Office of the Historian

242. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary of State and the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Johnson)1

Washington, November 13, 1961, 2:08 p.m.

[Here follows the beginning of the conversation regarding Laos.]

Mr. Johnson asked if the Sec. had gotten the message from the NSC on Vietnam.2 Johnson said he had tried to discourage General Taylor and according to Taylor the Pres. was receptive. Johnson said he had told Taylor he thought we had our decisions and that there was no necessity for another meeting. Mr. Johnson said that Gen. Taylor was on his way to talk to the Vice President now. The only ones left out were the Vice President and Dillon. Johnson said he had had word that McNamara was agreeable if the Secretary was. He said we could check the paper out with Dillon and Murrow without having a meeting. The Sec. asked if they had indicated they wanted to wait until after NSC mtg., adding he would talk to Taylor by phone.3

  1. Source: Department of State, Rusk Files: Lot 72 D 192, Telephone Calls. Transcribed by Mildred Asbjornson of the Office of the Secretary.↩
  2. Not further identified, but it apparently pertained to the scheduling of another meeting on Vietnam.↩
  3. At 2:15 p.m., Rusk called Johnson, who said “we would have to move quickly-Galbraith had been working hard on this.” Johnson said he was “a little worried” since he had given Galbraith a copy of the draft instructions to be sent to Nolting. (Department of State, Rusk Files: Lot 72 D 192, Telephone Calls) For Rusk’s subsequent telephone conversation with Taylor, see Document 244.↩