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  4. Document 72

72. Notes of Meeting1

Washington, July 24, 1968, 1:30–3:50 p.m.

NOTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PRESIDENT WITH HIS FOREIGN POLICY ADVISERS AT LUNCH

ATTENDING THE MEETING WERE:

  • The President
  • Secretary Rusk
  • Secretary Clifford
  • General Maxwell Taylor
  • General Earle Wheeler
  • CIA Director Helms
  • Walt Rostow
  • George Christian
  • Tom Johnson

[Here follow 1–1/2 pages of discussion on the Vietnam war.]

The Czechoslovakian situation

Mr. Rostow: The Soviets will not move militarily against them, I do not think. I told House we are on the Czech side.2

We should hold off on “Most Favored Nations” legislation in order not to cause a problem for the Czechs.

The continuing resolution—what does it do to DoD, Foreign Aid, Foreign Policy things. See what kind of resolution they will get.

[Here follows 1/2 page of discussion on German nuclear consultations.]

Secretary Rusk: We saw the Czech situation as nearly over. The real crisis has subsided. We don’t want to spoil the deal.

[Here follows 1/2-page of discussion of the sale of tanks to Belgium and the Geneva disarmament talks.]

  1. Source: Johnson Library, Tom Johnson’s Notes of Meetings. Top Secret. The meeting was held on the second floor of the mansion.↩
  2. Apparently in either an informal meeting or executive session. No printed volumes of House Foreign Affairs Committee hearings include testimony by Rostow.↩