Pentagon Papers

by Neil Sheehan

  MAXWELL DAVENPORT TAYLOR

  Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1962-64; United States Ambassador to South Vietnam, 1964-65; special consultant to the President, 1965-69 . . . now on the board of the Institute for Defense Analyses, chairman of Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. Born Keytesville, Mo., Aug. 26, 1901 . . . graduated from United States Military Academy, 1922 . . . Command and General Staff School, 1933 . . . Army War College, 1940 . . . taught French, Spanish, at West Point . . . assistant military attaché, Pekin, 1937 . . . commander 101st Airborne Division, World War II . . . took part invasions Normandy, Holland . . . Superintendent United States Military Academy, 1945-49 . . . United States Commander, Berlin, 1950 . . . Commander of Eighth Army, Korea, 1953 . . . Army Chief of Staff, 1955 . . . resigned 1959 in “limited war” strategy dispute . . . recalled as adviser by President Kennedy, 1961 . . . was influential in both Kennedy, Johnson Administrations . . . scholarly, much-decorated . . . now living in Chevy Chase, Md.

  NGUYEN VAN THANH (HO CHI MINH)

  Leader of long struggle against French colonialism, was President of North Vietnam from 1945 until his death of heart attack in September, 1969 . . . born May 19, 1890, in Kimlien, in central Vietnam, son of an ardent nationalist . . . attended high school at Lycée Quoc-Hoc in Hué, leaving without diploma in 1910 . . . sailed for Europe as galley boy on French ship, visiting various ports . . . worked at Carlton Hotel in London . . . during World War I, visited U.S., then returned to France, emerging as self-appointed spokesman for Vietnam at 1919 Versailles peace conference . . . founding member of French Communist party, visited Moscow in 1922 . . . active in underground activities in Southeast Asia, and was sentenced to death in absentia by the French in 1930 . . . returned to Vietnam in 1940 and organized Vietminh, then a coalition of anti-Japanese forces, both Communists and nationalists, that carried on guerrilla war against the Japanese. . . . at end of war, proclaimed Vietnam’s independence, but battled nine more years for this to become a fact. . . . under Geneva accords, became president and premier of that part of Vietnam north of the 17th parallel . . . lived modestly and was known as Uncle Ho . . . wrote poetry and described as courtly, sophisticated and gentle in manner . . . in one poem, written in jail, he said: “The rice grain suffers under the blows of the pestle;/ But admire its whiteness once the ordeal is over!/ Thus it is with men in the world we live in;/ To be a man, one must suffer the blows of misfortune.”

  WILLIAM CHILDS WESTMORELAND

  U.S. military commander, Vietnam, 1964-68; since then, Army Chief of Staff. Born Spartanburg County, S. C., March 26, 1914 . . . studied at The Citadel, South Carolina military college . . . graduated from U.S. Military Academy, 1936 . . . Harvard University Advanced Management Program, 1954 . . . first combat experience leading artillery battalion, Casablanca landing, 1942 . . . saw action in Tunisia and Sicily . . . landed on Utah Beach, Normandy, D-Day, with Ninth Infantry Division . . . commander, Sixth Infantry Regiment, Germany, 1945 . . . chief of staff, 82d Airborne Division, 1947-50 . . . instructor, Command and General Staff College and Army War College, 1950-52 . . . commanded 187th Airborne combat team, South Korea . . . 1956, promoted to major general, youngest in the Army . . . commander, 101st Airborne Division, 1958-60 . . . superintendent, U.S. Military Academy, 1960-63 . . . once said: “Command is getting people to go the way you want them to go—enthusiastically”. . . succeeded Gen. Paul D. Harkins as head of U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, June 20, 1964 . . . replaced on July 2, 1968, by Gen. Creighton W. Abrams Jr. . . . considered a consistent optimist about progress in Vietnam . . . occasionally rumored under consideration as political candidate . . . a former Eagle Scout, enthusiastic about Boy Scouts, a member-at-large of group’s national council . . . decorations include Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star, Thailand’s Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant, Vietnam’s Chuong My medal . . . starts day at Pentagon at 8 A.M. precisely.

