Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume III, Vietnam, June–December 1965

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

Washington, July 19, 1965, 8:15 p.m.

SUBJECT

• The Reasons for Avoiding a Billion Dollar Appropriation in Vietnam

1. It would be a belligerent challenge to the Soviets at a time when it is important to do only the things which we have to do (like calling reserves).

2. It would stir talk about controls over the economy and inflation—at a time when controls are not needed and inflation is not that kind of a problem.

3. It would create the false impression that we have to have guns, not butter—and would help the enemies of the President’s domestic legislative program.

4. It would play into the hands of the Soviets at Geneva, because they could argue that it was a flagrant breach of the policy of “mutual example” on defense budgets.

5. It is not needed—because there are other ways of financing our full effort in Vietnam for the rest of the calendar year, at least.

McG. B.

1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President, McGeorge Bundy, Vol. XII. No classification marking. The President put a line through the entire memorandum, crossed out the third point, and wrote at the bottom, “Rewrite eliminating 3.” Bundy submitted the rewritten memorandum to President Johnson on July 23 under a covering memorandum stating: “This is a revised version of an earlier paper, but it may clearly be out-of-date.” The revised version was identical to the memorandum printed here except for the omission of the third point. (Ibid.)