Office of the Historian

342. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to the President1

[Palm Beach], December 27, 1961.

SUBJECT

  • Military Command in South Vietnam

I notice with some alarm that Secretary McNamara does not seem to have a personal judgment of General Harkins. I myself think it would be little more than a lucky accident if in fact the officer designated for SEATO duty some months ago should be just the right man for the extraordinarily difficult job in Vietnam. Moreover, it is my strong impression that the Joint Chiefs have wanted a 4-star officer because this gives them an unembarrassing way of relieving General McGarr. This desire to avoid embarrassment automatically limits to a very small number of officers the possible choice of a commander.

I have repeatedly heard it said, by General Taylor, by the civilian staff at the Pentagon, and by Secretary McNamara himself that the only way of getting a really new look in the Army is to reach into the age group of men between 35 and 45. This recommendation moves in the opposite direction.

I wonder if it would not be wise for you or Secretary McNamara, or perhaps both, to have a careful talk with Harkins, before this appointment is made. The history of our affairs in the Far East-Stilwell and Wedemeyer in China, Walker in Korea, McGarr in Vietnam, suggests that it is a matter of critical importance to get the right man on the first try in cases like this one.

McG.B.2

P.S. Because General Taylor is on holiday, I have not checked this matter with him, and you may want to get him over for a few minutes-he is in the Palm Beach area and the switchboard can reach him.

  1. Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Bromley Smith Series, Memos to the President. Secret. The President was in Palm Beach, Florida, where his father was ill and in the hospital, since December 19.↩
  2. Printed from a copy that bears these typed initials.↩