Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume II, Organization and Management of U.S. Foreign Policy, 1969–1972

57. Memorandum From President Nixon to Secretary of State Rogers¹

Washington, July 2, 1969.

SUBJECT

• Working Groups on Vietnam

I have given considerable thought to your memorandum of June 24,² proposing the formulation of a group on Vietnam, chaired by me and composed of yourself, Laird, Wheeler, and Kissinger. I welcome the opportunity for periodic meetings of this group. However, given the demands on my time, I do not want to commit myself to another fixed meeting. Instead, I propose to convene such a group as the need arises in lieu of the full NSC and as part of the NSC process. I have instructed Henry Kissinger to staff it along these lines.³

RN

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 138, Vietnam Country Files, Vietnam, Vol. VIII, 7/1/69–7/31/69. Secret.
2. Document 56.
3. Below his initials, the President wrote: “I would also like to have John Mitchell as a member of this group—The first meeting should be early next week—”