136. Editorial Note
On October 5, 1964, President Johnson met with Secretary of State Rusk, Secretary of Defense McNamara, Special Assistant McGeorge Bundy, and Director of Central Intelligence McCone in the Cabinet Room [Page 279] of the White House at 4:15 p.m. Two of the five items discussed related to Laos. According to McGeorge Bundy’s minutes of the meeting:
“It was agreed that we would not at present respond affirmatively to Souvanna Phouma’s request for interdiction operations along route 7. We should point out to him that such an operation now would put the onus of escalation upon us. We should not, however, foreclose the possibility of a different decision in the event of renewed hostile activity by the Pathet Lao and Viet Minh.”
In the 4th item, according to McGeorge Bundy’s minutes:
“The President agreed to a program of Laotian bombing in the communications corridors of Southern Laos, using the T–28 force now available. The Secretary of Defense pointed out that there was implied in this program a limited use of U.S. fighters, at some stage, for suppressive strikes, but Presidential approval for this part of the program was neither asked nor given.” (Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President, McGeorge Bundy, Vol. VII)
The other topics discussed were a possible Rusk visit to South Vietnam, 34–A operations against North Vietnam, and the Alliance for Progress. The full text of McGeorge Bundy’s minutes, October 5, is printed in Foreign Relations, 1964–1968, volume I, pages 811–812. McCone also prepared a brief summary of this meeting. (Central Intelligence Agency, DCI (McCone) Files, Job 80–B01285A, Meetings with President, 1 May–31 Oct, 1964)