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

77. Meeting Agenda¹

Washington, undated.

Possible Items for Discussion

July 22, 2:30 P.M.

1. How big a change in policy is this and how do we explain it—in political and military terms?

2. How do we inhibit Chinese and North Vietnamese response by both carrot and stick?

3. How do we combine a peace offensive with stepped-up military action?

4. Is this policy justified in terms of Vietnam, Asia or U.S. national interests—or all three?

5. How do we get a political and social effort within Vietnam that is equal in strength to the military effort?

6. What are our war aims? What is the answer to Walter Lippmann’s question on this point?²

1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President, McGeorge Bundy, Vol. XII. No classification marking. The source text bears no drafting information, but the agenda was apparently drafted by McGeorge Bundy between the noon and 3 p.m. meetings; see Documents 76 and 78.
2. Walter Lippmann’s question is not further identified.