Office of the Historian

124. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Harriman) and Michael V. Forrestal of the National Security Council Staff1

Washington, September 17, 1963—4:20 p.m.

Governor Harriman called Mr. Forrestal. He said Roger and he [were] very much disappointed with draft.2 Proposal of visit a disaster. He said it is sending two men opposed to our policy, plus one who wouldn’t stand up, to carry out policy.3 Mr. Forrestal agreed. He said this must have been added after he saw it.

Governor, Hilsman and Forrestal discussed the situation and what message to Lodge should say.

  1. Source: Library of Congress, Harriman Papers, Telephone Conversations. Transcribed by Mildred Leatherman.↩
  2. Reference is to a draft of the telegram, Document 125.↩
  3. Harriman is apparently referring to McNamara and Taylor when he describes the “two men opposed to our policy.” The “one who wouldn’t stand up” has not been identified.↩