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

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, HARVAN/Double Plus, Vol. VI [2 of 2]. Secret; Immediate; Nodis/HARVAN Double Plus. Received at 5:10 a.m. Repeated to Paris for Harriman and Vance. On this copy of the telegram, which was sent to the President, Rostow wrote: “For the President From Walt Rostow—Herewith Bunker’s cool and thoughtful analysis of factors that made Thieu draw back at last minute.”

201. Telegram From the Central Intelligence Agency to the Stations in Saigon and [place not declassified]

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, HARVAN Misc. &Memos, Vol. VII. Secret; Sensitive. Carver passed the text of this telegram to Bundy on November 7. In an attached covering note transmitting a copy to Rostow, November 8, Helms wrote: “You will find this report topical and timely.”

202. Notes of Meeting

Source: Johnson Library, Tom Johnson’s Notes of Meetings. No classification marking. The meeting, which was held in the Family Dining Room of the White House, lasted from 1:05 to 2:30 p.m. (Ibid., President’s Daily Diary) Read’s agenda for this meeting is in the National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, S/S Files: Lot 74 D 164, Presidential Luncheon Memoranda. Notes of the Secretary of Defense’s “0830 Group” meeting on the morning of November 7 by George Elsey read: “CMC—Luncheon agenda 1:00 W.Hse. today all revolve around how to get Saigon into line? The problem: Thieu followed instructions from Republicans not to agree but he has taken such a strong stand. The problem—How to get talks started—Really, only Nixon &Kosygin can help. The Pres. needs to get a good stiff message to Thieu &be able to say it has Pres. Elect Nixon’s blessing. ‘I don’t know what Nixon’s game is going to be. He’s scored his points by screwing up LBJ’s deal. Maybe LBJ can get Nixon to stop here on his way back up from Florida.’ Also Kosygin might help by taming Hanoi’s propaganda machine down. Also, get all the Troop Contributing Countries to put pressure on Saigon—except it’s doubtful they all will.” (Ibid., George M. Elsey Papers, Van De Mark Transcripts [1 of 2])

203. Situation Report By the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Read)

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Memos to the President/Bombing Halt Decision, Vol. V. Secret; Nodis/HARVAN Double Plus. In an attached covering note transmitting a copy of the report to the President, November 8, 1:15 p.m., Rostow wrote: “As background, you may wish to have the fact stated by Berger in a phone call plus Harriman-Vance views on Thieu’s latest.” The notation “ps” on the covering note indicates that the President saw the report.

204. Information Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Memos to the President/Bombing Halt Decision, Vol. V. Secret; HARVAN Double Plus. A handwritten notation on the memorandum reads: “Put on desk.”

205. Telephone Conversation Between President Johnson and Senator Everett Dirksen

Source: Johnson Library, Recordings and Transcripts, Recording of Telephone Conversation Between Johnson and Dirksen, November 8, 1968, 2:54 p.m., Tape F6811.02, PNO 11. No classification marking. This transcript was prepared specifically for this volume in the Office of the Historian. According to an entry in the President’s Daily Diary, Dirksen called Johnson “re the Senator’s talk w/Nixon this morning, South Vietnamese reactions, China lobby, and Saigon delegation to Paris.” (Ibid., President’s Daily Diary)

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

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Memos to the President/Bombing Halt Decision, Vol. V. Secret; Immediate; Nodis/HARVAN Double Plus. Drafted by Bundy; cleared by Rostow, Katzenbach, and Read; approved by Rusk. Repeated to Paris as Todel 1509 for Harriman and Vance. On a memorandum from Rostow, November 8, 4:50 p.m., the President indicated his approval of “a draft statement which Bunker could use with Thieu, along with our threat to proceed on our own in Paris, summarizing our positive understandings as a basis for Thieu’s getting off the hook.” (Ibid.)

207. Telephone Conversation Between President Johnson and President-elect Nixon

Source: Johnson Library, Recordings and Transcripts, Recording of Telephone Conversation Between Johnson and Nixon, November 8, 1968, 9:23 p.m., Tape F6811.02, PNO 12-13. No classification marking. This transcript was prepared specifically for this volume in the Office of the Historian. Nixon called the President at Washington from Key Biscayne, Florida. (Ibid., President’s Daily Diary)

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

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Memos to the President/Bombing Halt Decision, Vol. V. Secret; Immediate; Nodis/HARVAN Double Plus. Received at 8:05 a.m. Repeated to Paris for Harriman and Vance.

209. Telegram From the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Hoover) to the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council (Smith)

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Memos to the President/Bombing Halt Decision, Vol. V. Secret; Priority; No Foreign Dissemination. Received at 1225Z. In an attached memorandum transmitting a copy of this telegram to the President, November 10, 10:55 a.m., Rostow noted: “It looks as though with no coalition and no recognition of the NLF as a separate entity—points Thieu had all along—he is ready to go.” Rostow added: “Bui Diem has called the State Department’s Vietnam Desk officer (John Burke). He reported that he had spoken to Thieu about his conversation with Dirksen. He reported also, with the points about coalition and no separate entity assured, he believes Thieu will be ready to move to Paris after suitable statements are drafted. Bui Diem will be coming in to see Bundy this afternoon. Bui Diem plans to return to Saigon shortly.” As a postscript, Rostow added: “The Bui Diem-Thieu conversation, over an open line, we can probably assume was meant to be heard.” For the subsequent discussion between Bundy and Bui Diem, see Document 210.

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

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, A/IM Files: Lot 93 D 82, HARVAN-(Outgoing)-November 1968. Secret; Immediate; Nodis/HARVAN Double Plus. Drafted by John Burke of the Vietnam Working Group, cleared by Dirk Gleysteen of S/S-S, and approved by Bundy. Repeated to Paris as Todel 1523 for Harriman and Vance. In a covering note transmitting a copy of the telegram to the President, November 11, 10:10 a.m., Rostow wrote: “Herewith the account of Bill Bundy’s talk with Bui Diem after the latter had talked with Dirksen and Thieu.” (Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Memos to the President/Bombing Halt Decision, Vol. VI [2 of 2]) The notation “ps” on the covering note indicates that the President saw the telegram.

211. Notes of Meeting

Source: Johnson Library, Tom Johnson’s Notes of Meetings. No classification marking. The meeting lasted from 2:58 to 4:15 p.m. Nixon, along with his wife, had arrived at the White House at 1:20 and remained until 5:02 p.m. (Ibid., President’s Daily Diary) Rostow took notes for the first part of the meeting and Tom Johnson for the last part; their notes were combined to produce the final document. Rostow’s notes are marked Secret. (Ibid., Walt Rostow Files, Nixon and Transition)

212. Editorial Note