American Diplomat Philip Habib’s Day Planners From 1974 & 1977

PHILIP HABIB (1920-1992). Habib was a long-serving and capable American diplomat. He worked for several Presidential administrations. Habib is best remembered for his work in Southeast Asia, specifically South Korea and Vietnam, as well as for helping broker peace in the Middle East. He received the 1982 Presidential Medal of Freedom. Autograph manuscript. Approximately 183 pages of writing. 1974. American diplomat Philip Habib’s day planner from 1974. In that year, Habib was the American Ambassador to South Korea through August and then Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs after that. The planner records his appointments in South Korea and the United States, including meetings, golf outings, recurring military breakfasts, events at other embassies, and more. It mentions important political and military figures including General Richard G. Stilwell and General & Mrs. Donald Bennett. Also recorded are visits from political scientist Robert Scalapino in South Korea and Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos in Washington. Habib would attempt to convince her husband, Ferdinand Marcos, to resign from his corrupt regime in 1986. Some days are packed, while other have few or no entries. The planner is in fine condition with some wear to the edges of the black leather cover. It is primarily written in pencil. Autograph manuscript. Approximately 365 pages of writing. 1977. American diplomat Philip Habib’s day planner for the year 1977. Habib was Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs at the time. He would officially retire the following year, though he would continue to do diplomatic work into the 1980s. In 1977, Habib spent the bulk of his time in Washington D.C., where he recorded lots of meetings, lunches, and briefings. He made repeated mentions of Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, which whom Habib seems to have had almost daily contact. Other entries involved Henry Kissinger, Judge Paul Redmond Michel, Sargent Shriver, and Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Hodding Carter III, as well as ambassadors from many other nations. Habib attended events like a NATO conference and an Israeli Independence Ball. He recorded state visits from foreign leaders including Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, King Hussein of Jordan, and the Shah of Iran. Habib also recorded trips to the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, and Asia. Unfortunately, he did not record his schedule while in those countries. The journal is in fine condition, though the pencil writing is smudged in places and can be difficult to read.