U.S.Space Program


356. Report by the Ad Hoc Committee on Space to President-Elect Kennedy

Source: Johnson Library, Vice Presidential File, Space and Space Program. Confidential. The members of the Committee were Jerome B. Wiesner (Chairman), Kenneth BeLieu, Trevor Gardner, Donald F. Hornig, Edwin H. Land, Maxwell Lehrer, Edward M. Purcell, Bruno B. Rossi, and Harry J. Watters. The full text of the report is printed in Exploring the Unknown: Selected Documents in the History of the US. Civil Space Program. Volume I: Organizing for Exploration (National Aeronautics and Space Administration History Office, Washington, D.C., 1995), pp. 416–423.


357. Memorandum From Charles A. Haskins of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs-Designate (Bundy)

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Departments and Agencies Series, NASA, 1961, Box 282. Confidential.


358. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1960–63, 701.022/3–861. Confidential. Drafted by Philip J. Farley and approved in S on March 17.


359. Presentation by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Webb) to President Kennedy

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Departments and Agencies Series, NASA, 1961, Box 282. No classification marking. According to President Kennedy’s Appointment Books, Webb attended a meeting with the President between 6:10 and 7:20 p.m. on March 22. Vice President Johnson, Deputy Administrator Hugh Dryden, David Bell, and McGeorge Bundy also attended the meeting. (Ibid.)


360. Memorandum From the Secretary of State’s Special Assistant for Atomic Energy and Outer Space (Farley) to the Under Secretary of State (Bowles)

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1960–63, 701.56311/4–761. Confidential. Drafted by Richard V. Hennes, and cleared by Assistant Secretary G. Mennen Williams (AF), Wymberley DeR. Coerr (ARA), George S. Newman (G), and Leonard C. Meeker (L).


361. Letter From the Under Secretary of State (Bowles) to the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Webb)

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1960–63, 701.56311/4–1761. Confidential. Drafted by Hennes and cleared by George S. Newman, Assistant Secretary Williams (AF), and Leonard C. Meeker.


362. Discussion Notes by the Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Dryden)

Source: Johnson Library, Vice Presidential File, Space and Space Program. Confidential. An attached note by Claudia Anderson, archivist at the Johnson Library, reads: “May 4, 1979: During the course of a reference request, we found that these discussion notes were used by Dr. Hugh L. Dryden, NASA scientist, with Vice President Johnson in response to President Kennedy’s memorandum, ‘Do we have a chance of beating the Soviets?’ April 22, 1961. This information is noted on a carbon copy retained by NASA.” For text of President Kennedy’s memorandum of April 20, see Exploring the Unknown, p. 424.


363. Memorandum From the Secretary of State’s Special Assistant for Atomic Energy and Outer Space (Farley) to the Under Secretary of State (Bowles)

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1960–63, 701.56311/5–561. Confidential. Drafted by Howard Furnas, Wreatham E. Gathright, and Richard V. Hennes (S/AE), and cleared by Roger W. Tubby (P), Abram Chayes (L), and George A. Morgan (S/P).


364. National Security Action Memorandum No. 50

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, S/S-NSC Files: Lot 72 D 316, NSAM–50, Signed by McGeorge Bundy. Confidential. Copies were sent to the President’s Press Secretary, Director of the U.S. Information Agency, Evelyn Lincoln, and Bromley Smith.


365. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1960–63, 701.56311/5–1961. Confidential. Drafted by Crosby on May 23.


366. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Kennedy

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Departments and Agencies Series, Space Activities, General, 7/61–12/61, Box 307. Top Secret. According to a July 24 attached memorandum from Bromley Smith to Executive Secretary Lucius D. Battle, the President gave his approval, through Bundy, to the recommendation in the last paragraph.


367. Summary Minutes of the Meeting of the National Aeronautics and Space Council

Source: Johnson Library, Vice President’s Science File, National Aeronautics and Space Council. Top Secret. Edward C. Welsh, Executive Secretary of the Council, kept the minutes.


368. Letter From the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Johnson) to the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Webb)

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1960–63, 701.56311/4–1761. Confidential. Drafted by Wreatham E. Gathright (S/AE), and cleared by J. Wayne Fredericks (AF) and Stephen M. Schwebel (L).


