156. Editorial Note
On December 23 at 11:10 a.m., President Eisenhower met with Vice President Nixon, Acting Secretary Herter, and Assistant Secretary Rountree. Rountree briefed the President on his discussions with Nasser in Cairo, especially Nasser’s concern over Communist influence with Qassim and Nasser’s belief that the United States and the United Arab Republic could cooperate in curbing Communist influence in Iraq. Rountree suggested sending Nasser a message recounting Rountree’s visit to Iraq and indicating that the question of cooperation in Iraq had been raised with the President in an “off-the-record” meeting. A message along these lines was sent to Cairo as telegram 1858, December 23. (Department of State, Central Files, 611.86B/12–1558) John Eisenhower’s account of this meeting is printed in volume XIII, pages 509–511.