16. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to the President’s Assistant (Harlow)1
SUBJECT
- Foreign Aid Bill
I had a discussion with Congressman Passman on the telephone concerning the Foreign Aid Bill on Monday afternoon, December 8 at 5:00 p.m.2 Passman complained that there had been all kinds of end runs on this subject and he had decided that no one would get around him on it. He did indicate, however, that he wished to support the President nevertheless.
I emphasized that the $115 million cut in Passman’s Committee for Vietnam posed a most difficult problem and apologized that I had not had an opportunity to talk to him earlier about it. Passman recalled that [Page 41] they had appropriated $375 million last year only to find that merely $240 million were needed. However, he confirmed that he would restore whatever was necessary in conference and expressed a willingness to go up an additional $75 million for Vietnam in conference.
Passman also indicated that he would make an exception this year for President Nixon and move up on Latin America but that it is important that his assistance be very closely held. I am getting the necessary figures on Latin America which I will furnish to Passman tomorrow or the next day.
Please hold this information very closely since I assured Passman we would not compromise him on it.
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 193, AID, Volume I 1969. Confidential; Eyes Only. Drafted by Kissinger and Haig on December 8.↩
- See footnote 4, Document 15.↩