137. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to President Johnson1
RE
- Dominican Republic Peace Corps Programs
I know you have been cautious on this, but I believe myself it is now time to act. The Peace Corps is popular in Santo Domingo, and if it behaves with proper discipline, it can be a very useful balance to [Page 330] more hardheaded activities which clearly will be necessary as we go ahead. Bunker is for it, and so are Mann and Vaughn.
I have talked to Mankiewicz,2 who is the Peace Corps expert here in Washington, and I find him smart and good on the political problems involved. I have his assurance that he will make a special effort himself to insure that volunteers understand the sensitive nature of their work. After all, it is quite simple: if they start criticizing U.S. policy down there, they will simply shut down the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic and give the whole operation a bad black eye.
The programs involved would include about 210 people divided in 4 categories—
- rural elementary school teachers—50
- Public health volunteers—50
- Community development organizers and technicians—80
- town administration technicians—30
Can we go ahead?
Yes3
No
Speak to me
- Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Dominican Republic, Vol. XI, 9/65–10/65. No classification marking. Bundy sent this memorandum under cover of an October 6 memorandum to Moyers with the following comments: “The attached memorandum and the Presidentʼs comment give you one more job. I have told Mankiewicz to go ahead and to keep in touch with you on all aspects of what he does, especially any public announcement. Having been through this once before, he is fully alert to the need for discretion among P[eace] C[orps] V[olunteer]s in the DR.”↩
- Frank F. Mankiewicz, Peace Corps Regional Director for Latin America.↩
- The President checked this option and wrote: “Subject to Bill M[oyerʼs] supervision.”↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