Increase in U.S. ground forces in Vietnam and consideration by the U.S. Government of a bombing pause, March 8–May 8
189. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Vol. XXX, Memos. No classification marking.
190. Memorandum From the Deputy Director for Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency (Cline) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Vol. XXX. Top Secret.
191. Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Green) to the Under Secretary of State (Ball)
Source: Department of State, Ball Files: Lot 74 D 272, Vietnam (Misc. #2). Secret. Drafted by Green. The source text was attached to a covering note of March 9 from Green to Ball which reads: “This is in response to your suggestion that I put some of these thoughts on paper. I would be glad to follow up with Len Unger and others if you so desire. I would hope we could get men like Bob Johnson of S/P in to help out. I am not circulating any copies, though you may want to show a copy to the Secretary or to McGeorge Bundy.”
192. Memorandum From Chester L. Cooper of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Vol. XXX. Top Secret.
193. Paper Prepared by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (McNaughton)
Source: Department of State, Vietnam Negotiating Files: Lot 69 D 412, Project Mayflower. Top Secret; Sensitive. Copies were sent to McGeorge Bundy, Unger, McNamara, and Vance.
194. Memorandum From Chester L. Cooper of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Vol XXX. Top Secret.
196. Memorandum From Director of Central Intelligence McCone to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Vol. XXXI. Top Secret.
197. Johnson Report Outline
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, General Johnson Report. Top Secret; Sensitive. Apparently prepared by McNaughton. McNaughton sent this summary to McGeorge Bundy on March 15 under a covering memorandum stating: “Here is a summary of Johnny’s report. Bob [McNamara] asks that you not reproduce it or distribute it without giving him (or me) a call.” See Document 179 regarding the background of the Johnson report.
198. Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defense McNamara
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD/Admin Files: FRC 70 A 1265, Vietnam 092.2. Top Secret; Sensitive.
199. Memorandum for the Record
Source: Department of State, Bundy Files: Lot 85 D 240, WPB Chron. Top Secret; Eyes Only. Prepared by William Bundy. A note on the source text indicates that copies were sent to Rusk, McNamara, Ball, McGeorge Bundy, Gaud, McNaughton, and Unger.
200. Memorandum by the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Vol. XXXI, Memos. Top Secret; Sensitive.
201. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Vietnam
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Top Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted by Unger, cleared by Sieverts, William Bundy, Cooper, and McNaughton (in substance), and approved by Rusk. Repeated to CINCPAC and Bangkok.
202. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Secret; Priority; Nodis.
203. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President, McGeorge Bundy, Vol. IX. Secret.
204. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Top Secret; Priority; Exdis. Repeated to CINCPAC and Defense. Forwarded by McGeorge Bundy to President Johnson on March 18 under a covering memorandum that called it a “thoughtful discussion of the pros and cons of bringing in a U.S. division. This one is being reviewed by State and Defense as well as in Saigon, but there is no clear recommendation in sight in the next few days.” (Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President, McGeorge Bundy, Vol. IX)
205. Memorandum for the Record
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DCI (McCone) Files, Job 80 BO 1285A, Memos for the Record, 1 Mar-29 Apr 65. Secret; Eyes Only. Dictated by McCone and transcribed in his office. The time of the meeting is from Rusk’s Appointment Book at the Johnson Library.
206. Memorandum for the Record
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DCI (McCone) Files, Job 80 BO 1285A, Memos for the Record, 1 Mar-20 Apr 65. Secret; Eyes Only. Dictated by McCone and transcribed in his office.
207. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Bundy) to Secretary of State Rusk
Source: Department of State, Bundy Files: Lot 85 D 240, Political Track Papers. Top Secret.
208. Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defense McNamara
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 70 A 1265, Vietnam 370. Top Secret. The source text indicates that it was seen by both Vance and McNamara.
209. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President, McGeorge Bundy, Vol. IX. Secret.
210. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President, McGeorge Bundy, Vol. IX. No classification marking.
211. Diary Entry by the Ambassador to the United Kingdom (Bruce)
Source: Department of State, Bruce Diaries: Lot 64 D 327, January-March 1965. Secret. Bruce returned to Washington to take part in the discussions with Foreign Secretary Michael Stewart, who visited the United States March 22–23. Also see Bruce’s diary entry for March 22, which briefly describes a meeting with McGeorge Bundy on how the President should receive Stewart the following day. (Ibid.) For Stewart’s recollection of the visit to Washington, see his Life and Labour: An Autobiography, pp. 152–153.
213. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Vietnam
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by William Bundy and approved by Rusk.
214. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Secret; Priority; Nodis. Received in the Department of State at 1:21 a.m. Forwarded to the President by McGeorge Bundy on March 29 under a cover memorandum explaining that “the initial cable was garbled, and then when there was a correction I was slow in getting it up to you.” (Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President, McGeorge Bundy, Vol. IX)
215. Letter From Senator Mike Mansfield to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, White House Central Files, EX ND 19/CO 312, filed under April 12. No classification marking.
217. Summary Notes of the 550th Meeting of the National Security Council
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File,NSC Meetings File, Vol. III. Top Secret; Sensitive; For the President Only. Drafted by Bromley Smith. Helms also prepared a record of the discussion. (Memorandum for the record, March 26; Central Intelligence Agency, DCI (McCone) Files, Job 80 BO 1285A, Memos for the Record, 1 Mar-28 Apr 65)
218. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Top Secret; Priority; Exdis. Repeated to DOD, the White House, CIA, and CINCPAC. Received in the Department of State at 9:24 a.m.