ANNEX TO NOVEMBER 29, 1963, DIARY:

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP08-02430R000100010003-2
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 18, 2011
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: November 29, 1963
• Content Type: MISC

Approved For Release 2011/08/18: CIA-RDP08-0243OR000100010003-2
Annex to November 29, 1963, Diary:
About 5:30 on Friday, November 29, while I was
sitting around the fire after a game of golf at Lloyd
Neck, the telephone rang and I was advised that the
President wanted to speak with me. I went to the phone
and the White House operator said that the President
wanted to speak with me, that he was on another line,
and would I hold on for a minute. After a short wait
the operator told me that someone had gone into the
room and that she would call me back.
She called me back in five minutes. This gave
me a brief chance to puzzle out what it was the President
wanted to say to me. As it turned out, aided by some
news items that the President was considering appointing
a high-level commission to look into all the circumstances
of the assassination of the President, I was led to put this
as the first possibility. Soon the call came through. The
President was on the line. I told him how much my thoughts
had been with him in recent days. He thanked me. Then
in a very kind expression of appreciation for what he
thought I had done for the country over the years, he said
he wished me to do a job for him. I asked him what it was.
He said he was appointing a commission to look into all
the circumstances surrounding the assassination and the later
killing of the man believed responsible for the assassination.
This commission would include the Chief Justice, members of
the House and Senate from both parties, and two men outside
of government, including myself, if I would serve.
I told the President without hesitation that I was
prepared to serve if he felt I could be of service to him
and the nation. I said that I assumed that he had considered
my recent job and that he did not consider that this service
was in any way an impediment. He said he had carefully
considered it and he felt that, on the contrary, it would
be helpful. I said I assumed that what he had told me was
entirely confidential. He said it was until it was announced
and he did not know the exact hour of that. I said I would,
of course, maintain the confidence.
Approved For Release 2011/08/18: CIA-RDP08-0243OR000100010003-2