IX. United States Government Consideration of the Taylor Mission Report November 3-15, 1961
240. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Vietnam
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751K.00/11-1361. Secret; Priority; Eyes Only. Drafted by McConaughy, cleared in draft with Johnson (G) and the Secretary, and signed for the Secretary by McConaughy.
241. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751K.00/11-1361. Secret. Drafted by Brown and approved in the Office of the Secretary of State on November 26. The time of the meeting is from the Secretary of State’s Appointment Book. (Johnson Library, Rusk Appointment Books)
242. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary of State and the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Johnson)
Source: Department of State, Rusk Files: Lot 72 D 192, Telephone Calls. Transcribed by Mildred Asbjornson of the Office of the Secretary.
243. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State
Source: Department of State, Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 65 D 330, November 1961. Secret. Drafted by Cross on November 24 and approved in the Office of the Secretary on December 1. The time and location of the meeting are taken from the Rusk Appointment Book in the Johnson Library.
244. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary of State and the President’s Military Representative (Taylor)
Source: Department of State, Rusk Files: Lot 72 D 192, Telephone Calls. Transcribed by Phyllis D. Bernau of the Office of the Secretary.
245. Memorandum From the Secretary of Defense (McNamara) to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Lemnitzer)
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, McNamara Files:FRC 71 A 3470, Southeast Asia 1961.
246. Memorandum From the Secretary of Defense (McNamara) to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Lemnitzer)
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, McNamara Files: FRC 71 A 3470, Southeast Asia 1961. Top Secret.
247. Draft National Security Action Memorandum
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Viet-Nam Country Series. Top Secret. Attached to the source text is a memorandum of November 13 from Bromley Smith to the National Security Council that reported that the draft NSAM was being circulated for discussion in connection with an NSC meeting scheduled for 10 a.m., November 15.
248. Letter From Prime Minister Nu to President Kennedy
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751K.00/11-1861. Attached to the source text is a copy of a brief memorandum of transmittal from Battle to Bundy, November 18, indicating that it was the signed original of the Prime Minister’s letter. settle already apparently sent Bundy a copy of telegram 380 from Rangoon, November 14, containing the text of the letter. (Ibid., 751K.00/11-1461) A note on the Department of state s copy of telegram 380 indicates that it was passed to the White House at 1121 a.m. on November 15.
249. Memorandum From the Deputy Director of the Viet-Nam Task Force (Wood) to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Steeves)
Source: Department of State, Viet-Nam Task Force Files: Lot 66 D 193, 1-A2-Briefing Papers GVN 1961. Secret. Drafted by Heavner and sent to Steeves through Anderson.
250. Memorandum From Robert H. Johnson of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Deputy Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Rostow)
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Viet-Nam Country Series. Top Secret. A note on the source text indicates that a copy was also sent to McGeorge Bundy.
251. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Rostow) to the President
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Viet-Nam Country Series. Initialed by Rostow.
252. Memorandum From the President to the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense (McNamara)
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Viet-Nam Country Series. The source text bears the following handwritten notation by Bundy: “used by President as talking paper Nov. 14 P M-before NSC. MGB”
253. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to the President
Source: Kennedy Library, Sorensen Papers, Vietnam. Top Secret.
254. Notes on the National Security Council Meeting
Source: Johnson Library, Vice Presidential Security File, National Security Council (11). Top Secret. The drafter is not indicated, but it was probably Howard L. Burris, the Vice President’s military aide. According to the President’s log, the following people, in addition to the President, attended the meeting: Byron R. White, Acting Attorney General; David E. Bell; Allen W. Dulles; John A. McCone; Robert S. McNamara; Roswell L. Gilpatric; Paul Nitze; William P. Bundy; Lyman L. Lemnitzer; Edward A. McDermott; Dean Rusk; Fowler Hamilton, U. Alexis Johnson, George C. McGhee; Walter P. McConaughy; Henry H. Fowler; Edward R. Murrow, McGeorge Bundy; Walt R. Rostow; Maxwell Taylor; Chester V. Clifton; Theodore C. Sorensen; Howard L. Burris; and Bromley Smith. (Kennedy Library; JFK Log, Book 11) From the notes themselves it is evident that Robert Amory was also present.
255. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751K.00/11-1561. Secret; Priority; Eyes Only. Received in the Department of State at 10:29 a.m.
256. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to the President
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Viet-Nam Country Series. Top Secret.