July 16–August 31: The Lull in Fighting, the U.S.-South Vietnamese Conference at Honolulu, and the Third Enemy Offensive
329. Telegram From the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson in Texas
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Harvan Paris Todel—Paris Delto XI, 8/11–31/68. Secret. Received at the LBJ Ranch at 2 p.m.
330. Telephone Conversation Between President Johnson and Vice President Humphrey
Source: Johnson Library, Recordings and Transcripts, Recording of Telephone Conversation Between Johnson and Humphrey, August 18, 1968, 5:23 p.m., Tape F6808.01, PNO 3. No classification marking. This transcript was prepared specifically for this volume in the Office of the Historian. The President was in Texas; Vice President Humphrey was in Boston. Prior to this call the President called Nixon and gave him virtually the same briefing. (Ibid., Recording of Telephone Conversation Between Johnson and Nixon, August 18, 1968, 5:01 p.m., Tape 6808.01, PNO 2)
331. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow) to Secretary of Defense Clifford
Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Nitze Papers, Vietnam War, Courses of Action—Post Paris Talks, 1963, 1967–1968, n.d. Secret.
333. Notes of Meeting
Source: Johnson Library, Tom Johnson’s Notes of Meetings. No classification marking.
334. Telegram From the Embassy in France to the Department of State
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, A/IM Files: Lot 93 D 82, HARVAN-(Incoming)-August 1968. Secret; Immediate; Nodis; Harvan; Plus. Received at 10:26 a.m. The delegation’s reports on the 18th formal session are in telegrams 19705/Delto 636 and 19708/Delto 637 from Paris, both August 21. (Ibid.)
335. Memorandum From the Deputy Director for Coordination, Bureau of Intelligence and Research (Trueheart) to the Deputy Director (Denney) and Director, Bureau of Intelligence and Research (Hughes)
Source: Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, East Asia Country File, Vietnam 1968. Top Secret.
336. Memorandum for Personal Files
Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Harriman Papers, Special Files, Public Service, Kennedy-Johnson, Johnson, Lyndon 1968–69. Personal; Secret.
337. Telegram From the Commander, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (Abrams) to the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow)
Source: Washington National Records Center, Department of Defense, OSD Files: FRC 330 73 A 1304, 1968 Secretary of Defense Files, VIET 092.2. Top Secret; Eyes Only. Repeated to Wheeler, McCain, Bunker, and General George Brown, Commander, 7th Air Force. General Wheeler’s office distributed copies to, among others, Clifford, Nitze, Rusk, and Helms.
339. Telephone Conversation Between President Johnson and the President’s Counsel (Murphy)
Source: Johnson Library, Recordings and Transcripts, Recording of Telephone Conversation Between Johnson and Murphy, August 26, 1968, 8:04 a.m., Tape F6808.01, PNO 10–12. No classification marking. This transcript was prepared specifically for this volume in the Office of the Historian. The President was in Texas; Murphy was at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. According to notes of message to Johnson transmitted by telephone at 12:31 a.m. on August 25, Humphrey noted: “We’re doing well on the platform. I’ve been keeping a watch on it.” (Ibid.) Rusk’s assessment of the platform is in telegram CAP 82062 from Rostow to the President, August 18. (Ibid., National Security File, Files of Walt Rostow, McCarthy Platform—1968) Another critique of the minority plank by Wheeler was transmitted to the President in telegram CAP 82215, August 28. (Ibid., White House Central Files, Conference Files, NB 19/CO 312, Vietnam, Situation in, January 1968)
342. Memorandum From the Special Assistant for Vietnamese Affairs, Central Intelligence Agency (Carver) to Director of Central Intelligence Helms
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, SAVA (Carver) Files, Job 80–R1720R, GAC Chrono, June 1968–August 1968. Secret; Sensitive.
344. Memorandum for the 303 Committee
Source: National Security Council, 303 Committee Files, Vietnam, 1965–1969. Secret; Eyes Only. A typed note reads: “Approved by the 303 Committee on 3 September 1968. Final approval to be obtained from the Secretaries of State & Defense and from HA.”
345. Telephone Conversation Between President Johnson and Vice President Humphrey
Source: Johnson Library, Recordings and Transcripts, Recording of Telephone Conversation Between Johnson and Humphrey, August 31, 1968, 10:18 a.m., Tape F6809.01, PNO 1. No classification marking. This transcript was prepared specifically for this volume in the Office of the Historian. The President was in Texas. He spoke with Nixon at 9:30 a.m. and with Rusk at 9:55 a.m. prior to calling Humphrey. (Ibid., President’s Daily Diary) In a conversation with the Vice President 2 days earlier, the President made the following remarks: “The best thing we can do together is try to get you peace before November. Now, you have laid the groundwork with the platform. Be careful, don’t say anything, it runs away from it. But let us then go into Hanoi and say, ‘Now, goddammit, you’re not going to get anything better from Humphrey. He’s going to be worse. Let’s get peace.’ You wrap that up, you’ll have a landslide.” (Ibid., Recording of Telephone Conversation Between Johnson and Humphrey, August 29, 1968, 10:41 a.m., Tape 6808.03, PNO 4–5) Humphrey had accepted the Presidential nomination of the Democratic Party on August 29.