Office of the Historian

451. Memorandum for the Record0

Washington, June 13, 1962.

SUBJECT

  • Report of Meeting at the White House, 13 June 19621

1. A meeting was held at the White House on 13 June to discuss certain aspects of the situation in Southeast Asia. The following were present:

  • The President
  • Department of Defense
    • Secretary McNamara
    • General Lemnitzer
    • Mr. Gilpatric
    • Mr. Nitze
    • Mr. W. Bundy
  • Department of State
    • Secretary Rusk
    • Governor Harriman
  • White House
    • Mr. McGeorge Bundy
    • Mr. Forrestal
  • Agency
    • Mr. Cooper

2. The principal matter for discussion was Secretary McNamara’s proposal to improve the US logistic position in Thailand by providing that country with additional transport equipment (including rolling stock), a pipeline for POL, and airfield improvements. This program is to cost approximately $20 million. It will also necessitate the despatch of approximately 1,500 additional US military personnel (primarily construction personnel) to Thailand.

The President subscribed to this proposal and suggested that it be implemented in the form of a civil aid program. [Here follows discussion of Laos and Korea.]

Chester L. Cooper

Deputy Assistant Director
National Estimates
  1. Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DCI/McCone Files. Secret. Drafted by Chester Cooper.↩
  2. The meeting was held from 11:55 a.m. to 12:25 p.m. (Kennedy Library, President’s Appointment Book) For another record of this meeting, see vol. XXIV, pp. 846–848.↩