Office of the Historian

108. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to President Johnson1

Washington, February 11, 1965.

SUBJECT

  • Cables from Max Taylor

I attach two cables from Max Taylor which have been referred to in our discussions but which you will wish to read yourself. They are the basic recommendation for a reprisal program (Tab A),2 and his weekly report (Tab B),3 which includes his acknowledgment of our outgoing cable (Tab C)4 reporting your basic decision of Monday to reaffirm your December plan on the basis of the evacuation of dependents and the best government we can get in Saigon. These documents are the fundamental basis on which we are now making plans for your further review. The only more important document will be your speech, of which I expect to have the first draft by Saturday morning.5

McG. B.6
  1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President, McGeorge Bundy, Vol. VIII. No classification.↩
  2. Document 93.↩
  3. Telegram 2466, February 10, in which Taylor expressed his happiness at the decision to move ahead into Phase II of the December plan. (Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S)↩
  4. Document 91.↩
  5. For Bundy’s drafts of the speech, see Johnson Library, National Security File, Files of McGeorge Bundy, Feb. 1965 Non-Speech on Vietnam. The proposed speech was never given. See Document 124, paragraphs 5–7.↩
  6. Printed from a copy that bears these typed initials.↩