Office of the Historian

113. Memorandum of Telephone Conversation Between the Presidentʼs Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) and Secretary of State Rusk0

April 17, 1961, 9:11 a.m.

TELEPHONE CALL FROM MR BUNDY IN NEW YORK

B said he administered the first shock—there is a morale problem there and glad he came for this reason. For various reasons he1 got himself in a state of mind this was not going to happen—partly because of a general conversation with our chief and partly because of a breakdown of communications. B conveyed general apologies for what happened [Page 260] over the week end. He will pick up the pieces to see where he can go. He2 patched up a picture of Uncle Sam and now is going to be in the middle of its destruction and not easy. B said maybe the Sec and the chief will want to talk this a.m. but meantime wait a bit. The Sec said not too much is coming in from there—canʼt tell too much about what is happening. B asked if there is anything he should do. The Sec said he is being called back at 9:30 and there may be something.

The Sec said there should be a message up there re Adlaiʼs speech3—something had come in here.

B asked to be called if anything came up.4

  1. Source: Department of State, Rusk Files: Lot 72 D 192, Telephone Conversations, 3/31/61-5/31/61. No classification marking. Transcribed in Ruskʼs office by Phyllis D. Bernau. Bundy was at USUN; Rusk was in Washington.↩
  2. An apparent reference to Stevenson.↩
  3. Another apparent reference to Stevenson.↩
  4. Cuban Foreign Minister Roa repeated and elaborated on charges of U.S. aggression against Cuba in debate in the First Committee on April 17. He charged that Cuba had been invaded by mercenary bands organized, armed, and financed by the Central Intelligence Agency. He stated that the mercenaries came from bases in Florida and Guatemala, and he listed addresses of recruiting centers in the United States. (U.N. doc. A/C.1/SR.1150) Stevenson followed and categorically denied Roaʼs charges. The United States, he stated, “has committed no aggression against Cuba, and no offensive has been launched from Florida or from any other part of the United States.” (Ibid.)↩
  5. Bundy and Rusk talked again at 10:13 a.m. Bundy said that Stevenson had talked to the President, and “took a strong view.” (Department of State, Rusk Files: Lot 72 D 192, Telephone Conversations, 3/31/61-5/31/61) At 10:15 a.m. General Cabell called Rusk to report that two of the CEF ships had been sunk in heavy air attacks. (Ibid.)↩