JOHNSON, BUNDY PLAY CAT-MOUSE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00001R000200220033-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 24, 1998
• Sequence Number: 33
• Content Type: NSPR

FOIAb3b
Approved For Release 1999/09/07 : 6A-RDP75
U. 111;303
NOV 2 5 1*
Play Cat-Mouse
Johnson, Bundy
t - Mc urge exegtni,,e branch.
Bundy White House forei t of-~ Both officially and unofficzl
fairs adviser, has sent resi ly, Bundy continues to maint la
a7...~ T.-.L... . -"--- ,. -..
iiietua inmrm- not even confirm or deny that+;
ing him t h a t the offer has been made.
he has received Tle impression he creates',
an offer to be- among his associates at they
come president White House is that there is no
of the Ford need for any hurried decision or
Foundation. But response from the President,..
so far the Pres- who, after all, is a busy man.
ident's reaction Officially, the Texas White
has been total House continued to maintain the
CPYRGHT
Bundy I n f o r monied seriops since Bundy has not yet
sources said Bundy is quietly seen fit to bring the matter up
waiting for the President to call for detailed, discussion.
him in "at his leisure" to talk! CII( CE IS HIS
about the matter
Sources close to Mr. Johnson
said, however, that "the Text
move is up +n Mac," and that--
rather than bring the sub -At u
himself - the President sipublic service ought to have the
quietly waiting to hear from right to decide on his own best
Bundy again.
This is the current status of
what official Washington co~sid-
ers one of the greatiest catnd-
mouse games played here in
years.
Bundy was offered the f+5,-
000-a-year job to head the na-
tion's wealthiest and most" in-
fluential philanthropic organiza-
tion early this month byi, its
board chairman, John _ J.
McCloy. His reply was thai he
would not know if he would be
available until he had talker to
Mr. Johnson. By that measure,
he still does not know.
INTENTIONS?
The unstated implication
which has been widely drawn
from this is that the former
Harvard undergraduate dean is
desirous of knowing whether
Mr. Johnson has any long rah ge
plans to appoint him event.uoAly
to some higher post within She
the President seeks to create is:
that he values Bundy greatly]
but his loss would not mean the
end of the world.
Who would succeed him? His
chief deputy, Robert Komer?
His brother, Assistant Secretary,
of State William Bundy? White
House press Secretary Bill Moy-l
ers? t
Komer is officially describedf
as a "longtime government an-t
alyst," which means he used to l
Unofficially, Mr. Johnson is
said to believe that anyone of
Bundy's talents and capacities
who. has given five years to
'_ 11
gence A envy befwtrd 'Be came;
e_W
to th
e house.
William Bundy is considered
a lively prospect.
The betting is 50-50 on Moy-,
ers. Some sources said that Mr.
Johnson, conscious of criticism(
that he lacks sophistication in' foreign affairs, would hesitate;
Approved Ror Release 1999/09/07 : CIA-RDP75-00001 R000200420033-6