  EARLE GILMORE WHEELER

  Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1964-70; since 1970, retired to his West Virginia farm. Born Jan. 13, 1908, Washington . . . graduated U.S. Military Academy, 1932 . . . joined National Guard at new division in U.S. . . . director, joint staff, 1960-62 . . . assigned to brief John Kennedy weekly on military matters during 1960 Presidential campaign . . . Protégé of Maxwell D. Taylor, whom he succeeded as Chairman of J.C.S., 1964 . . . sole service chief to support McNamara endorsement of test-ban treaty, 1963 . . . on Vietnam war, once told interviewer “If we just keep up the pressure those little guys will crack” . . . held top post longer than anyone else, under two Presidents, three Defense Secretaries . . . retired with disability because of heart ailment . . . now living on 180-acre farm, Martinsburg, W. Va.

  Index of Key Documents

  Chapter 1The Truman and Eisenhower Years: 1945-1960

  #1Report of Ho’s Appeals to U.S. in ’46 to Support Independence

  #21952 Policy Statement by U.S. on Goals in Southeast Asia

  #3Eisenhower Committee’s Memo on French Requests for Aid

  #4’54 Report by Special Committee on the Threat of Communism

  #5Dillon Cable to Dulles on Appeal for Air Support at Dienbienphu

  #6Dulles Cable Barring Intervention

  #7Dillon Reply on French Reaction

  #8Memo of Eisenhower-Dulles Talk on the French Cease-Fire Plan

  #9Eisenhower’s Instructions to U.S. Envoy at Geneva Talks

  #101954 Study by the Joint Chiefs on Possible U.S. Intervention

  #11Cable by Dulles on Negotiations at Geneva on Vietnam Elections

  #12Chinese Communists’ Position on a Neutralized Indochina

  #13Details on Chinese Informant

  #14“Final Declaration” at Geneva Conference and U.S. Statement Renouncing Use of Force

