Office of the Historian

150. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for Urban Affairs (Moynihan) to President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)1 2

Washington, November 6, 1969.

The task force report on heroin is certainly the best thing the State Department has yet come forward with on this subject. They begin to see the point. But they still don’t feel it. They are not frightened by this problem. They merely have come to realize that the President is interested.

(Two days ago the leading white liberals of Washington came in to see John Ehrlichman and asked if the administration would not permanently station troops on the streets of Washington. Vraiment. Kay Graham, et. al.)

I don’t think we should work over the Task Force prose. The real issue, as I see it, is who presents the issue to the governments of France and Turkey. Ingersoll is a fine technician, but I think he would inevitably be seen as such. At the risk of presumption, I suggest that I be sent. I expect I know as much about the subject, really, as anyone around. In its larger dimensions, I am now a member of the cabinet.(!) I am an aide to the President. Pompidou and Demirel would have to take me seriously. Further, I am the U.S. representative on the NATO committee on the Challenges of Modern Society. We meet early in December. I would have good reason for being in France and Turkey either before or after that meeting. (As I was before and after the meeting of the Preparatory Committee.) Finally, the funds we transfer to Turkey-they have a right to be paid-could be in the form of CCMS connected work. For example, they dearly need help in establishing a Technology Center.

Daniel P. Moynihan
  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 357, Subject Files, Narcotics I. Confidential. Moynihan added a postscript noting that “Turkey was co-pilot’ with USA on air pollution” in the NATO Committee on Challenges of Modern Society and that “Ingersoll should accompany me.” Haig wrote the following note at the bottom of the page: “Haig discussed w/Moynihan 6 Nov. He agrees with HAK psn that he not be US negotiator or Rep & that we pursue as outlined. AH”↩
  2. Moynihan was critical of the task force report on heroin prepared by the Department of State, and suggested that he be sent as an envoy to the Presidents of France and Turkey.↩