Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXVIII, Laos
January 1964 to June 1964: U.S. Response to the Pathet Lao/North Vietnamese Offensives of February and May; U.S. Support for Souvanna Phouma During the April Coup; U.S. Photo Reconnaissance and the Retaliatory Attack of June: Document List
Document 1: Memorandum From the Deputy Director for Coordination, Bureau of Intelligence and Research (Scott) to the Special Group
Washington, January 17, 1964.
Source: Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Special Group Meetings. Secret; Eyes Only.
Document 2: Telegram From the Central Intelligence Agency to the Station in Saigon
Washington, February 12, 1964, 2:29 p.m.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Special Category Messages, Vol. I, 11/63–1/65. Secret; Exclusive; No Night Action. Sent to Saigon exclusive for Lodge, Harkins, and the Station Chief; repeated exclusive to Honolulu for Felt, Department of State for Hilsman, OSD for McNamara, JCS for Taylor and Anthis, and the White House for McGeorge Bundy.
Document 3: Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Hilsman) to Secretary of State Rusk
Washington, February 15, 1964.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27–14 LAOS. Secret. Drafted by Neubert and Hilsman on February 15. Copy sent to Harriman.
Document 4: Memorandum for the Record
Washington, February 24, 1964.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DCI (McCone) Files, Job 80–B01285A, Vietnam, 01 Feb-27 Feb, 1964. Secret. Drafted by Colby, who apparently also attended the meeting.
Document 5: Memorandum From the Chief of the Far East Division, Directorate of Plans (Colby) to Director of Central Intelligence McCone
Washington, February 25, 1964.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DCI (McCone) Files, Job 80–B01285A, Vietnam, 1 Feb-27 Feb, 1964. Secret. Submitted with Helms' concurrence.
Document 6: Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Hilsman) to Secretary of State Rusk
Washington, February 25, 1964.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 1–1 ASIA SE. Secret. Drafted by Neubert on February 25 and cleared by Sullivan. A copy was sent to Harriman.
Document 7: Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Solbert) to Secretary of Defense McNamara
Washington, undated.
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 68 A 306, Asia 092, Jan-May 1964. Secret. There was no date on this memorandum but there was an indication that it was received in McNamara's office at 12:30 p.m., February 26. A note on the source text indicates McNamara saw it on February 26.
Document 8: Editorial Note
Document 9: Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Hilsman) to Secretary of State Rusk
Washington, February 28, 1964.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 1–1 ASIA SE. Secret. Drafted by Green. There is a note on this memorandum indicating that Rusk saw it.
Document 10: Editorial Note
Document 11: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, March 1, 1964, 7 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Top Secret; Priority. Repeated to Bangkok, CINCPAC for POLAD, Phom Penh, and Saigon.
Document 12: Editorial Note
Document 13: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, March 3, 1964, 7 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Secret; Priority; Limdis. Repeated to Bangkok also for DEPCHJUSMAG, CINCPAC for POLAD, Saigon also for Harkins, and Phnom Penh.
Document 14: Editorial Note
Document 15: Telegram From the Central Intelligence Agency to the Department of State
Washington, March 16, 1964, 12:05 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Secret. This telegram was a relay of CAS Saigon 5161, sent to the Department of State Exclusive for Sullivan and Stoneman, to the White House Exclusive for Forrestal, to OSD Exclusive for McNaughton, to JCS Exclusive for Anthis, and to ISA Exclusive for Blouin. Repeated to Vientiane and Honolulu.
Document 16: Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos
Washington, March 16, 1964, 9:08 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Top Secret; Priority; Exdis. Drafted by William Bundy, cleared by McGeorge Bundy and Harriman, and approved by William Bundy. Also sent to Saigon as telegram 1448.
Document 17: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, March 19, 1964, 8 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Top Secret; Priority. Repeated priority to Saigon.
Document 18: Editorial Note
Document 19: Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos
Washington, April 2, 1964, 7:08 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 15–1 LAOS. Secret; Priority; Limdis. Drafted by Barbis, cleared by Trueheart and Sullivan, and approved by William Bundy. Repeated to Saigon, Bangkok, London, Paris, and CINCPAC.
Document 20: Telegram From the Consulate General in Hong Kong to the Department of State
Hong Kong, April 9, 1964, 5:39 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 7 LAOS. Confidential, Priority, Repeated to Bangkok, CINCPAC for POLAD, Saigon, Taipei, and Vientiane.