  #15Lansdale Team’s Report on Covert Saigon Mission in ’54 and ’55

  Chapter 3The Kennedy Years: 1961-1963

  #16U.S. Ambassador’s ’60 Analysis of Threats to Saigon Regime

  #17Memo from Rostow to Kennedy with Nine Proposals for Action

  #18Vietnam “Program of Action” by Kennedy’s Task Force

  #19’61 Memo from the Joint Chiefs on Commitment of U.S. Forces

  #20U.S. Approval, in 1961, of Steps to Strengthen South Vietnam

  #21Report by Vice President Johnson on His Visit to Asian Countries

  #22Lansdale Memo for Taylor on Unconventional Warfare

  #23Cable on Diem’s Treaty Request

  #24Note on a Plan for Intervention

  #251961 Request by South Vietnam for U.S. Combat Forces

  #26Cable from Taylor to Kennedy on Introduction of U.S. Troops

  #27Taylor’s Summary of Findings on His Mission to South Vietnam

  #28Evaluation and Conclusions of Taylor’s Report on Vietnam

  #29Conclusions of McNamara on Report by General Taylor

  #301961 Rusk-McNamara Report to Kennedy on South Vietnam

  #31Memo from Joint Chiefs Urging a Greater Role in South Vietnam

  #32State Department Study in Late ’62 on Prospects in South Vietnam

  Chapter 4The Overthrow of Ngo Dinh Diem: May-November, 1963

  #33Notes on Kennedy Meeting on Diem Regime in July, 1963

  #34Intelligence Estimate on ’63 Unrest

  #35Washington Message to Lodge on Need to Remove Nhus

  #36Lodge’s Reply to Washington

  #37C.I.A. Aide’s Cable to Chief on Contact with Saigon Generals

  #38C.I.A. Station Chief’s Cable on Coup Prospects in Saigon

  #39Lodge Cable to Secretary Rusk on U.S. Policy Toward a Coup

  #40Rusk Cable to Lodge on Views of National Security Council

  #41Further Rusk Cable to Lodge on Diem-Nhu Relationship

  #42Lodge’s Response to Rusk on Diem’s Closeness to Brother

  #43Cable by U.S. General in Saigon to Taylor on End of August Plot

  #44Memo on Washington Meeting in Aftermath of August Plot

  #45White
House Cable to Lodge on Pressure for Saigon Reforms

  #46Lodge Cable to Kennedy on Means of Bringing Reforms

  #47McNamara-Taylor Report on Mission to South Vietnam

  #48Lodge Message on Meeting of C.I.A. Agent with Gen. Minh

  #49Further Lodge Comments to Rusk

  #50Kennedy Position on Coup Plots

  #51White House Cable for Lodge on Response to Gen. Minh

  #52Lodge Message to Bundy on Dealings with Generals

  #53Bundy’s Reply on Coup Hazards

  #54Harkins Message to Taylor Voicing Doubts on Plot

  #55Further Harkins Comments to General Taylor

  #56Bundy Cable to Lodge Voicing White House Concern

  #57Lodge Response to Bundy on Letting Coup Plan Proceed

  #58Further Bundy Instructions to Lodge on Contingency Plans

  #59Lodge’s Last Talk with Diem

  #60Order by Johnson Reaffirming Kennedy’s Policy on Vietnam

  Chapter 5The Covert War and Tonkin Gulf: February-August, 1964

  #61McNamara Report to Johnson on the Situation in Saigon in ’63

  #62’64 Memo by Joint Chiefs of Staff Discussing Widening of the War

  #63’64 McNamara Report on Steps to Change the Trend of the War

  #64U.S. Order for Preparations for Some Retaliatory Action

  #65Cable from President to Lodge on Escalation Contingencies

  #66Draft Resolution for Congress on Actions in Southeast Asia

  #67Cable from Taylor Warning on the “March North” Campaign

  #68U.S. Note to Canada on Points for Envoy to Relay to Hanoi

  #69Summary of Taylor’s Report Sent to McNamara by Joint Chiefs

  #70William Bundy Memo on Actions Available to U.S. after Tonkin

  #71Pacific Commander’s Evaluation of Washington’s Action Scenario

  #72Memo from the Joint Chiefs on September’s Covert Raids

  #73State Department Aide’s Report on Actions Taken after Tonkin

  Chapter 6The Consensus to Bomb North Vietnam: August, 1964-February, 1965

  #74Rusk Query to Vientiane Embassy on Desirability of Laos Cease-Fire

  #75Saigon Embassy’s Response on Drawbacks in Laos Talks

  #76U.S. Mission’s Recommendations on Further Military Steps

  #77Rusk Cable to Embassy in Laos on Search and Rescue Flights

  #78Joint Chiefs’ Recommendations on Military Courses of Action

  #79Plan of Action Attributed to McNaughon at Pentagon

  #80Top Aides’ Proposal to Johnson on Military Steps in Late ’64

  #81Memo on Johnson’s Approval of Renewed Naval Operations

  #82Report of Meeting of U.S. Envoys to Review Operations in Laos

  #83Cable Authorizing Air Strikes on Laos Infiltration Routes

  #84William Bundy Draft on Handling World and Public Opinion

  #85McNaughon’s November Draft on Vietnam Aims and Choices

  #86View of Chiefs’ Representative on Options B and C

  #87Taylor’s Briefing of Key Officials on Situation in November ’64

  #88Final Draft Position Paper Produced by Working Group

  #89Account of Taylor’s Meeting with Saigon Generals on Unrest

  Chapter 7The Launching of the Ground War: March-July, 1965

  #90Letter from Rostow Favoring Commitment of Troops by U.S.

  #91Memo from Rostow Advocating Ground Troops and Air Attacks

  #92McGeorge Bundy Memo to Johnson on “Sustained Reprisal” Policy

  #93White House Cable to Taylor on the Rolling Thunder Decision

  #94Draft by William Bundy on Results of Policy in ’65

  #95Cable to U.S. Envoys in Asia Announcing Sustained Bombing

  #96McNaughton Draft for McNamara on “Proposed Course of Action”

  #97McCone Memo to Top Officials on Effectiveness of Air War

  #98April, ’65, Order Increasing Ground Force and Shifting Mission

  #99Taylor Cable to Washington on Step-Up in Ground Forces

  #100Johnson’s Message to Taylor on the May 10 Halt in Bombing

  #101Rostow Memorandum on “Victory and Defeat in Guerrilla Wars”

  #102Prime Minister Wilson’s Warning to Johnson on Petroleum Raids

  #103George Ball Memo for Johnson on “A Compromise Solution”

  #104McNaughton Memo to Goodpaster on “Forces Required to Win”

