Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXV, Organization of Foreign Policy; Information Policy; United Nations; Scientific Matters

120. Draft Letter From President Kennedy to the Director-Designate of the U.S. Information Agency (Murrow)¹

Washington, undated.

Dear Ed,

This is to confirm our several conversations regarding the role of USIA and its relationship to me and the State Department.

1. Organizationally, there is no change. USIA as presently constituted remains an independent agency, reporting directly to me. I have charged the State Department with the responsibility of providing policy guidance to you and other agencies dealing in foreign affairs.

2. The State Department will continue to direct the Exchange-of-Persons and Cultural Presentations programs. Overseas, USIA will continue to operate these programs under the direction of the Chief of Mission. On matters dealing with these programs your Public Affairs Officers and their Cultural Affairs staffs should report directly to the State Department through State channels. You and Assistant Secretary Coombs, and your respective staffs, must work together closely and harmoniously so this joint enterprise may have maximum effectiveness.

3. I consider you one of my principal advisors, with a special concern and competence in assessing the psychological factors dealing with foreign affairs.² As such, I want you to participate when appropriate in the development of foreign policies and programs.

Sincerely,

John F. Kennedy³

1. Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Departments and Agencies Series, USIA, Box 290. No classification marking. According to a handwritten notation, the letter was drafted by Thomas C. Sorensen on March 10. No record has been found of the President signing a letter resembling this draft, but according to an attached March 10 memorandum from Murrow to McGeorge Bundy, this draft reflected at least the intentions of the White House at that time. It was sent in response to a written request by Bundy which, Murrow wrote, grew out of Bundy’s earlier discussions with Deputy Director Wilson.
2. Bundy revised this sentence; before his changes, the sentence read: “I consider you my principal advisor on psychological factors dealing with foreign affairs.”
3. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.