PRESIDENTIAL REQUESTS ON VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-2-3-2-3
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 21
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: August 2, 2010
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: August 4, 1969
• Content Type: MEMO

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SFCR E T August 4, 1969
'ROM: Henry A. Kissinger
I refer to Alex Butterfield's memoranda of June 24 and July 7
and John Brown's memorandum of July 14 which indicate the
President's desire that action be taken by a group of prominent
Americans to support the Administration's position on Vietnam.
Copies of these memoranda are attached.
I have met with William Buckley and discussed the desirability
of establishing such a movement with his assistance and guidance.
Buckley expressed some interest and is investigating the
feasibility of doing so. I would suggest that we hold further action
in abeyance until we hear from him.
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INFORMATION/ACTION
SECRET July 17, 1969
MEMORANDUM FOR DR. KISSINGER
FROM: Dean Moor
THROUGH: John Holdridge
SUBJECT: Presidential Requests on Vietnam
The President is continuing to press his request that the
White House staff take action to secure the formation of a corn mittee
of prominent citizens in support of Administration policy on Vietnam.
There have been three such requests from the President, as
follows :
a. A Z4 June memorandum to Mr. Erlichman asking
him to contact Bill Casey of ABM fame and set up a pro-
Vietnam Committee (Tab A).
b. A memorandum to you and John Er.lichman on July 7th
citing the anti-war statements of Arthur Flemming's group
and making the same request (Tab B). This memorandum
suggests that Nelson Rockefeller be asked to head the Committee.
Our recommendation to you on this action is attached at Tab B.
c. A memorandum of July 9th to Erlichman suggesting
that Leo Cherne might be the man to head the Committee (Tab C).
Mr. Erlichman would like you to take responsibility for carrying
out the request. In a memorandum of 8 July, he asked that you take
over complete action on the project. On July 14, John Brown of
Erlichman's staff forwarded the items in "a" and "b" above to you
with a similar request (Tab D).
While it is clear that the President is deeply interested in this
project, it is our feeling that the whole question of White House
initiative in the formation of a pro-Administration group on Vietnam
needs very careful examination. Although support from such a
committee might prove valuable, knowledge of its origin would
SECRET
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SEC:.,a=:I'
probably soon leak out and the action could backfire, being seen as an
Admirdstration effort to a iw rs c p;:;blic opiiuon.
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The decision on the propriety of such a step clearly needs the
active counsel and judgment of :xf'hite House personnel who specialize
in asF,nssin.w the domestic political climate. Mr. Erlichman and others,
such as 14-r b l':lein, should be closely involve-c", if not in fact play
the .:x r-1
If we r.t''erriy t to z3x=ke ti,6e of a group that is already in being, it
would appear that our best bet is still the Douglas Committee. The
present plans of thin Co -"rnittee, in fact, may offer at least a temporary
answer to the Presiden.t's request. A group from the Douglas Com-
mittee plans to visit Vietnam beginning around 10 August. Its intent
is to return with a positive a.9scssrn nt of develonnion.t' there and
discreetly promote this .; s-s::ment in the U. S. This group has
rt~'~~'.... w.. w. yam. .w .+>;-1 yo 1, and we have as'~C, cl t,
memorandum, that you appro e the meeting.
RECOMMENDATION.-
That you discuss the President's requests with Mr. Erlichmarx,
informing hire that you have reservations concerning the desirability
of a White House role in organizing a new pro-Vietnam Committee.
You might wish to suggest that we await the return of the group from
the Douglas Committee and assess the results of its report before we
move to try and establish further citizen machinery in support of the
A d-zadni s t ration.
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MEM0itANDUN!
THE W TE HOUSE
ME MORANDUM FOR: MR. EI-IRLICHMAN
There was a short piece in the President's news summary this
morning which told of the Viet Cong spreading the word to its
followers in South Vietnam that important U. S. political leaders
and great numbers of American people "are standing up against
Nixon and his war policy.
