Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XIV, Soviet Union

273. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson¹

Washington, June 7, 1968, 4:15 p.m.

Mr. President:

I talked privately with Sec. Rusk about a trip to the Soviet Union. His view is as follows:

1. He doubts whether a trip in the present stage of the Vietnam negotiation would be acceptable or fruitful.

2. If we achieve a negotiating breakthrough-even before Vietnam is wound up-he thinks a trip might be acceptable to the Soviet Union and quite useful.

3. Therefore, he is inclined to await the outcome of our exchanges with Moscow and events in Paris over the next several weeks before proceeding with exploratory discussions with Dobrynin.

I agree.

W.W. Rostow ²

1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Rostow Files, Trip to Soviet Union. Secret; Sensitive. In a June 4 note to the President, Rostow asked: “Do you wish me to have an unofficial, exploratory word with Dobrynin on a Soviet trip, which you mentioned the other day?” The President wrote on Rostow’s note in response: “ask Rusk to give judgment & explore.”
2. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.