Office of the Historian

402. Memorandum From Nathaniel Davis of the National Security Staff to the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow)1

Washington, November 7, 1966.

SUBJECT

  • Goldberg Trip to the Ranch

I talked to Joe Sisco this morning. He says Goldberg’s trip down was the President’s idea, and he called Goldberg late yesterday afternoon. Goldberg climbed on the plane at 6:00 am today and is returning tonight.2

Joe thinks the President’s idea is electoral politics3—the Jewish community in New York, peace image, constructive initiatives, etc. He also thinks the President is aware of Goldberg’s acute sensitivity about his access to the President for consultation. He thinks Goldberg will talk publicly about efforts for a Vietnam peace (nothing very substantial) and other current UN business. Privately, Goldberg will undoubtedly talk about Chirep, the Outer Space Treaty, Southwest Africa and Rhodesia, Vietnam (of course), and non-proliferation.

[Page 874]

On outer space—unless Goldberg has talked to Morozov on the sly—there has been no change in the situation since my memo of November 2 (attached).4 Goldberg put off today’s meeting with Morozov until tomorrow. I would not be surprised if Goldberg announced Outer Space “agreement” today in Texas, or urged the President to do so. We are so close that this probably could be done.5

ND
  1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Agency File, United Nations, Vol. 5. Secret. A copy of the memorandum was sent to Bator.↩
  2. According to the President’s Daily Diary, Goldberg and Komer arrived at the LBJ Ranch around 9:40 a.m. They apparently spent much of the rest of the day with Johnson and accompanied him during afternoon trips to Cotulla and San Antonio. (Ibid.)↩
  3. November 8 was election day.↩
  4. Not attached.↩
  5. In a November 9 memorandum to Rostow, Davis reported that the President and Goldberg had discussed Vietnam and Goldberg’s trip to Asia, the Chinese representation question, and the Outer Space Treaty on which substantive agreement existed. (Johnson Library, National Security File, Agency File, United Nations, Vol. 5)↩