369. Circular Telegram From the Department of State to Certain Posts

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1960–63, 911.802/2–2362. Official Use Only. Drafted by Emery P. Smith (S/AE); cleared by Kerrigan (NASA), Alf E. Bergesen (BNA), Francis W. Herron (P), H. Freeman Matthews, Jr. (WE), Henry C. Ramsey (S/P), and Theo C. Adams (AF/W); and approved by Robert G. Packard (S/AE).


370. Memorandum From the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Webb) to the Chairman of the National Aeronautics and Space Council (Johnson)

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, NSAM 144, Box 335. No classification marking.


371. Letter From Vice President Johnson to President Kennedy

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, NSAM 144, Box 335. No classification marking.


372. National Security Action Memorandum No. 144

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Departments and Agencies Series, Space Activities, General, April–May 1962, Box 307. Confidential. A copy was sent to General Maxwell Taylor.


373. Memorandum From the Chief of the Political Research and Analysis Division, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (Gathright) to the Deputy Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (Fisher)

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 383, ACDA/DD Files: Lot 69 D 396, Outer Space. Secret.


374. Record of Action at the 502d Meeting of the National Security Council

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, S/S-NSC (Miscellaneous) Files: Lot 66 D 95, NSC Records of Actions. Top Secret.


375. Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Tyler) to Secretary of State Rusk

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, SCI Central Files: Lot 65 D 473. Official Use Only. Drafted by D.R. Morris and R.F. Packard (S/SA).


376. Letter From the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Webb) to President Kennedy

Source: Johnson Library, Vice President’s Science File, National Aeronautics and Space Council, T.S. Official Use Only. A covering memorandum, also dated November 30, from Edward C. Welch, Chairman of the National Aeronautics and Space Council, indicates that the letter was also sent to Vice President Johnson.


377. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for Science and Technology (Wiesner) to President Kennedy

Source: Kennedy Library, President’s Office Files, Staff Memoranda, Wiesner, Jerome B., Box 67C. Secret. A note dated January 10 requested permission to give copies of the memorandum to Webb and to Secretary Gilpatric.


378. Circular Airgram From the Department of State to All Posts

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1960–63, SP 10 US/GEMINI. Limited Official Use. Drafted by Trevanion H.E. Nesbitt; cleared by Under Secretary McGhee and Rollie H. White (M), William L.S. Williams (ARA), Hanson (USIA), Deputy Under Secretary Johnson (G), Richard Friedman (EUR), Guy A. Lee (NEA), Richard E. Usher (FE), Dana Orwick (G/PM), Arnold W. Frutkin (NASA), Eric E. Oulashin (AF), George Moffitt (UNP), Francis W. Herron (P), Laurence L. Kavanau, and Colonel John (DOD); and approved by Edwin M.J. Kretzmann (SCI).


379. Letter From the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Johnson) to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Bundy)

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1960–63, SP 10 US/GEMINI. Secret. Drafter by Trevanion H.D. Nesbitt, and cleared in draft by George S. Newman and George Warren (G/PM), Richard D. Kearney and Allan I. Mendelsohn (L), Edward E. Rice and Captain Robert E. Wood (FE), and Edward M.J. Kretzmann (SCI). Copies were sent to Charles Johnson (NSC), James E. Webb, and Edward Welsh.


380. National Security Action Memorandum No. 237

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, S/S-NSC Files: Lot 72 D 316, NSAM 237. Secret. Copies were sent to the Director of the Bureau of the Budget and the Administrator of NASA.


381. National Security Policy Planning Paper

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Subjects Series, Space Activities, General, 6/63, Box 308. Secret. A covering memorandum from Raymond L. Garthoff, Special Assistant for Politico-Military Affairs, to Walt W. Rostow, Counselor and Chairman of the Policy Planning Council, was dated May 31, 1963. Only the conclusions of the paper (pp. iii-xi) are printed.


382. Action Memorandum From the Director of the Office of International Scientific Affairs (Rollefson) to Secretary of State Rusk

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1960–63, SP 10 US. Limited Official Use.


383. Memorandum From Maxwell W. Hunter II of the National Aeronautics and Space Council to Robert F. Packard of the Office of International Scientific Affairs

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1960–63, SP 16. Official Use Only.


384. Letter From the Director of the Bureau of the Budget (Gordon) to the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Webb)

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Management Staff Files: Lot 69 D 434, Interagency Liaison Files, 1962–1968, NASA. No classification marking.


385. Memorandum From the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Webb) to the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Johnson) and the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1960–63, SP 10 US/MERCURY. Confidential. A copy was sent to USIA Director Edward R. Murrow.