121. Paper Prepared by the Presidentʼs Special Assistant (Rostow)

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, vol. LI. Secret. Copies were sent to McNaughton, Komer, Carver, William Bundy, Valenti, and Moyers.

122. Telegram From the Department of State to Certain Posts

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 15 VIET S. Confidential. Drafted by D.A. Engel in FE/VN, cleared by Miller, and approved by Unger. Sent for action to 26 posts and repeated to Saigon.

123. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL VIET S. Secret; Immediate; Limdis. Repeated to CINCPAC for POLAD. Rostow forwarded the telegram to the President at 9:25 p.m. on April 18 under cover of a memorandum stating: “This is a first class stock-taking by Saigon which I commend to you for reading at your first relatively easy moment. It underlies the discussions we will be having later in the day and over the next week.” (Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President—Walt W. Rostow, vol. 1) Also passed to Defense, CIA, USIA, and NSA.

124. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, vol. LI. Secret.

125. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President—Walt W. Rostow, vol. 1. Secret.

126. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Johnson

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, vol. LI. Secret; Sensitive. The source text is marked with an indication that the President saw the memorandum.

127. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Special Consultant (Taylor) to President Johnson

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President—Walt W. Rostow, vol. 1. Secret. Rostow forwarded this memorandum to President Johnson on April 27 under a covering memorandum asking whether he could pass the memorandum to William Bundy and urge that the Department of State be prepared to present its views during the Lodge discussions in May. The President gave his approval and wrote on Rostowʼs memorandum: “I think we should have public statement if all agree.” (Ibid.) On April 28 Rostow forwarded Taylorʼs memorandum to Rusk, highlighting in his covering memorandum “one critical question” raised by Taylor: “do you trade a cessation of bombing in the north for a cessation of infiltration or for an end to terrorism in the south. It hinges substantially on whether a cessation of infiltration could be monitored.” (Department of State, Central Files, POL 27–14 VIET) For William Bundyʼs response, see Document 129. For Lodgeʼs comments, see Document 158.

128. Paper Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, vol. LI. Secret. Prepared in the CIA at Desmond FitzGeraldʼs request and forwarded to Rostow on April 30.

129. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Bundy) to Secretary of State Rusk

Source: Johnson Library, Warnke Papers, McNaughton Papers, McNTN II. Secret; Nodis.

130. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Vietnam

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 15–1 VIET S. Confidential; Priority. Drafted by Miller and approved by Unger.

131. Telegram From the Presidentʼs Special Assistant (Komer) to President Johnson in Texas

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Komer Files, Back Channel Cables Between Porter & Komer, May-June 1966. Secret. The President was at the LBJ Ranch.

132. Paper Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DCI Executive/Registry, Job 80–B01676R, V–1, Vietnam 1966 (May-Dec.). Secret. Forwarded to Rostow by Helms on May 10 under cover of a memorandum stating: “Here is the study you requested.” Copies were sent to Taylor, Rusk, McNamara, and Komer under covering memoranda indicating that Rostow had asked that the copies be provided in preparation for the NSC meeting on May 10. (Ibid.)

133. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, vol. LII. Top Secret; Sensitive. The source text is marked with an indication that the President saw the memorandum.

134. Telegram From Director of Central Intelligence Raborn to the Central Intelligence Agency Station in Saigon

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DOD/EA Files, Job 92–00428R, File 137–6–72/3, TUBRACE, Buddhist Operations. Secret.

135. Summary Notes of the 557th Meeting of the National Security Council

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, NSC Meetings File. Top Secret; Sensitive; For the President Only. Prepared by Bromley Smith. The meeting, which ended at 7:32 p.m., was held in the Cabinet Room. (Ibid., Presidentʼs Daily Diary)

136. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Special Assistant (McPherson) to President Johnson

Source: Johnson Library, Office of the President File, Harry McPherson. No classification marking. The source text is marked with an indication that the President saw the memorandum.

137. Memorandum of Conversation Between Secretary of Defense McNamara and the Ambassador at Large (Harriman)

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Harriman Papers, Box 486, McNamara, Robert S. Personal & Secret; Absolutely No One Else To See. Prepared by Harriman.

138. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Vietnam

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, NODIS, vol. 3. Secret; Flash; Nodis. Drafted by Rusk; cleared by William Bundy, Rostow, and McNamara; and approved by Rusk.

139. List Prepared by the Presidentʼs Special Assistant (Rostow)

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, vol. LIII. Secret. The source text is handwritten. The Presidentʼs Daily Diary indicates that at 2:35 p.m. on May 15 he met in his office “re recent developments in Danang” with Rusk, McNamara, Lodge, William Bundy, U. Alexis Johnson, Unger, Habib, Raborn, Helms, Taylor, Rostow, Komer, and Jorden. The meeting ended no later than 3:02 p.m., when the President went to the Mansion in the White House. (Ibid.)

140. Memorandum for the Record

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, vol. LIII. Secret. Prepared by Jorden and sent to Rostow. The meeting was held in the Cabinet Room from 12:20 to 1:05 p.m. (Ibid., Presidentʼs Daily Diary) On May 12 and again on May 14 Rostow forwarded briefing papers to the President for the meeting, one by Komer on coping with inflation and a second by Unger on “Principles Governing U.S. Operations Concerning Elections and Constitutional Assembly in South Viet-Nam.” (Ibid., Memos to the President—Walt W. Rostow, vol. 2)

141. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Vietnam

Source: Department of State, Central Files, AID (US) VIET S. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Text received from the White House; cleared by Bell, William Bundy, and McNaughton; and approved by Unger. Repeated to CINCPAC.

142. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Department of State, EA/VN-Vietnam Working Group: Lot 70 D 102, POL 7, Bui Diem Visit. Secret; Limdis. Drafted by Miller and cleared by Unger. A memorandum of Bui Diemʼs conversation with Rostow on May 20 is in the Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, vol. LIII.

143. Telegram From the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (Wheeler) to the Commander, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (Westmoreland)

Source: Center of Military History, Westmoreland Papers, COMUSMACV Message Files. Secret. Repeated to Admiral Sharp.

144. Editorial Note

145. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Special Assistant (Komer) to President Johnson

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Komer Files, Memos to the President, March-June 1966. Secret.

146. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Secret; Priority; Nodis. The source text does not indicate the time of transmission; the telegram was received at 7:20 a.m. Rostow forwarded the text of the telegram to President Johnson at noon on May 25 under cover of a memorandum stating: “This is Ambassador Lodge at his best. There is a good deal to be said for the approach he suggests for a fireside chat.” (Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President—Walt W. Rostow, vol. 6)

147. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Vietnam

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 14 VIET S. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Helble, cleared by Miller, and approved by Unger.

148. Memorandum of Conversation Between Secretary of Defense McNamara and the Ambassador at Large (Harriman)

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Harriman Papers, Box 486, McNamara, Robert S. Secret; Personal. Prepared by Harriman on May 30.

149. Memorandum From William Leonhart of the White House Staff to President Johnson

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, vol. LIV. Secret. Copies were sent to Rostow and Taylor. Leonhart was Komerʼs deputy in the White House office established by NSAM No. 343 (Document 102) to oversee pacification and other non-military programs in Vietnam.

150. Telegram From the Commander, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (Westmoreland) to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (Wheeler)

Source: Center of Military History, Westmoreland Papers, COMUSMACV Message Files. Secret. Repeated to Admiral Sharp.