Office of the Historian

527. Notes of the President’s Meeting With Secretary Rusk, Secretary McNamara, Walt Rostow, McGeorge Bundy, and George Christian1

Washington, July 18, 1967, 6:06–7:30 p.m.

[Omitted here is discussion of other subjects.]

On the matter of cargo planes to the Congo, the President wanted to know what had happened.

Secretary Rusk said there had been 21 movements of the aircraft, to haul out wounded, to drop food, and to move ammunition.

Secretary Rusk said that there is no deal to save the life of Tshombe. The Secretary said that if Tshombe is executed, we might as well forget about the Congo as far as our people in Congress are concerned. [Page 770] The Secretary said it was extremely important that something be done about Tshombe’s fate while he is held in Algeria.

[Omitted here is discussion of other subjects.]

  1. Source: Johnson Library, Tom Johnson’s Notes of Meetings, July 18, 1967–6:06 p.m. Literally Eyes Only. The meeting was held in the Cabinet Room.↩