55. Memorandum of Telephone Conversations Between the Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs (Manning) and the President1
TELEPHONE CALL TO THE PRESIDENT, 4:35 pm
The President asked who had done the AP story2 and who had talked with him. Mr. Manning said it was Hightower, and that he felt it was a case of pure and careful deduction. The President said he would not want VOA carrying the story. Mr M said he had spoken with Ed3 yesterday and it had been agreed we would confine our selves [Page 104] strictly to the President’s comments. Mr M said he did not think anyone had been talking out of turn; he himself had been the only one, he believed to talk with Hightower since the President’s statement and he remembered what he had told him. Mr M said that we had made a strong statement last week and when we pointed the finger, any good correspondent would be bound to draw some conclusions and get the idea that Nhu is the one we do not like. The President said we do not think we can get him completely out of the picture. Mr M said there was a problem in saying that too. Mr. M said he had made clear to Hightower that we could not tell the Vietnamese Government what to do and who to choose. Mr M said he felt Hightower had a good grip on things.
TELEPHONE CALL FROM THE PRESIDENT, 4:45 pm
The President called back re the mention in the above discussed article of cutting aid. Mr M said he had tried to make clear that we have not made any decisions of that sort and could not without making the decision to withdraw which had not been made. The President said he thought it would be good if we could turn these stories off for a few days, and not have people going on TV. Mr M mentioned that Mr Hilsman had been turning down press calls and TV requests. The President agreed that was wise.