Document 21: Memorandum From the Deputy Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (Fitch) to Secretary of Defense McNamara
Washington, April 9, 1964.
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Admin Files: FRC 7425, Laos 381. Top Secret. A note on the source text indicates that McNamara saw this memorandum on April 10.
Document 22: Situation Report No. 1
Washington, April 19, 1964.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Laos, Vol. II, 4/16/64–4/30/64. Secret. No drafter indicated, but it was prepared in the Operations Center of the Department of State.
Document 23: Memorandum for the Record
Washington, April 19, 1964, 10:10 a.m.
Source: Johnson Library, John McCone Memoranda, Meetings with the President, 4/30/64–5/20/64. Secret. Drafted by Colby on April 20, who mistakenly characterized this as an NSC meeting. It was not an official numbered meeting of the National Security Council.
Document 24: Telegram From the Department of State to Secretary of State Rusk at Saigon
Washington, April 19, 1964, 1:02 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 23–9 LAOS. Secret; Immediate; No Distribution. Drafted and approved by Ball.
Document 25: Telegram From the Department of State to Secretary of State Rusk at Saigon
Washington, April 19, 1964, 1:58 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Secret; Flash; Exdis. Drafted by Green, cleared in substance by McNamara and McGeorge Bundy, cleared in draft by U. Alexis Johnson and Thompson, and approved by Ball. Repeated immediate to Vientiane.
Document 26: Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos
Washington, April 19, 1964, 4:34 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 15–1 LAOS. Secret; Immediate. Drafted by Green, cleared in draft by U. Alexis Johnson, cleared in substance by Forrestal, and approved by Harriman.
Document 27: Transcript of a Teletype Conference Between the Ambassador to Laos (Unger) and Secretary of State Rusk
April 19, 1964, 7:30 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Bundy Files: Lot 85 D 240, WPB Chron, Mar/June 1964. Secret; Limited Distribution. Unger was in Vientiane; Rusk was in Saigon. The date of the teletype conference is Saigon time, 13 hours ahead of Washington time.
Document 28: Telegram From Secretary of State Rusk to the Department of State
Saigon, April 20, 1964, 10 a.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Secret; Flash; Exdis. Received at the Department of State at 9:30 p.m. April 19. Passed to the White House, CIA, JCS, OSD, and USUN.
Document 29: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, April 20, 1964, 6 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 23–9 LAOS. Secret; Immediate; Limdis. Repeated to Bangkok. Received at the Department at 7:46 a.m., April 20. Passed to the White House, CIA, OSD, and USUN.
Document 30: Memorandum From the President's Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to President Johnson
Washington, April 21, 1964.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security Files, Memos to the President, McGeorge Bundy, Vol. III, 4/1–30/64. No classification marking. A note on the source text indicates that the President read it on April 21.
Document 31: Memorandum From Michael V. Forrestal of the National Security Council Staff to President Johnson
Washington, April 21, 1964.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Laos, Vol. II, Memos, 4/16–4/30/64. Secret. There was no indication that the President saw this memorandum.
Document 32: Memorandum of Telephone Conversation Between the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Harriman) and Michael V. Forrestal of the National Security Council Staff
Washington, April 21, 1964, 6:50 p.m.
Source: Library of Congress Manuscript Division, Harriman Papers, Kennedy and Johnson Administrations, Chronology of Telephone Conversations, April–May 1964. No classification marking.
Document 33: Memorandum by the Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, April 22, 1964.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Laos, Vol. II, Memos, 4/16/64–4/30/64. Secret; No Foreign Dissem. Drafted by the Office of Current Intelligence.
Document 34: Memorandum of Conversation
Washington, April 22, 1964, 10:07 a.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 23–9 LAOS. Confidential. Drafted by Henry and approved in Rusk's office on May 2. The time of the meeting was taken from Rusk's Appointment Book. (Johnson Library) The source text indicates it was Part II of III. The meeting was held in Rusk's office.
Document 35: Summary Record of the 528th Meeting of the National Security Council
Washington, April 22, 1964, 4:45 p.m.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, NSC Meetings, Vol. I, Tab 9. Top Secret.
