62. Memorandum From the Assistant Director, Motion Picture and Television Service, United States Information Agency (Herschensohn) to the Deputy Director (Loomis)1
In my absence I asked Mr. Guarco to contact Kirk Douglas. They spoke with each other on December 2.
Mr. Douglas’ plan is basically to establish a firm well organized tour that would have permanence over a period of a year or two covering a broad spectrum of artists (not only film people) in all fields.2
Mr. Douglas spoke to Mr. Guarco for over a half hour on his past trips and successes particularly with overseas students. He feels rather frustrated with the “ad hoc” arrangements of the past whereby his trips materialized only because he personally made the effort and not because of U.S. Government awareness of the potential of such programs.
He is opposed to Film Festival participation because “they are considered commercial ventures and therefore not effective vehicles for the purpose he has in mind.”
He suggested the proposal that Mr. Guarco discuss “his plan” with me and anyone else who is interested and if indeed there is interest then we can meet with him or he meet with us at a place and time mutually convenient.
[Page 135]I will discuss this with you whenever you want.
Attached is a report on his previous tours.3
- Source: National Archives, RG 306, Office of Policy and Plans, IOP/C Cultural Subject Files, 1955–1971, Entry UD–90, Box 3, EDX 22 Visit of Kirk Douglas. No classification marking. Loomis initialed the top right-hand corner of the memorandum and wrote: “JOB [John O’Brien] do we know how effective he was? Pls see me. HL, 12/19.” Under a December 22 typewritten covering note, O’Brien sent the memorandum to Weathersby, stating: “Bill—Perhaps someone in IOP can answer Henry’s question. All I know is that Douglas handled himself well in Bangkok. Pleasant enough but marginal value. I’ll suggest that Henry talk with Bruce after he hears from you. JOB.” Under an undated handwritten note to Bunche, Weathersby sent Herschensohn’s memorandum and O’Brien’s note. In it, he wrote: “Ken: my memory holds that Douglas did extremely well in India in 1964. Can you put together a report on his performances and the value of them? WHW.”↩
- According to a transcript of a November 5 telephone conversation between Kissinger and Douglas, Kissinger indicated that he was “interested in D’s idea and Frank Shakespeare would be back from his trip [to Asia and Europe] and would also be interested in it. D said we had the perfect example of his idea when the Russian Cosmonauts were in New York for the reception. They had such a good time and they wouldn’t let Douglas go. This is an example of dialogue at a different level.” (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, Kissinger Telephone Conversations, Chronological File, Box 3, November 1–10, 1969)↩
- Attached but not printed is an undated listing of Douglas’s tours in 1963 (Sao Paulo and Cartagena), 1964 (New Delhi, Bangkok, Manila, and Hong Kong), 1965 (Oslo, Tunis, Rabat, and Madrid; scheduled to visit Algiers), and 1966 (Warsaw, Prague, Bucharest, and Budapest).↩
- Herschensohn signed “Bruce” above this typed signature.↩