Office of the Historian

153. Memorandum From the Director of the United States Information Agency (Marks) to President Johnson1

Washington, May 16, 1967

Reports from Western Europe continue to stress the need for an expanded information program directed to the youth of those countries. The program presented by CBS via satellite last night (featuring Governor Reagan and Senator Kennedy) confirmed this view.2

I have planned a meeting of our Public Affairs Officers in Brussels on June 19 and 20 at which time great stress will be laid upon this situation and directions will be issued by me to concentrate our efforts on the Great Society legislation and the work that we are carrying out to improve individual welfare.3

The presentation of these topics would be far more effective if one of your assistants, fully familiar with domestic legislation, attended the meeting and addressed the group, answering detailed questions that will be raised. For this purpose, I would recommend Doug Cater, Joe Califano or Harry McPherson.4

Leonard H. Marks
  1. Source: Johnson Library, White House Central Files, Subject Files, Federal Government Organizations, EX FG 296, Box FG–315, FG 296 4/25/67–6/15/67. No classification marking. Sent through Kintner who initialed it.↩
  2. Reference is to the CBS television program “Town Meeting of the World.” Kennedy and Reagan answered questions about the United States and foreign policy from a group of European and Asian students via satellite from London. (Jack Gould, “TV: Dialogue with London Students,” New York Times, May 16, 1967, p. 91)↩
  3. See footnote 3, Document 151.↩
  4. The President disapproved the recommendation. Next to his initial, he wrote: “You must handle USIA. Our people have their work here—not roaming around the world—P.” In a May 18 memorandum, Kintner informed Marks of the President’s decision: “In reply to your suggestion that one of the President’s Special Assistants accompany you, the President feels his staff is too pre-occupied with their own duties.” (Johnson Library, White House Central Files, Subject Files, Federal Government Organizations, EX FG 296, Box FG–315, FG 296 4/25/67–6/15/67)↩