Discussion on Ending the War and Deployment of Additional U.S. Forces, July 29-November 26, 1965
188. Letter From the Ambassador to Vietnam (Lodge) to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President, McGeorge Bundy, Vol. XVI. Secret. McGeorge Bundy sent this letter to the President under cover of a November 8 memorandum that reads as follows:
189. Draft Memorandum From Secretary of Defense McNamara to President Johnson
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, McNamara Files: FRC 71 A 3470, South Vietnam, Statements and Supporting Papers. Top Secret. Designated as “1st rough draft.” McNamara wrote the following note on the source text: “A copy of this was sent to the Pres. by courier through Mac’s office on 11/7 and discussed with him by me, Dean, George, and Mac on 11/7. RMcN” According to the President’s Daily Diary, the President’s meeting with McNamara, Rusk, Ball, and McGeorge Bundy was held at the LBJ Ranch in Texas on November 11, not November 7. See Document 189 regarding the meeting. The President was at the LBJ Ranch October 23-November 14, recovering from surgery. (Johnson Library)
The copy of this memorandum in the Johnson Library has a covering memorandum by McNaughton, who hand-delivered it to McGeorge Bundy on November 4. McNaughton informed Bundy that Rusk and Ball were also getting copies and related McNamara’s desire that Bundy not show this memorandum to anyone else without telephoning McNamara first. (Ibid., National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Vol. XLII, Memos (B)) In The Vantage Point (pp. 233-234), Johnson describes this memorandum and recalls that his “first reaction” to it was “one of deep skepticism.”
190. Memorandum of Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Rusk and the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)
Source: Department of State, Rusk Files: Lot 72 D 192, Telephone Conversations. No classification marking. Transcribed by Mildred Asbjornson. A handwritten note on the source text reads: “Amb Johnson was present for the call.”
191. Telegram From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to President Johnson, in Texas
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President, McGeorge Bundy, Vol. XV. Top Secret; Eyes Only;Nodis. The President was at the LBJ Ranch.
192. Telegram From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to President Johnson, in Texas
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President, McGeorge Bundy, Vol XV. Top Secret. President Johnson was at the LBJ Ranch. There is an indication on the source text that the President saw the telegram.
193. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Top Secret; Priority; Nodis. The source text does not indicate a time of transmission; the telegram was received at 8:07 a.m. 1623. Eyes only for Bundy. I called on Archbishop Palmas and said that nothing could be said or done as far as I was concerned unless I could see the so called “letter of credentials”.
194. Memorandum for President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Vol. XLII, Memos (A). Top Secret. On a covering index listing the nine sections of this memorandum, a handwritten note reads as follows: “The Secretary (from Ambassador Johnson).” A handwritten note by McNaughton on the Department of Defense copy indicates that U. Alexis Johnson was the author of the memorandum. (United States-Vietnam Relations, 1945-1967, Book 6, Part IV, C, 7 (a), footnote 31)
195. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (McNaughton) to Secretary of Defense McNamara
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Vol. XLII, Memos (A). Top Secret; Eyes Only.
196. Letter From the Consul General in Hong Kong (Rice) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Bundy)
Source: Department of State, Bundy Files: Lot 85 D 240, Correspondence with the Field, June 1965. Secret; Official-Informal. A copy was sent to INR Director Hughes.
197. Letter From Secretary of State Rusk to the Ambassador to Vietnam (Lodge)
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Vol. XLII, Memos (A). Personal and Secret; Nodis.
199. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Secret; Limdis. Repeated to CINCPAC.
200. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Vietnam
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27-7 VIET. Secret. Drafted by Schwartz; cleared by Unger, Meeker, Sieverts, and Robert H. Miller, Director of the Vietnam Working Group; and approved by Rusk.
201. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Secret; Priority; Nodis. The source text does not indicate a time of transmission; the telegram was received at 7:21 a.m. McGeorge Bundy sent President Johnson a retyped copy of this telegram under cover of a November 17 memorandum that reads: “Here is Lodge’s weekly telegram. He lays proper emphasis on the fact that this week it is the military developments that are the most interesting, but paragraph 4 on rural construction is of equal long-run importance.” There is an indication on the copy of the telegram that the President saw it. (Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President, McGeorge Bundy, Vol. XVI)
202. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, 6AA, High Level Comments re Bombing Pauses. No classification marking.
203. Telegram From Secretary of State Rusk to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27-14 VIET. Top Secret; Immediate; Nodis. The source text does not indicate a time of transmission; the telegram was received at 10:13 a.m.
204. Memorandum From Chester L. Cooper of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, 41-Pt. Program in Non-Military Sphere in SVN. Secret.
205. Draft Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Johnson
Source: Department of State, Bundy Files: Lot 85 D 240, WPB Chron. Top Secret. Drafted by William Bundy and described on the source text as “Final Draft.” The President was at the LBJ Ranch in Texas November 19-December 12.
206. Memorandum of Telephone Conversation Between Acting Secretary of State Ball and Secretary of Defense McNamara
Source: Johnson Library, Papers of George Ball, Telephone Conversations, Vietnam. No classification marking.
207. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (Sisco) to Acting Secretary of State Ball
Source: Department of State, EA/ACA Files: Lot 69 D 412, Vietnam Negotiations, Fanfani. Secret; Eyes Only. Copies were sent to U. Alexis Johnson and William Bundy.