78. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson1

Mr. President:

One reason I have difficulty supplying you names for State Dept. 7th floor is this: I believe the new Under Secretary you are looking for should have a considerable voice in building the 7th floor team. That team should be well balanced between old professionals and first-rate, lively outsiders; but he should have an important part in the choice.

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Therefore, you may wish to focus first on who this man is; and then, taking him into your confidence, go to work on rebuilding the whole top echelon with him.

W.W. Rostow 2
  1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Rostow Files, Personnel, April 1, 1966–. Confidential; Sensitive.
  2. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.