  #105McNamara’s Memo on July 20, 1965, on Increasing Allied Ground Force

  Chapter 8The Buildup: July, 1965-September, 1966

  #106State Department Memorandum in November on Bombing Pause

  #107Notes on McNamara Memorandum for Johnson after Vietnam Visit

  #108Notes from McNamara Memo on Course of War in 1966

  #109Further McNaughton Memo on Factors in Bombing Decision

  #110McNaughton Memo for McNamara on Anti-Infiltration Barrier Plan

  #111Johnson’s Remarks to Officials of U.S. and Saigon at Honolulu

  #112Memo on Pentagon Meeting Following up Honolulu Session

  #113Rostow’s Memo on Bombing of Hanoi’s Petroleum Facilities

  #114Joint Chiefs’ Order to Begin Bombing of Hanoi’s Oil Facilities

  #115August McNamara Memo to Chiefs Challenging Troop Request

  #116Cable from Westmoreland in August on Manpower Needs

  #117Vietnam Bombing Evaluation by Institute for Defense Analyses

  Chapter 9Secretary McNamara’s Disenchantme October, 1966-May, 1967

  #118McNamara Memo of Oct. 14, 1966, Opposing Increase in War Effort

  #119Joint Chiefs’ Memo Disputing McNamara View on Bombing

  #120McNamara Draft Memorandum for Johnson in November, ’66

  #121Komer Report to Johnson after February Trip to Vietnam

  #122Westmoreland’s March 18 Memo on Increase in Forces

  #123March 28 Westmoreland Cable to Joint Chiefs on Troop Needs

  #124Joint Chiefs’ April 20 Report to McNamara on Troop Needs

  #125Notes on Johnson Discussion with Wheeler and Westmoreland

  #126McGeorge Bundy’s Memorandum to Johnson in May on Bombing

  #127May 4 Memo on Force Levels by Systems-Analysis Chief

  #128Rostow Memorandum of May 6 on the Bombing Program

  #129Secretary McNamara’s Position of May 19 on Bombing and Troops

  #130William Bundy’s May 30 Memo on Reasons for U.S. Involvement

  Chapter 10The Tet Offensive and the Turnaround

  #131Adm. Sharp’s Progress Report on War at End of 1967

  #132Wheeler’s ’68 Report to Johnson after the Tet Offensive

  #133Orientation Memo for Clifford Telling How Targets Are Chosen

  #134Cable to Envoys in Asia on Day of Johnson’s De-escalation Speech

  Glossary

  AA: Air America; or antiaircraft

  AAA: antiaircraft artillery

  ABM: antiballistic missile

  AFB: Air Force Base

  AID: Agency for International Development

  Airops: air operations

  AMB: ambassador

  ARVN: Army of the Republic of (South) Vietnam

  ASA: (U.S.) Army Security Agency

  ASAP: as soon as possible

  ASW: antisubmarine warfare

  Ball: George W. Ball, Under Secretary of State, 1961–66

  Bao Dai: Emperor of Vietnam, 1932–55

  BAR: Browning automatic rifle

  Barrel Roll: Code name for operation, U.S. air strikes against Laotian infiltration routes and facilities

  B–57: name of U.S. bomber

  Bidault: Georges Bidault, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, 1953–54

  Bienhoa: airfield near Saigon, attacked by Vietcong October 31, 1964

  black radio: in psychological warfare, broadcasts by one side that are disguised as broadcasts for the other

  BLT: battalion landing team

  Blue Springs: apparently a covert operation not further identified in study of the documentsr />
  Bohlen: Charles E. Bohlen, Ambassador to France, 1962–68

  Bonnet: Henri Bonnet, French Ambassador to U.S., 1944–55

  bonze: Buddhist monk

  Box Top: apparently a code name for a covert operation not further identified in the documents

  BPP: Border Patrol Police

  Bundy, McGeorge: (See biography)

  Bundy, William P.: (See biography)

  Buu: Tran Quoc Buu, leader of Vietnamese Confederation of Labor under Diem

  Can: Ngo Dinh Can, brother of Ngo Dinh Diem

  Can Lao: semisecret South Vietnamese party organized by Ngo Dinh Nhu and Ngo Dinh Can

  CAP: combat air patrol; prefix used to designate White House cablegrams sent through CIA channel

  CAS: code name for Central Intelligence Agency; not otherwise explained in the documents

  CAT: Civil Air Transport, airline based on Taiwan

  CHICOM: Chinese Communist

  CHINAT: Chinese Nationalist

  CHMAAG: Chief, Military Assistance Advisory Group

  CI: counterinsurgency

  CIAP: Inter-American Committee for the Alliance for Progress

  CINCPAC: Commander in Chief, Pacific

  CIO: Central Intelligence Organizations (South Vietnam)

  CJCS: Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

  Collins: General J. Lawton Collins, Presidential representative in South Vietnam, 1954–55

  COMUSMACV: Commander, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam

  COS: chief of station, CIA

  country team: council of senior U.S. officials in South Vietnam, including ambassador, commander of American forces, CIA chief, and others