180. Editorial Note
During a meeting at his private residence on December 29, Secretary Dulles consulted with Congressman James P. Richards on the President’s forthcoming address to the Congress on the Middle East. He informed Richards that he and the President wished to have Richards available to spearhead the implementation of the program if the Congress approved it. Dulles told Richards that if he accepted the position his status would probably be that of Special Assistant to the President with the personal rank of Ambassador. Richards indicated that he would inform the Secretary of his decision on December 31. A memorandum of the conversation by Dulles is in Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Memoranda of Conversations.