 p.m.

      Source: National Archives, RG 220, Records of the Cabinet Task Force on Oil Import Control, Box 23, Task Force Meetings, Meeting with President, November 20, 1969. Brackets are in the original. These notes are an unattributed itemization of the basic conclusions reached at the November 20 meeting; see Document 19.

    Vol. XXXIX, European Security

    "Bureaucratic Steamroller," January 1969-November 1970

    • 11. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Washington, November 20, 1969, 0016Z

      Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 711, Country Files, Europe, USSR, Vol. VI. Confidential; Immediate. Also sent to Moscow and repeated to Bucharest, Budapest, Prague, Sofia, and Warsaw. Drafted by Thompson R. Buchanan (EUR/SOV); approved by Dubs, McGuire, Herbert S. Okun (S), Springsteen, and Melvyn Levitsky (S/S). Sonnenfeldt forwarded a copy of the telegram to Kissinger with a covering memorandum on December 23. (Ibid.)

    Vol. E-1, Documents on Global Issues, 1969-1972

    U.S. Policy Towards Terrorism, Hijacking of Aircraft, and Attacks on Civil Aviation: Israeli Attack on Beirut Airport and Hijacking of TWA Flight 840, January-December 1969

    • 33. Telegram 4348 From the Embassy in Israel to the Department of State, Tel Aviv, November 20, 1969, 1302Z

      The Embassy reported that the three-way hostage exchange designed to resolve the TWA Flight 840 hostage incident appeared to have fallen through because of difficulties between the ICRC and the Syrian Government. Rafael renewed Israel’s threat to take action and asked the U.S. to try to get the ICRC mission moving forward.

      Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, AV 12 US. Secret; Immediate; Nodis.

    Vol. E-5, Part 2, Documents on North Africa, 1969-1972

    Libya

  • 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-2462 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2462-, President Nixon, Japanese Prime Minister Eisaku Satō, and others accepting and viewing a model of the U.S. Pavilion to be built for the Osaka World's Fair. 11/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Roosevelt Room. President Nixon, Eisaku Satō, Kiichi Aichi (Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan), Toshio Kimura (State Secretary for the Prime Minister, Takeso Shimoda (Ambassador of Japan), Haruki Mod (Deputy Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs), Fumihiko Togo (Director-General. American Affairs Bureau Ministry of Fo reign Affairs), Genichi Akatani ( Councillor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Teruo Kosugi (Private Secretary to the Prime Minister), Makoto Watanabe (Interpreter), and unidentified officials, Richard L. Sneider (Minister American Embassy, Tokyo), Richard B. Finn (Country Director Japan).
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2462-22A, President Nixon, Japanese Prime Minister Eisaku Satō, and others accepting and viewing a model of the U.S. Pavilion to be built for the Osaka World's Fair. 11/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Roosevelt Room. President Nixon, Eisaku Satō, Fumihiko Togo (Director-General, American Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Takeso Shimoda (Ambassador of Japan); present according to the PDD: Kiichi Aichi (Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan), Toshio Kimura (State Secretary for the Prime Minister), Haruki Mod (Deputy Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs), Genichi Akatani (Councillor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Teruo Kosugi (Private Secretary to the Prime Minister), Makoto Watanabe (Interpreter), Richard L. Sneider (Minister, American Embassy, Tokyo), Richard B. Finn (Country Director, Japan).

    Roll WHPO-2463 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2463-, President Nixon, Japanese Prime Minister Eisaku Satō, and others accepting and viewing a model of the U.S. Pavilion to be built for the Osaka World's Fair. 11/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Roosevelt Room. President Nixon, Eisaku Satō, Kiichi Aichi (Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan), Toshio Kimura (State Secretary for the Prime Minister, Takeso Shimoda (Ambassador of Japan), Haruki Mod (Deputy Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs), Fumihiko Togo (Director-General. American Affairs Bureau Ministry of Fo reign Affairs), Genichi Akatani ( Councillor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Teruo Kosugi (Private Secretary to the Prime Minister), Makoto Watanabe (Interpreter), and unidentified officials, Richard L. Sneider (Minister American Embassy, Tokyo), Richard B. Finn (Country Director Japan).
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2463-22A, Japanese Prime Minister Eisaku Satō, and an unidentified man holding and viewing shat appears to be an item in a glass case. President Nixon and a variety of aides and officials stand nearby. 11/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Roosevelt Room. President Nixon, Eisaku Satō; See PDD for a full list of those present.

    Roll WHPO-2464 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2464-, John Davies accepting a petition from unidentified men. 11/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House grounds. John Davies, unidentified men.

    Roll WHPO-2466 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: B&W

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2466-, President Nixon standing with N.J. State Senator Frank Farley and James Boyd. 11/20/1969, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Frank Farley, James Boyd.

    Roll WHPO-2467 Photographer: Atkins, Oliver | Color or B&W: Color

    • Frame(s): WHPO-2467-, A portrait study of First Lady Pat Nixon. 11/20/1969, Washington, D.C. unknown. Pat Nixon.
    • Frame(s): WHPO-2467-30, Formal head and shoulders portrait of First lady Pat Nixon wearing a pink dress. 11/20/1969, Washington, D.C. unknown. Pat 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.

    B - Vice-Presidential (Agnew and Ford)

    • WHCA-SR-B-026
      Remarks in a televised address-Montgomery, AL. (11/20/1969)

      Runtime: 30:00:00

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

    H - White House Staff Member Recordings

    • WHCA-SR-H-100
      Statements on environment by the President's Council on Environmental Control (Volpe, Lee DuBridge, Clifford Hardin, Hickel, Ed McCall, and Dr. Bayey). (11/20/1969, Roosevelt Room, White House)

      Runtime: 0:28:52

      Keywords: Briefings, public briefings, statements to the press (see also Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media)

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

      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-3521
      Apollo 12 EVA - no live pictures.
      NBC
      Runtime: 1:00
    • WHCA-3522
      Apollo 12 EVA - no live pictures.
      NBC
      Runtime: 1:00
    • WHCA-3523
      Apollo 12 Leaving Moon.
      NBC
      Runtime: 1:00
    • WHCA-3524
      Docking of Apollo 12. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Presidential Advisor.
      Undetermined
      Runtime: 0:35
    • WHCA-3525
      "The President's Men" with Pat Moynihan.
      CBS
      Runtime: 00:31:44
    • WHCA-3526
      V.P. Agnew - Speech in Montgomery, Ala..
      NBC
      Runtime: 00:34:32
    • WHCA-3529
      Weekly News Summary.
      All networks
      Runtime: 00:27:03

      5. Reasoner/Sevareid: Chief Paris negotiator, Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge, and his Deputy, Lawrence Walsh resign, effective in December, Diplomat Philip Habib to take over. Time Code Start: 07:38. Keywords: Ambassadors, officials, resignations. Network: NBC.

Context (External Sources)