324. Notes on Foreign Policy Meeting1
THOSE ATTENDING
- The President
- Secretary Rusk
- Secretary Clifford
- Robert Murphy (Nixon Staff)
- General Wheeler
- Walt Rostow
- CIA Director Helms
- George Christian
- Tom Johnson
The President: I talked about the possibility of meeting with the Soviets with Senator Fulbright and Bob Murphy, liaison with Nixon.
Secretary Clifford: I said we had meeting after meeting after Glassboro on missile talks. I think it was the best prepared effort I had seen. At the eleventh hour, they (Soviets) went into Czechoslovakia.
The Soviets can’t see how they can face the costs of the missile race.
They are ready for talks. We are ready. There is support for this at Defense. When Nixon comes in, it could be a year before you get back to the point where we are now.
We now have substantial nuclear superiority over the Soviets. If a freeze goes into effect, we would be ahead. They are gaining in ICBM and submarine field.
Robert Murphy: I don’t know if we have superiority or not, based on intelligence briefings and reports I have had. We need to cut down on expenses. We have something going. The bombing was stopped. South Vietnam will come to Paris.
Secretary Rusk: An announcement will be made tonight.
Secretary Clifford: I think it would be in President-Elect Nixon’s interest to get these talks started. During his term, I expect an agreement could be reached.
A number of forces are in position now to let talks begin. Then technicians can take over.
[Page 768]Items to be discussed:
- Missiles
- Vietnam
- Korea
- Mideast
Walt Rostow: The Soviets said they have done full staff work. They have a paper to hand us—a bargaining paper.
They are prepared to have agreed statement before we go.
We would go back and study papers each handed us.
Robert Murphy: That Communiqué would be a great achievement.
They use “equality of security.”
Secretary Rusk: We have used this.
Walt Rostow: This is Dobrynin talking to Rusk and me.
The President has long history of correspondence on Vietnam. We could lay out this. They seem to want to work the Mideast out.
Secretary Rusk: We were far down this track before Czechoslovakia.
Neither one of us has decisive influence on countries of the Mideast. But we both do have legitimate claims on Soviet on Southeast Asia.
Robert Murphy: I have a reservation about summit meetings. The thought of another Glassboro would be unappealing.
The President: The question of preparation is not a relevant one. We have been prepared.
Secretary Rusk: We are under pressure from non-nuclear countries to get going on these talks.
The level of talks is related to Vietnam and the Mideast. Every week that goes by without progress increases the danger.
Robert Murphy: On the balance, this should appeal to Mr. Nixon.
The President: We don’t want to commit Mr. Nixon, we do want him to know of it.
Buz, any comment?
General Wheeler: No, Sir.
The President: Dick?
CIA Director Helms: No, sir.
[Here follows discussion of Vietnam.]
- Source: Johnson Library, Tom Johnson’s Notes of Meetings. No classification marking. Drafted by Tom Johnson. The meeting took place in the family dining room at the White House. The time of the meeting is from the President’s Daily Diary. (Ibid.)↩