Document 36: Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos
Washington, April 22, 1964, 7:43 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 15–1 LAOS. Secret; Flash; Limdis. Drafted by William Bundy, cleared by Trueheart, cleared in draft by McNaughton and Forrestal, cleared in substance by Poats, and approved by William Bundy. Repeated to Bangkok for DEPCHJUSMAG and to CINCPAC for POLAD.
Document 37: Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos
Washington, April 25, 1964, 5:51 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 23–9 LAOS. Secret; Flash; Limdis. Drafted by Trueheart and William Bundy; cleared by McGeorge Bundy, McNaughton, and in substance by Rusk; and approved by William Bundy. Repeated to Bangkok, London, Paris, Saigon, and CINCPAC.
Document 38: Memorandum From Secretary of Defense McNamara to President Johnson
Washington, April 25, 1964.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Laos, Vol. II, Memos, 4/16/64–4/30/64. Top Secret.
Document 39: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, April 26, 1964, 1 a.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Top Secret; Immediate. Repeated to Bangkok, Saigon, and CINCPAC for POLAD. Passed to the White House, CIA, JCS, OSD, and USUN. Handled as Limdis at the instruction of S/S.
Document 40: Memorandum for the Record
Washington, April 29, 1964.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Laos, Memos, Vol. II, 4/16/64–4/30/64. Top Secret.
Document 41: Memorandum From the President's Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to President Johnson
Washington, April 29, 1964.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Laos, Vol. II, Memos, 4/16/64–4/30/64. No classification marking.
Document 42: Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Bundy) to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Harriman)
Washington, April 29, 1964.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Laos, Memos, Vol. II, 4/16/64–4/30/64. Secret.
Document 43: Memorandum for the Record
Washington, April 29, 1964.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DCI (McCone) Files, Job 80–B01285A, Meetings with the President, 1 Apr-31 May, 1964. Secret. Drafted by Colby on April 30.
Document 44: Memorandum From Michael V. Forrestal of the National Security Council Staff to the President's Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)
Washington, April 29, 1964.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Laos, Vol. II, 4/16/64–4/30/64. Secret.
Document 45: Summary Record of the 531st National Security Council Meeting
Washington, May 5, 1964, noon.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, NSC Meetings, Vol. 2, Tab 3. Top Secret.
Document 46: Memorandum for the Record
Washington, May 5, 1964.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DCI (McCone) Files, Job 80–B01285A, Meetings with the President, 1 Apr-31 May 64. Secret. Drafted by Colby on May 6.
Document 47: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, May 15, 1964, 5 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27–14 LAOS. Top Secret; Priority; Limdis. Repeated to Bangkok, CINCPAC for POLAD, and Saigon.
Document 48: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, May 17, 1964, noon.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Top Secret; Flash. Repeated Immediate to Bangkok, London, Paris, Saigon, and CINCPAC. Received at the Department of State at 2:34 a.m., May 17. Passed to the White House, OSD, JCS, and CIA at 3:36 a.m.
Document 49: Special Report of the U.S. Intelligence Board's Watch Committee
Washington, May 17, 1964, 4:30 p.m.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Laos, Vol. IV, Memos, 5/17/64–5/20/64. Secret. This report was a result of a special meeting of the Watch Committee held at 3 p.m. on May 17 and was transmitted to members of the U.S. Intelligence Board under cover of a memorandum from Frank J. Benny, Director of the National Indications Center at the Pentagon, on May 17.
Document 50: Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos
Washington, May 17, 1964, 6:22 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Secret; Flash. Drafted and approved by William Bundy; cleared by McNamara, McNaughton, Harriman, Rusk, and the White House per McNamara. Also sent Flash to Bangkok and Immediate to Saigon. Repeated Immediate to Paris, London, Canberra, Wellington, Karachi, Manila, New Delhi, Ottawa, Warsaw, Moscow, and CINCPAC.
Document 51: Memorandum of Telephone Conversation Between the Under Secretary of State (Ball) and the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Bundy)
Washington, May 19, 1964, 9:40 a.m.
Source: Johnson Library, Ball Papers, Telephone Conversations, Vietnam. No classification marking.
Document 52: Memorandum of Telephone Conversation Between the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Harriman) and the President's Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)
Washington, May 20, 1964, 8:55 a.m.
Source: Library of Congress Manuscript Division, Harriman Papers, Chronology, Telephone Conversations, April–May 1964. Transcribed in Harriman's office.
