144. Letter From the Director of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (Read) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)1
Let me make a suggestion that you might think worth considering as a follow-up of your own China trip2 or a point for the conversations during the President’s visit.
Two or three top Chinese scholars of the United States could be invited to join the fellowship program of the Wilson Center. I think we could probably take better care of them here and give them a better understanding of the American system of government than would be the case almost anywhere else. In almost any university setting they are likely to be lionized or picketed, and if they had any genuine desire to learn about the United States Government, the information they would be apt to get and contacts and appointments they could make would be secondary by comparison. The “men of letters and men of affairs” they would be joining would be distinguished and international in makeup—the latest list of appointments is attached. If they chose scholars in the fields of international affairs or environment, they would find themselves in particularly knowledgeable company, although I would think a general invitation to scholars interested in studying our system would be most acceptable. We would have maximum flexibility in being able to receive them on short or no notice and for any length of stay desired, since we are a year-round center, not operating on an academic calendar, and there are no fixed lengths of appointment.
If this makes sense, Henry, let me know and we can pursue it further. I am confident the other Board members would think it a highly worthwhile action, and needless to say, I would give such an effort top personal attention.
[Page 372]Nan and I were in a small pub on the Isle of Skye when your Peking trip and its results were announced with considerable style by the bartender. Believe it or not, even the Scots cheered!3 Congratulations on a superb move superbly performed.
All of the best,
Yours,
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 409, Subject Files, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Vol. II [Nov 69–Jan 70]. No classification marking. Holdridge sent the letter to Kissinger under an August 4 covering memorandum, commenting: “Mr. Read’s basic argument is that any such scholars would find it almost impossible to work in a university environment because they would either be lionized or picketed. However, in the relatively calm environment of the Woodrow Wilson Center they could work with less pressure and yet be close to the centers of American Government.” (Ibid.) Holdridge also attached, as Tab A, a draft letter from Kissinger to Read and suggested that Kissinger sign it. In response to the draft letter, Kissinger wrote on Holdridge’s covering memorandum: “Be a little more encouraging ‘When it opens up will keep it very much in mind.’” (Ibid.) Kissinger’s signed letter to Read, dated September 7, is ibid.↩
- See footnote 2, Document 143.↩
- Read added the exclamation point by hand.↩
- Read signed “Ben” above this typed signature.↩