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<img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources/gloria-diaz-ms-u-sm.webp" alt="Gloria Diaz" >
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(Front page of Manila Times on July 21, 1969)
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President Nixon's State Visit to Manila
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On July 26, 1969, President Richard Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon landed at Manila International Airport, greeted by Philippine President <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/595/today-in-philippine-history-september-11-1917-ferdinand-e-marcos-was-born-in-sarrat-ilocos-norte" class="news_link">Ferdinand Marcos</a> and a large welcoming crowd. Nixon's visit was particularly notable as it followed the Apollo 11 mission, during which astronauts <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Armstrong" class="news-link-ext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Neil Armstrong</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buzz_Aldrin" class="news-link-ext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Buzz Aldrin</a> became the first humans to walk on the moon on July 20, 1969. In his arrival remarks, Nixon emphasized the symbolic importance of his visit, stating:
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 "I think it is significant to note that the first world capital that I am visiting, after having greeted the first men to have set foot on the moon, is Manila, the capital of the Philippines."
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The visit was part of Nixon's broader foreign policy to strengthen ties with Asian allies during the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War" class="news-link-ext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Vietnam War</a>. However, as reported by the New York Times on July 26, 1969, "few issues were expected to arise" during the brief talks, indicating the visit's largely ceremonial nature. Nixon met with President Marcos to discuss bilateral relations, and the visit included a meeting with Philippine presidential candidate Senator Osmena, reflecting the political context of the upcoming Philippine election.
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Nixon's remarks upon departure further highlighted the warmth of the visit, noting the Philippines' historical ties with the US and referencing former President <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight_D._Eisenhower" class="news-link-ext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Dwight Eisenhower</a>'s affection for the country, where he had lived in the 1930s. The visit, though short, reinforced the Philippines' strategic importance in US foreign policy and its place in the global narrative of 1969, a year defined by the moon landing and shifting international dynamics.
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July 26, 1969: Nixon in Manila; Gloria Diaz Returns as Miss Universe