Document 53: Memorandum for the Record
Washington, May 20, 1964.
Source: National Defense University, Taylor Papers, Chairman's Staff Group, Box 25. Secret; Eyes Only. Prepared by W.Y. Smith.
Document 54: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, May 20, 1964, 5 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Top Secret; Flash.
Document 55: Memorandum by the Chief, Far Eastern Division, Directorate for Plans (Colby) and the Assistant Deputy Director for Policy Support, Directorate for Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency (Cooper)
Washington, May 21, 1964.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DCI (McCone) Files, Job 80–B01285A, Vietnam, May, 1964. Secret.
Document 56: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, May 22, 1964, 6 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Secret; Immediate. Repeated to Bangkok, CINCPAC for POLAD, London, Paris, New Delhi, Canberra, Moscow, and Phnom Penh and pouched to Ottawa.
Document 57: Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Green) to the Assistant Secretary (Bundy)
Washington, May 23, 1964.
Source: Department of State, Bundy Files: Lot 85 D 240, Special Papers, Apr/June 1964. Secret.
Document 58: Memorandum From the Deputy Director for Plans, Central Intelligence Agency (Helms) to the President's Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)
Washington, May 23, 1964.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Laos, Vol. V, Memos, 5/21/64–5/31/64. Secret. Also sent to Taylor, William Bundy, McNaughton, and Clay.
Document 59: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, May 24, 1964, 5 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Secret; Immediate. Repeated to Bangkok, CINCPAC, London, and Paris. Received at the Department of State at 8:17 a.m., May 24 and passed to the White House, JCS, OSD, CIA, and USUN at 4:30 p.m.
Document 60: Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Bundy) to the Executive Committee of the National Security Council
Washington, May 24, 1964.
Source: Department of State, Bundy Files: Lot 85 D 240, Special Papers, Apr/June 1964. Top Secret.
Document 61: Memorandum for the Record
Washington, May 24, 1964.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DCI (McCone) Files, Job 80–B01285A, Vietnam, April 64. Secret. Drafted by Colby on May 24. Bromley Smith prepared an account of this meeting, which he noted began at 11 a.m; for text, see Foreign Relations, 1964–1968, vol. I, pp. 369–374.
Document 62: Memorandum for the Record
Washington, May 24, 1964.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DCI (McCone) Files, Job 80–B01285A, Vietnam 1964. Secret; Eyes Only. Dictated by McCone and transcribed by his secretary on May 25.
Document 63: Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom
Washington, May 24, 1964, 9:47 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Secret; Immediate; Verbatim Text. Drafted by Trueheart, cleared by William Bundy, and approved by Rusk. Repeated to Vientiane.
Document 64: Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Bundy) to the Executive Committee of the National Security Council
Washington, May 26, 1964.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Laos, Vol. V, Memos, 5/21/64–5/31/64. Secret. Drafted by Bundy on May 26.
Document 65: Memorandum From the Director of Intelligence and Research (Hughes) to Acting Secretary of State Ball
Washington, May 28, 1964.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27–14 LAOS. Secret.
Document 66: Telegram From the White House to the Johnson Ranch in Texas
Washington, May 29, 1964, 1:12 p.m.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Southeast Asia, Vol. II, 5/64–6/64, Memos (B). Top Secret; Exdis.
Document 67: Telegram From the Department of State to Secretary of State Rusk at Bangkok
Washington, May 29, 1964, 8:24 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Top Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Sent also to New Delhi. Drafted by U. Alexis Johnson and cleared by Ball.
Document 68: Telegram From Secretary of State Rusk to the Department of State
Bangkok, May 30, 1964, 3 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL US–USSR. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Rusk was in Thailand for a brief visit after attending Indian Prime Minister Nehru's funeral in New Delhi, May 28–30. Kosygin also attended the funeral. (Johnson Library, Rusk Appointment Book)
Document 69: Summary Record of Meeting
Honolulu, June 2, 1964, 8:30–11:50 a.m.
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, McNamara Files: FRC 72 A 3470, Southeast Asian Strategy. Top Secret. No drafting information appears on the source text. President Johnson's major advisers met in Honolulu, June 1–2, primarily to discuss Vietnam.
Document 70: Memorandum From Michael V. Forrestal of the National Security Council Staff to the President's Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)
Washington, June 3, 1964.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Laos, Vol. VI, Memos, 6/1/64–6/14/64. Secret.
