32. Editorial Note
On March 26, 1965, President Johnson met with the members of the General Advisory Committee on Foreign Assistance Programs for the first time. The meeting was held at the White House and served to formally convene the Committee. At this gathering, President Johnson said, “The government is very large and is staffed by many capable and intelligent people, but it is in constant need of new ideas and mature judgement from private citizens.” He concluded, “We need your help in making our assistance more effective, more sure, more imaginative.” For complete text of President Johnson’s remarks to the Committee, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1965, Book I, pages 333–335.
The Committee was composed of the following: Dr. James A. Perkins, Chairman, President of Cornell University; Dwayne O. Andreas; Eugene R. Black; Mrs. Everett N. Case; Dr. Luther H. Foster; General Alfred M. Gruenther; William R. Hewlett; Dr. Franklin D. Murphy; Dr. Samuel N. Nabrit; David Rockefeller; and William J. Zellerbach.
For the final report dated October 25, 1968, containing the Committee’s recommendations to improve the foreign aid program, see Document 79.