RIPPLE SALVO… #970… “THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION” PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON “EVER MADE.”…
“In a speech broadcast nationally at 8 p.m. on October 31,1968, The President announced that the bombing of North Vietnam would cease at 8 a.m. Washington time on November 1. He also noted that four-party discussions could begin at the next plenary session in Paris on November 6, an occasion ‘at which representatives of the Government of South Vietnam are free to participate.’ …. Special Counsel Harry McPherson finished drafting the speech only that afternoon; the President recorded the final parts of it between 1:35 and 1:53 p.m. The President watched the speech with family members in the Oval Office of the White House. His (McPherson) diary records: ‘He said it was the most important decision he had ever made. He further said he was not sure it ws the right decision but was what he felt had to be done. Said he couldn’t guarantee Thieu what Thieu wanted. ‘I could only tell him I was taking them (Hanoi) on faith–that the times demanded this action. This is a step toward peace.'”
“In a press conference the following day, Secretary of State Rusk commented on the speech. ‘President Johnson stated clearly last night that his decision to stop the bombing of North Vietnam was based upon specific expectations that the Government of South Vietnam will participate in the discussion of an honorable peace and that the action will bring about a de-escalation of the fighting. Some governments and leading personalities have, over many months, undertaken to tell us that something good would happen if we would stop the bombing of North Vietnam. It is now incumbent upon all of those who have taken this view to make a maximum effort to ensure that their advice has substance to it. We have our own reasons to believe that our action is a constructive step, will open the war to serious talks, and will not endanger our own and allied forces in the field. But we shall be interested in what others may do to insist upon actions by Hanoi that will move us toward peace.”…. https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v07/d169
THE WHITE HOUSE, 31 OCTOBER 1968… Ten historical documents have been archived to record forever the final day of communications involving the President on the day he announced his “most important decision.” The first of these documents is a telegram from Ambassador Harriman in Paris to Secretary Rusk reporting success in finalizing details and gaining North Vietnam’s agreement on a 1 November cessation, the date for the first session and the seating. Document 158 is at:
Doc 158 https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v07/d158
Document 159 is a summary report of three meetings held by Ambassador Bunker in Saigon with Thieu, Thanh and Ky, the three top dogs in South Vietnam. Bunker has the tough job of persuading Thieu, et.al. to accept the inevitable and plan on being in Paris on 6 November. Bottom line: Bunker says the odds of Thieu going along are at 50-50… Access Doc 159 by mousing the faint carrot in the right hand margin of Document 158, etc…
Document 160 is a telegram from President Johnson to President Thieu. Blunt. “There is little to add to what Ambassador Bunker has told you. But the hour is late for division among us. The future would be bleak if that were so.”…. “We must not throw away in Paris what we have won in South Vietnam.”… “Nor must either of our countries go it alone.”…”I need your wisdom, patriotism, and courage in the critical days ahead.”… Mouse the carrot on Doc 159…
Document 161 is the 4-page record of the Secretary of Defense’s regular “0845 Meeting” in his office with his civilian lieutenants. Great script that summarizes in clear prose the events of the week preceding the meeting. At about midpoint in the three [pager, Secretary Clifford tells his crew: “Here is the weakness of our position: We have no agreement with Hanoi. The only understanding we have after 6 months in Paris is that GVN (South Vietnam) can sit at the table in Paris.’They’ have not agreed on DMZ or on cities. We have been very clear; they say they ‘understand’ our position on the DMZ and the cities–They have not ‘agreed.'” The meeting notes remain open to record the sequence of events for the rest of the day in SecDef’s office. At 1100 a news ticker interrupts the meeting: “Thieu responds to the President (see Doc 160) and says ‘Saigon does not agree with US terms.’ “… Clifford stuns his staff at 1110 with the disclosure that Nixon has been dealing with Thieu through the back door (“Stiff LBJ and we will give you a better deal after the election”… “Don’t cooperate with LBJ; he’s only Pres. for 3 more months & Nixon will be in for 4 or 8 years. Make it hard for LBJ.”)… Later in day: “Thieu still has some objections but is coming around…”…
Document 162 is a short sitrep from Bunker’s aide to Rusk’s aide with developments in Saigon where the SVN National Security Council is weighing LBJ’s letter request to Thieu.
Document 163 is a memo from the President’s assistant, Walt Rostow, to the President with some suggestions on how to handle the Nixon interference in the quest of Thieu’s compliance with the LBJ requests… Rostow includes a suggested message for Thieu for all three Presidential candidates to sign saying it won’t matter who wins the Presidency, the course will be the same no matter who wins, therefore, get on board with LBJ. That was Rostow’s fix for the Nixon dalliance in the sensitive negotiations with North Vietnam.
Document 164 is a letter from Johnson to Kosygin in Moscow giving him a heads-up that he would announce the cessation of the bombing later in the day…
Document 165 is another relayed report from Rusk’s aide Read to his boss and the President. Ambassador Bunker called at 2:40 p.m. saying the GVN Security Council is not on board with present draft. If two adjustments are made in the joint announcement they would “go with it.”… Bunker says he hopes the adjustments can be made…
Document 166 is a telephone conference call that puts Nixon, Humphrey and Wallace along with Rusk, Clifford, Wheeler and CIA leader Helms on the phone with the President, who does almost all the talking. Three pages of “this is the way it is going to be.” A historic conversation… Five Stars…
Document 167 is the notes from the 593rd Meeting of the National Security Council. Three aides took notes that were combined into one historical document… One excerpt: LBJ: “We are ready to announce that we are going to stop bombing North Vietnam. We have always held that conferences will not be productive unless the Government of Vietnam is represented; unless the other side refrains from shelling the cities; unless there is no violation of the DMZ. Hanoi has said that it is willing for South Vietnam to sit in on the meetings. We have let them know that any violation of the DMZ will trigger an attack from us. We have talked to the Soviet Union and others and they understand this. We will test their faith and see. I am going on the air at 8 p.m. tonight to talk to the Nation. Just before that I will order the bombing to stop at 8 a.m. tomorrow (9 p.m. Saigon time). Negotiations will resume on November 6. If they (NVN) are there, fine. If not, we will go anyway. I’ve gotten the judgement of my advisors…” The President polled the attendees for “objections.” …”There was prompt and unanimous agreement.” …
Document 168 is a four-page telephone conversation between the President and Vice President Humphrey. The President does almost all the talking to fill the Vice President in on the events of the last few days and what he has in mind going forward… a good review of the more than thirty historical documents posted here on RTR over the last week.
THE PRESIDENT’S REMARKS ON THE CESSATION OF BOMBING OF NORTH VIETNAM ON 31 OCTOBER 1968… “As a result of progress in the Paris peace talks, Johnson announces the cessation of bombing in North Vietnam and expresses his hope that the talks may continue to move forward successfully. The President cautions that the talks require more time and patience but points to the strengthening South Vietnamese government and troops as hopeful signs.”…The speech was broadcast at 8 p.m. There were a dozen hours of Operation Rolling Thunder to be flown, and then: Rolling Thunder was history… Read at…
http://www.lbjlibrary.net/collections/selected-speeches/1968-january-1969/10-31-1968.html
RTR quote for 31 October: PRESIDENT JOHNSON, 31 Oct 68: “So what is required of us in these new circumstances is exactly that steady determination and patience which has brought us to this more hopeful prospects. What is required of us is a courage and a steadfastness, and a perseverance here at home, that will match that of our men who fight for us tonight in Vietnam.”…
Lest we forget… Bear