Document 71: Memorandum for the Record
Washington, June 4, 1964.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DCI (McCone) Files, Job 80–B01285A, Memo for the Record, 6 Apr-8 July 1964. Secret. Drafted by Colby on June 8.
Document 72: Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defense McNamara
Washington, June 5, 1964.
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 69 A 926, Laos 000.1—Sensitive (381 Laos), 1964. Top Secret; Sensitive.
Document 73: Memorandum for Discussion
Washington, June 5, 1964.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Special Meetings on Southeast Asia, Vol. I. Top Secret. Prepared for the President for a meeting on June 5 at 6 p.m. A copy of this memorandum was attached to a June 5 memorandum from McNamara to the President, entitled “South Vietnam Action Program”; see Foreign Relations, 1964–1968, vol. I, pp. 461–464. A title page to that memorandum indicates that the paper and its attachments were prepared in the Department of Defense for the use of the President at a meeting on June 5, at 6 p.m. The President met with Rusk, McGeorge Bundy, and McNamara from 6:52 to 7:43 p.m., June 5. (Ibid., President's Daily Diary) No other record of the discussion has been found.
Document 74: Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Bundy) to Secretary of State Rusk
Washington, June 5, 1964.
Source: Department of State, Bundy Files: Lot 85 D 240, WPB Chron, Mar/June 1962. Top Secret.
Document 75: Memorandum for the Record
Washington, June 5, 1964, 5:15 p.m.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DCI (McCone) Files, Job 80–B01285A, Memos for the Record, 6 Apr-8 July 1964. Secret. Drafted by Colby on June 8. The time of the meeting is from Rusk's Appointment Book; according to the President's Daily Diary, Rusk met with the President at 6:52 p.m. (Both Johnson Library)
Document 76: Summary Record of the 533d Meeting of the National Security Council
Washington, June 6, 1964, 10:45 a.m.
Document 77: Memorandum for the Record
Washington, June 6, 1964, 10:45 a.m.
Source: Johnson Library, John McCone Memoranda, Meetings with President, 1/4/64–4/28/64. Secret; Eyes Only. Dictated by McCone and transcribed by his secretary. Copies were sent to Carter and Helms. McCone mistakenly describes this as an Executive Committee of the NSC meeting. It is a formal numbered NSC meeting. For Forrestal's account of the meeting, see Document 76.
Document 78: Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos
Washington, June 6, 1964, 6:09 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Top Secret; Immediate; Limdis. Drafted by William Bundy, cleared in substance with McNamara and U. Alexis Johnson, and approved by William Bundy. Repeated to CINCPAC, Bangkok, and Saigon.
Document 79: Memorandum From Michael V. Forrestal of the National Security Council Staff to President Johnson
Washington, June 7, 1964.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Southeast Asia, Vol. II, Memos (A), 5/64–6/64. No classification marking. There is an indication on the source text that Johnson saw it.
Document 80: Memorandum for the Record
Washington, June 7, 1964.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Files of McGeorge Bundy, Meetings on SEA, Vol. I. Top Secret. Drafted by Forrestal on June 10.
Document 81: Memorandum for the Record
Washington, June 7, 1964.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DCI (McCone) Files, Job 80–B01285A, Meetings with the President, 1 May–31 Oct 1964. Secret; Eyes Only. Dictated by McCone on June 8 and transcribed by his secretary. For Forrestal's account of this meeting, see Document 80.
Document 82: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, June 8, 1964, 7 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Top Secret; Flash; Exdis. Received at the Department of State at 9:48 a.m., June 8.
Document 83: Memorandum of Conference With President Johnson
Washington, June 8, 1964, 3 p.m.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Files of McGeorge Bundy, Meetings on Southeast Asia, Vol. I. Top Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Bromley Smith. Colby and Cooper prepared a separate although substantively similar memorandum for the record of this meeting, June 8. (Central Intelligence Agency, DCI (McCone) Files, Job 80–B01285A, Meetings with President, 1 May–31 Oct, 1964)
Document 84: Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos
Washington, June 8, 1964, 9:40 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Secret; Flash; Exdis. Drafted by Rusk and William Bundy; cleared with Manning, Harriman, Sullivan, and U. Alexis Johnson; and approved by Rusk and William Bundy. Repeated to Geneva for Ball.
