42. Editorial Note
On August 16, Nelson A. Rockefeller invited the following individuals to participate in a group study and review of the psychological aspects of future United States strategy: CD. Jackson of Time, Inc., former Special Assistant to the President (1953–1954); Dr. Henry A. Kissinger of Harvard University; Colonel George A. Lincoln of the United States Military Academy; Stacy May, a consulting economist; Dr. Max F. Millikan, Director of the Center of International Studies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Dr. Philip E. Mosely of Columbia University; Dr. Stefan T. Possoniy of the Foreign Policy Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania; William Webster of the New England Electric System; Drs. Ellis Johnson, Paul Linebarger, and George Pettee of The Johns Hopkins University; and Major General Frederick L. Anderson,USAF (ret.), who was designated the panel chairman.
The 12 members of this panel, which was often called the Quantico II Panel, met in Washington in late August and at Quantico, Virginia, in September in order to develop, in the light of the post-Geneva situation, an “optimum, integrated national program within which specific long-term military, economic, technological and ideological programs can be developed and financed.” On November 29, Major General Anderson submitted the panel’s findings to Rockefeller in a report entitled “Psychological Aspects of United States Strategy,” as well as a source book of papers prepared by individual members for the panel’s consideration in the preparation of its report.
In his letter of transmittal to Rockefeller, which prefaced the report, Anderson listed the four actions deemed by the panel to be “urgent and vital”:
- “1. Explaining to the people of the United States the gravity of the world situation and spelling out what is required to overcome it.
- “2. Increasing the military budget to provide for the improvement of the air defense of North America, for the establishment of an acceptable air defense of Western Europe, and for the development of a greater capability to deter limited war and to deal with it if it occurs.
- “3. Providing the leadership, on a continuing basis, for Free World political, economic, and cultural common action to achieve dynamic growth, thus eliminating vulnerabilities to Communism.
- “4. Continually applying pressure on the Soviet bloc to expose the insincerity of their intentions and tactics.”
On Friday, December 2, Rockefeller forwarded a copy of the panel’s report and the source book to the President, saying, in a letter of that date, that he believed “it comes to us at a very opportune time, when a hard look is being taken at where we stand in light of Soviet tactics and intentions as exposed at the Foreign Ministers’ meeting, and their recent actions in the Middle East and Asia,” and adding that, “in this regard, I will furnish you Monday morning a personal report.” This report, “Action Program for Free World Strength,” dated December 5, was a 22–page memorandum plus several tables and annexes. It was transmitted under cover of a letter from Rockefeller to the President of the same date. The letter and memorandum are in the Eisenhower Library, White House Central Files, National Security. Rockefeller’s December 2 letter to the President is ibid., Whitman File, Administration Series, Rockefeller. Copies of the Quantico II Panel’s report as well as the source book of individual papers are ibid., Project Clean Up Records, Psychological Aspects of U.S. Strategy, and in Department of State,S/S–NSC Files: Lot 66 D 148.