LETTER TO ROBERT F. KENNEDY FROM JOHN A. MCCONE

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP80B01676R002800050018-0
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RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
8
Document Creation Date: 
December 21, 2016
Document Release Date: 
January 2, 2009
Sequence Number: 
18
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
March 14, 1962
Content Type: 
LETTER
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PDF icon CIA-RDP80B01676R002800050018-0.pdf387.45 KB
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1 Approved For Release 2009/01/02 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002800050018-0 E 25X1 The Honorable Robert F. X*~~ The Attorney General Washington 25, D. C. Dear Bob: }axing directly confronted the consequences of communist activity in the youth and student field on your recant trip, you may well be interested in the attached paper. It Is the result of coasiderabls experience in coping with the communist offensive on this front, and its suggestions for an expanded and better coordinated governmental attack on the problem make sense to me. Within the limits, of our covert action responsibility we would, of course, be anxious to cooperate. I have ,al:so sent a copy of this paper to Ralph tungan for information. Sincerely, jSi ned) J:l.tIi. A< aba A. McCons Director Attachment Retyped: EO/DCIF----18 Mar 62 Distribution: Original & 1 - Addressee w/att -1 - DCI 2 DD/P 1-DDCI 1 -C/IO 1 - ER 1 - C/IO/6 1 - COPS Approved For Release 2009/01/02 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002800050018-0 _ Approved For Release 2009/01/02 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002800050018-0 1 March 1962 1i.F,a'10R- .nTDUM FOR. The Director of Central Intelligence SUBJECT: The Youth and Student Problem Executive Rcgistay 1e Attached hereto are two memoranda which I recommend you sign and forward. 2. I recognize that you mar have other ideas for handling this matter but I am certain that the addressees of the two memoranda are two individuals who have a Primary- interest in this subject. 3. I think tha h _J of e aswritten afirst-hli sion class h A gen paper, and I would liketosee cy be in the forefront of those making recommendations in this important field. As you know, working on youth and student affairs for some time and isen thoroughly versed in the subject. -Richard Helms Deputy Director (Plans) Attachments Approved For Release 2009/01/02 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002800050018-0 Approved For Release 2009/01/02 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002800050018-0 SUBJECT: Brief of Paper on the Role Played by Students in World Affairs 1. The Attorney General's meetings with Japanese and Indonesian students constitute a reminder that in 1960 and 1961 we witnessed the accession to power in many uncommitted areas of young men who not long ago were leaders or active members of student and youth movements. The President in his 21 February conference said that "this is one of the most serious and, I think, press ess ways stimulating problems we face--how to tell our story in.a waythat mmakes it new and exciting to young students and also have them examine objectively under the light of present circumstances the serious failures of the Marxist system...1 think that is our job..." 2. The prominent role played by students in decisive or critical political developments in Turkey, Japan, Cuba, a, known. These developments have forcefully Venezuela, and the Congo are well youth and student leaders and organizations abroadindrelationeto U.S.aforeign policy and the intense and continuing Communist problem cannot be viewed in isolation; itmisilinkedewth this field. The student social, and political problems on which Communism feeds--ill terac , pov, economic, many sickness, economic chaos and dependence, authoritarian and o n oepoy, systems and leaders, injustices of all kinds. The malgam fpthese critical ric political problems, the impatient inexperience of the students, and f these cconstitutes a very serious threat to democratic growth in the und anthe unde dt evelopedtion areas. The predominant attitude toward the issueof Communism among in underdeveloped areas is that it is an extraneous issue injectedmainlyebys the U.S. to enlist the have-not countries in an anti-Communist crusade which is irrelevant to them and which protects the status quo of the wealthy and selfish U.S. at the expense of their own progress. 3. Although the incidents which gave rise to the President's remarks occurred in the Far East, it is in Latin America that the situation we are describing is most threatening. Latin American countries are not under outright Communist control, but practically all of the major ones are heavily g well-organized Communist minorities often consistingnofrthe most dynamic an by d promising young Communist leaders. Primarily in Latin America, too, the Communist pros is ak;ng greater headway This a issmain sre 1 among secondary, and even primary school students. been a target for Communists ineffectively and indoctrinationchers, who have long 4. USIA has inaugurated a student-affairs officer selected and trained several recent college program which has so far merican posts. AID is in a graduates for two-year tours in Latin AAm the phpital 1 Position to contribute heavily to the improvement pant of universities and colleges in the underdeveloped areas, to teacher training and language training, State and private agencies--to hospitalitand--along with the Department of hospitality programs for foreign students and Approved For Release 2009/01/02: CIA-RDP80BO1676R002800050018-0 Approved For Release 2009/01/02 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002800050018-0 trainees in the U.S. Peac e Corps programs are squarely in this problem area; these programs should be coordinated with the ~.TAr,,, n n bl nearly all of them military cadets agencies or young officer trainees of various types and PROPOSAL y~r~1`?i~uz or Defense is actually res o more youth and student exch ' 1. That a special task force on students and Youth be created with a specific Presidential mandate and centered in the D partment,ofpState, study the problem set forth by the President. to 2. The task force could be headed by a private citizen well acquainted with educational and student affairs and should call upon both governmental and non governmental organizations for its operatives. h - 3? Its objectives should be to prepare, by 30 June 1962, a comprehensive well articulated, concrete, carefully targeted program of the youth and student field. coordinated action in 4. It should also establish the frame of reference for an office of and student affairs in the Department of State to coordinate and, in some instances, the youth program. es, Approved For Release 2009/01/02 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002800050018-0 Approved For Release 2009/01/02 : CIA-RDP80B01676R002800050018-0 j 4"f'. 196, The Honorable Robert F. If+e The Attorney General Washington 25, D. C. Dear Bob: Having directly confronted the consequences of communist activity in the youth and student field on your recent trip. you may well be interested in the attached paper. It is the result of considerable experience in coping with the communist offensive can its front, and its suggestions for an expanded and better coordinated governmental attack on the problem make sense to me. Within the limits of our covert action responsibility we would, of course, be anxious to cooperate. I have also sent a copy of this paper to Ralph Dungan for information. Sincerely, j3igried) j iii A. Tohn A. McCone Director Attachment Retyped: EO/DCI8 Mar 62 Distribution: Original & 1 - Addressee w/att --1-DCI 2-DD/P 1 - DDCI 1 - C/IO 1 - ER 1 - C/I0/6 1 - COPS 30~~5 Approved For Release 2009/01/02 CIA-RDP80B01676R002800050018-0 Approved For Release 2009/01/02 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R002800050018-0 ecntire ??c = tE._ ?i. Ti-trr,ti ?5062 "P n} .: e Di rector of ~;entra.1. T~1 f l l.~ cry n e SITBJ r T; The Youth and Staid.ent Problem I.. atttached hereto ar- two Tremorand.a which T- recommend -o i -i cm :nn. forward. ?, zr.,~ ma,: have o t'ner ideas for. h ndl5.ng 2. T rq('nrrni,2e ba this natter bnt lT am certain that the addressees of the two memoranda are two I ndividuals who have a mar