Document 85: Memorandum of Telephone Conversation Between the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Harriman) and Michael V. Forrestal of the National Security Council Staff
Washington, June 9, 1964.
Source: Library of Congress Manuscript Division, Harriman Papers, Kennedy and Johnson Administrations. Secret; No Distribution; Personal.
Document 86: Memorandum From Senator Mike Mansfield to President Johnson
Washington, June 9, 1964.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Laos, Vol. VI, Memos 6/1/64–6/14/64. Personal and Confidential.
Document 87: Draft Paper Prepared for a White House Meeting
Washington, June 10, 1964.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President, McGeorge Bundy, Vol. V. Top Secret. No drafter is indicated on the source text, but at the White House meeting (see Document 88) Forrestal summarized the paper and explained its rationale.
Document 88: Summary Record of Meeting
Washington, June 10, 1964, 5:30 p.m.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Files of McGeorge Bundy, Meetings on Southeast Asia, Vol. I. Top Secret; Sensitive. Apparently drafted by Bromley Smith. The meeting took place in the Cabinet Room at the White House. The President did not attend. Dean Rusk returned to the Department of State from this meeting at 7:25 p.m. (Ibid., Rusk Appointment Book)
Document 89: Memorandum for the Record
Washington, June 10, 1964.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DCI (McCone) Files, Job 80–B01285A, Memos for the Record, 6 Apr-8 July, 1964. Secret. Drafted by Colby on June 11. Colby mistakenly describes this as an NSC meeting. For Bromley Smith's version, see Document 88.
Document 90: Memorandum From the Counselor and Chairman of the Policy Planning Staff (Rostow) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Bundy)
Washington, June 11, 1964.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Southeast Asia, Vol. III, Memos B, 6/64–8/64. Top Secret.
Document 91: Memorandum From Michael V. Forrestal of the National Security Council Staff to the President's Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)
Washington, June 11, 1964.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Southeast Asia, Vol. III, Memos B, 6/64–8/64. Top Secret.
Document 92: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, June 11, 1964, 3 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Secret; Immediate. Repeated to Bangkok, CINCPAC for POLAD, London, Paris, Saigon, USUN, the White House, CIA, JCS, and OSD.
Document 93: Memorandum From the President's Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to President Johnson
Washington, June 12, 1964.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President, McGeorge Bundy, Vol. V. Top Secret. There is an indication on the source text that the President saw it.
Document 94: Memorandum From Michael V. Forrestal of the National Security Council Staff to the President's Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)
Washington, June 12, 1964.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Laos, Vol. VI, Memos, 6/1/64–6/14/64. Top Secret.
Document 95: Memorandum for the Record
Washington, June 15, 1964.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DCI (McCone) Files, Job 80–B01285A, Memos for the Record, 6 Apr-8 July 1964. Secret. Drafted by Colby on June 16. The meeting lasted from 6 to approximately 7:20 p.m. (Johnson Library, Rusk Appointment Book)
Document 96: Memorandum From the Assistant Deputy Director for Policy Support, Directorate of Intelligence (Cooper) to Director of Central Intelligence McCone
Washington, June 15, 1964.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DCI (McCone) Files, Job 80–B01285A, Vietnam, June 1964. Top Secret.
Document 97: Memorandum From the Permanent Representative to the United Nations (Stevenson) to President Johnson
New York, June 16, 1964.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Laos, Vol. VI, Memos, 6/15/64–6/30/64. Top Secret.
Document 98: Memorandum for the Record
Washington, June 17, 1964.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DCI (McCone) Files, Job 80–B01285A, Memos for the Record, 6 Apr-8 July, 1964. Secret. Dictated by McCone and transcribed by his secretary.
Document 99: Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Poland
Washington, June 17, 1964, 8:43 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Secret; Immediate. Drafted by Trueheart and William Bundy and cleared by George W. Jaeger, Staff Assistant, Bureau of European Affairs, and Rusk. Repeated to Vientiane, London, Moscow, Paris, New Delhi, Ottawa, Saigon, Bangkok, USUN, and CINCPAC.
Document 100: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, June 23, 1964, 5 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Secret; Immediate. Repeated to Bangkok, New Delhi, Saigon and COMUSMACV, London, Paris, and CINCPAC for POLAD. Passed to the White House, JCS, OSD, CIA, and USUN at 7:55 a.m. June 23.