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

166. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council (Smith) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)¹

Washington, February 26, 1965.

Mr. Bundy:

The President asked Henry Cabot Lodge to come in to see him on Friday (for press reasons, Lodge has said he asked to see the President).²

During the conversation the President called me, and in Lodge’s presence he said that he wanted the proper officials to review with Lodge everything on Vietnam. The President said that Lodge, as a friend and as a former public servant with experience in Vietnam, might have some useful ideas for us to follow up. He suggested that Cooper review the current situation with Ambassador Lodge, and that Lodge also see Mr. McCone, William Bundy, and probably General Goodpaster in Defense. The President said that we should consider him as a Consultant.

I talked to Ambassador Lodge and we have made the following arrangements. We will call him a Presidential Consultant and will pay transportation, per diem, and our maximum WAE of $75 per day. He will return to Washington Monday afternoon (March 1). We will put him in Bob Komer’s office so he will have a base of operations. Chet Cooper will lay out his appointments.

Ambassador Lodge’s view of his role is that of a person with some experience in Vietnam who, after having read himself into the current situation, might prepare a paper containing his conclusions and recommendations. This paper, if he decides to write one, would conclude his immediate assignment, probably the same week it begins.

The State Department is anxious to have Ambassador Lodge hold General Khanh’s hand during the time Khanh is in the U.S. Lodge, an old friend, is anxious to do this and is prepared to have Khanh visit him in Massachusetts for a weekend. He would be quite prepared to do whatever we think would be useful in connection with keeping General Khanh out of trouble during the time he is in the United States.

The attachments³ show how the press treated Lodge’s conversation with the President.

BKS

1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Vol. XXIX. No classification marking.
2. Lodge met with the President from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. on Friday, February 26. (Ibid., President’s Daily Diary) In a February 25 memorandum to the President, Smith noted that Lodge had been an “advocate of our policy in Vietnam,” supporting it recently in a speech in Miami and in interviews in U.S. News & World Report and a French magazine. (Ibid., National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Vol. XXIX)
3. Not found.