With reference to this account and undoubtedly a number of
similar reports -- the President asked that you contact Bill Casey
and get him to set up a pro-Vietnam committee.
ALEXANDER , BUTTERFI:LD
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July 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM FOR: DR. IUSSINGER
MR. EHRLICI-IMAN
The President h- as just read in a-news summary that a group
of 28 prominent Americans headed by Arthur Flemming are
urging him to take new initiatives to end, "and not simply dew
Americanize", the war in Vietnam. The news piece goes on
to say that the Flemming group proposes specifically that the
United States abandon its present policy of maintaining maximum
military pressure on the enemy and begin reducing the scale of
fighting "in every possible way" ... looking toward the prompt
achievement of a standstill Ce :1ie. (Some of the 28 persons
are: Mrs. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Dr. Andrew Cordier;
Edwin Reischauer; Hans hfiorgenthau; Senator Tydings; and
William B. Arthur, editor of Look magazine.)
With reference to this report the President wanted each of you
to know that in his opinion we should most certainly be able to
get another 1128 prominent Americans" who would advocate the
reverse. The thought occurred to him that quite possibly
Nelson Rockefeller would undertake this and that it would
be most effective if he were to do so.
Please look into the possibilities here and keep'the President
informed.
Thank you.
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ALEXANDER . BUTTERFIELD
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July 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM FOR: DR. KISSINGER (Information Only)
MR. EHRLICI-IMAN (Information Only)
A recent Frank Reynolds TV commentary dealt with Secretary
Rogers' press conference ... but the thrust of the views expressed
by Reynolds was that vjc should reduce the level of fighting
sto2pixl y our Dr f`a..iiai a (5ia-I at3.!nn~
The President noted that this was the same view taken by the
Arthur F'le mnminq group, anal that the "haltin ; of our offensive
operations" seems to represent the new line.
ALEXANDER P.' 3UTTx RFIELD
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ACTION
__CRET Zaly I, It 1969
MEMORANDUM ,~ OR f: ., `I l?`lC:l
FRAM: Dean Moor
THBOUG: John Hol-diridge
SUBJ ECT: Presidential Raquest
The PresW zit is c ancer a over the formation of Arthur
F'l xx.xni g's new ?oi-a: ` tae. v -rich i,i .,rgi, hizz to its public
statements and letters t> -pro fitly en.., and not simply de-.AmorLL
c nize, " the war, iin Vietnam.. The President believes that the
Admit stra.tion shoutd be able to get another group of prominent
Americans together wbo would advocate the reverse. He thinks
that Nelson Rockefeller might undertake this task (Tab A).
. The President has asked that you and John Erlichman jointly
took into the possibility of orgauistng such a group and keep him
informed. It is my understanding from Mr. Erltcbman`s office
that he believes you should take the main action in connection
with this request and that he has to informr4 you by memorandum.
Although such a group iZ;Iht. be formed horn the ranks oi
prominent American conservatives, it is my frank belief that the
presumed benefits are, at best, questionable. Among the 'potential
di advaz t~ges are the following:
-- Despite any efforts we might make to conceal its origin,
the group would probably be tagged as an Ari?cninistration-
sponsored, pro-war maneuver.
-- if it were formed along the lines envisioned by the
1 resit exit ~i. ea. , 28 pro-roloent Americans) it wou'd almost
certainly be seen a a d.eUiberate effirt to eo1nter the Fie mLa
rr w _. YF ar is .. "
' : r t~ .w s t =a ~::. S act : ? .
SECR2*T
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SECRET
It Would involve the .11 dministration In an t,fft rt to
create a managed opirtioz element in influential American
circles, a practico v xtclh tended largely to deepen the
creditability g, ;p for Vie last :dmiraietration.
The only to sxaaad orga417-atiozt that might till the bill is the
go-crAl d 0V4; 1