Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume II, Vietnam, January–June 1965

Political instability within South Vietnam; U.S. retaliatory air strikes against North Vietnam January 1–February 11

91. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Vietnam

Washington, February 8, 1965, 6:26 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Top Secret; Immediate; Nodis; LOR. Drafted and cleared by McGeorge Bundy and approved by William Bundy.

92. Memorandum From Senator Mike Mansfield to President Johnson

Washington, February 8, 1965.

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Name File, Vietnam—Mansfield Memo and Reply. No classification marking. Mansfield was Majority Leader of the Senate.

93. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State

Saigon, February 9, 1965, noon.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Top Secret; Priority; Exdis. Repeated to the White House, DOD, CINCPAC for POLAD, Bangkok, and Vientiane.

94. Letter From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to Senator Mike Mansfield

Washington, February 9, 1965.

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Name File, Vietnam—Mansfield Memo and Reply. Confidential.

95. Editorial Note

96. Diary Entry by the Ambassador to the United Kingdom (Bruce)

Washington, February 10, 1965.

Source: Department of State, Bruce Diaries: Lot 64 D 327, January-March 1965. Secret. Bruce had returned to Washington on February 8 for consultations.

97. Memorandum of Meeting of Principals

Washington, February 10, 1965, 1:30 p.m.

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File,NSC Meetings File, Vol. III. Top Secret. Prepared by Cooper on February 11. The source text bears the letters “OK” in McGeorge Bundy’s handwriting at the top of the first page. The meeting was held in the Cabinet Room of the White House.

98. Summary Record of the 548th Meeting of the National Security Council

Washington, February 10, 1965, 2:07–4:04 p.m.

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, NSC Meetings File, Vol. III. Top Secret. The drafter is not indicated, but it was apparently Bromley Smith. The time of the meeting is taken from the President’s Daily Diary. (Ibid.) The meeting was held in the Cabinet Room.

99. Memorandum for the Record

Washington, February 10, 1965.

Source: Johnson Library, John McCone Memoranda of Meetings with the President. Secret. Dictated by McCone and transcribed by his office.

100. Notes on the Congressional Leadership Meeting

Washington, February 10, 1965, 6:40 p.m.

Source: Johnson Library, President’s Daily Diary. No classification marking. Prepared by Lawrence O’Brien. Attending the meeting in addition to the President, were Senators Mansfield, Smathers, Kuchel, Fulbright; Representatives Boggs, McCormack, Albert, Mahon, and Rivers; McGeorge Bundy, Vice President Humphrey, McNamara, Ball, Admiral McDonald, and McCone; and O’Brien, Valenti, and Watson of the White House Staff. For McCone’s notes of this meeting, see paragraphs 16–20 of Document 99.

101. Memorandum From Senator Mike Mansfield to President Johnson

Washington, February 10, 1965.

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Name File, Vietnam—Mansfield Memo and Reply. No classification marking.

102. Memorandum From James C. Thomson, Jr., of the National Security Council Staff to Chester Cooper of the National Security Council Staff

Washington, February 10, 1965.

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Reprisal Program, Vol. I. Top Secret; Sensitive.

103. Memorandum of Telephone Conversation Between President Johnson and Prime Minister Wilson

February 10, 1965, 10:15 p.m.

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President, McGeorge Bundy, Vol. VIII. Secret. Prepared by Bundy on February 15. For Prime Minister Wilson’s account of this conversation, along with extracts from a transcript apparently made in London, see Harold Wilson, The Labour Government, 1964–1970: A Personal Record (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson and Michael Joseph, 1971), pp. 79–80.