June 29–September 18: Exploring Negotiations With North Vietnam and Contacts With the Viet Cong; Reassessing Pacification


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

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 30 VIET S/Thrush. Secret; Immediate; Nodis; Thrush. The source text does not give the time of transmission; the telegram was received at 4:16 a.m. Rostow forwarded the text of the telegram to the President at 11 a.m. on September 1, under cover of a memorandum stating that “we should keep our fingers crossed; but this could be good news.” (Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Box 143, Thrush)


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

Source: Central Files, POL 27–14 VIET/MARIGOLD. Secret; Priority; Nodis; Marigold. The source text does not give the time of transmission; the telegram was received at 10:29 a.m. Printed in part in Herring, Secret Diplomacy of the Vietnam War, pp. 250–251.


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

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27–14 VIET/MARIGOLD. Secret; Priority; Nodis; Marigold. Drafted by Unger; cleared by William Bundy, U. Alexis Johnson, and Harriman; and approved by Rusk. Printed in part in Herring, Secret Diplomacy of the Vietnam War, pp. 251–252.


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

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. The source text does not indicate the time of transmission; the telegram was received at 6:20 a.m. Rostow forwarded the text of telegram 5970 to the President on September 14 under cover of a memorandum stating, “Herewith Lodgeʼs evaluation of the election—much like ours, but very interesting reading.” (Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President—Walt W. Rostow, vol. 12)


230. Memorandum for Director of Central Intelligence Helms

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DDO/EA Files, Job 78–05505A, Area Activity-Far East-Memos Re Agency Planning. Secret. The memorandum was produced by the Vietnamese Affairs Staff of the Office of the Director of Central Intelligence and was drafted by George W. Allen.


231. Intelligence Note From the Director of Intelligence and Research (Hughes) to Secretary of State Rusk

Source: Department of State, INR Files: Lot 81 D 343, Vietnam, September 1966. Secret.


232. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Rostow Files, Vietnam—W.W. Rostow. Top Secret. The source text is marked with an indication that the President saw the memorandum.


233. Memorandum From Secretary of Defense McNamara to the Director of the Defense Communications Agency (Starbird)

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 70 A 4443, VIET 385 BARRIER. Secret.


234. Memorandum From the Ambassador at Largeʼs Special Assistant (Cooper) to the Ambassador at Large (Harriman)

Source: Department of State, Bundy Files: Lot 85 D 240, TS/Nodis, vol. III. Secret. A copy was sent to Unger.


235. Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defense McNamara

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 70 A 4662, VIET 385 BARRIER. Top Secret. In an earlier memorandum to McNamara, CM–135–66, April 18, Wheeler recommended against construction of a barrier and forwarded “A Study of Feasibility and Requirements for a Counter Infiltration Barrier” in support of his view. (Ibid.)


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

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Secret; Priority; Nodis. Drafted by Lake, Miller, and Unger; cleared in substance by Cooper and Jorden; and approved by Rusk and Unger.


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

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27–14/MARIGOLD. Secret; Priority; Nodis; Marigold. The source text does not give the time of transmission; the telegram was received at 4:57 a.m. Printed in part in Herring, Secret Diplomacy of the Vietnam War, pp. 253–254.


238. Research Memorandum From the Director of Intelligence and Research (Hughes) to Secretary of State Rusk

Source: Department of State, EA/ACA-Vietnam Negotiations: Lot 69 D 277, Communist Positions and Initiatives—Soviet. Secret; No Foreign Dissem; Controlled Dissem.