Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, American Republics; Cuba 1961–1962; Cuban Missile Crisis and Aftermath, Volumes X/XI/XII, Microfiche Supplement

550. NSC Executive Committee record of action, November 21¹

Meeting No. 29

November 21, 1962, 4 p.m.

1. There was a discussion of the next steps in the New York negotiations with the Russians. The President approved instructions to Stevenson and McCloy, including a proposed non-invasion statement, which are aimed at closing out this phase of the Cuban crisis promptly.

2. An interim reply to the most recent message from Moscow was approved by the President.

3. Secretary McNamara reported that he would be recommending to the President an aerial reconnaissance plan for the immediate future which would call for a limited number of high-level flights, probably two per day accumulative but not more than five in any one day. He subsequently presented exactly this high-level regulation and the President approved it; low-level flights remain to be authorized by the President.

McGeorge Bundy

1. UN negotiations with the Russians; aerial reconnaissance plan. Top Secret. 1 p. Kennedy Library, NSF, Meetings and Memoranda Series, Executive Committee, Meetings, Vol. III, 25–32A.