14. Agenda Prepared by the President’s Special Assistant for National
Security Affairs (Bundy)1
MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT
Wednesday, June 23, 1965, 5:30 PM
1. VIETNAM
- (1)
- Rolling Thunder
20
- (2)
- Saigon’s planned break of relations with France
- (3)
- Future use of B-52’s
- (4)
- Soviet attitudes and what we should do about them
- (5)
- Prospects of Prime Minister Wilson’s mission
- (6)
- Report on political programs of the Ky government
Present:
- State Department
- Secretary Rusk
- Under Secy. Ball
- Amb. Thompson
- Asst. Secy. Bundy
- Defense Department
- Secretary McNamara
- Deputy Secy. Vance
- Asst. Secy. McNaughton
- White House
- Mr. Bundy
- Mr. Busby
- Mr. Cater
- Central Intelligence Agency
- Admiral Raborn
- Mr. Richard Helms
[Here follow agenda items dealing with Berlin and the Dominican
Republic.]
[Page 38]
Tab 1
VIETNAM
- 1.
-
Rolling Thunder
20
Bob McNamara will have a chart and I think he and Dean Rusk
will have an agreed position. You probably will not wish to
discuss targets in detail, even with such a select group as
this. Bob needs one good solid target, and I think he will
have settled it with Dean before you come in. He already has
my proxy.
- 2.
-
Saigon’s Breach of Relations with France
The new military government has apparently decided to break
relations with Paris. We all think this is a mistake because
of the French power of retaliation. There remains a slight
difference of opinion as to whether we should say out loud
it is a mistake. You will want to hear Rusk on this
point.
- 3.
-
Future Use of B-52s
Bob McNamara wants to go right on with the B-52s, and in
principle, most of us agree. The real problem is not in the
military decision but in the public relations handling. I
have asked Doug Cater to study this one and he may have
ideas.
- 4.
-
Soviet Attitudes and What We Should Do About Them
This is not an action matter, but I think it would be helpful
for us all to hear Tommy Thompson’s current thinking. The
Soviets have just turned down the Wilson Peace Mission and
in rather tough language. At the same time they are floating
the notions that Tony Lewis picked up in the Times this
morning—even hinting that we can do anything we want as long
as we do it in South Vietnam. It is worth a moment’s
discussion.
- 5.
-
Prospects of Prime Minister Wilson’s Mission
My brother Bill will
have the latest on this one. We expect the British to move
right ahead even though no Communists give them the time of
day.
- 6.
-
Political Progress of the Ky Government
I have put this one in to keep everybody’s attention focussed
on the fact that our problem is indeed as much political as
military. My brother will be ready to comment.
[Here follow Bundy’s comments on the agenda items dealing with Berlin
(at Tab 2) and the Dominican Republic (at Tab 3).]
