Office of the Historian

258. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon1

Washington, August 5, 1971.

SUBJECT

  • Your Meeting with Rudy Peterson, Friday, August 6, 1971, 10:30 a.m.2

After a number of conversations with Secretary Rogers, Peterson has agreed to be the American candidate to succeed Paul Hoffman as Administrator of the UNDP. U Thant makes the actual appointment, but both he and the other governments concerned seem amenable to the Peterson candidacy. George Bush, Secretary Connally, and I will be present in addition to Peterson. There should be no photo opportunity.

Talking Points

1.
Tell Peterson that you consider the UNDP job an important and difficult one, and are grateful to him for his willingness to take it on.
2.
Assure him of your continued strong support for the idea of channeling more U.S. assistance into international development institutions.
3.
For this to work, however, it is essential to make these institutions more efficient, for otherwise the Congress is simply not going to go along with the multilateral idea.
4.
The UNDP has the key role in improving the efficiency of multilateral economic assistance.
5.
Ask Peterson and Bush if they foresee any difficulties from U Thant or other countries in getting Peterson named as Paul Hoffman’s successor.
6.
Tell Peterson you understand that Hoffman may want to serve until the end of the year. Ask Peterson and Bush what their views are on the timing of the Peterson nomination.
7.
Reiterate your full support for Peterson and your appreciation of his willingness to undertake this task.
  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 301, Agency Files, USUN, Vol. VII. No classification marking. Sent for action. A stamped notation reads: “The President has seen.”↩
  2. The President met with Peterson, Secretary of the Treasury Connally, Bush, and Haig at the White House on August 6 from 11:06 to 11:38 p.m. concerning Peterson’s appointment as Paul Hoffman’s successor. (Ibid., White House Central Files, President’s Daily Diary) No further record of this meeting has been found.↩