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    "localId": "7705243",
    "label": "MIA/POW - National League of Families Convention (2)",
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    "id": "7705243",
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    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "MIA/POW - National League of Families Convention (2)",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7705243",
    "collections": [
        "John O. Marsh Files (Ford Administration)",
        "John Marsh's General Subject Files"
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    "subjects": [
        "Missing in action",
        "Prisoners of war",
        "Speeches, addresses, etc.",
        "Vietnam War, 1961-1975"
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        "logicalDate": "1976-08-31",
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        "year": 1976
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        "logicalDate": "1976-04-01",
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        "year": 1976
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    "seq": 1,
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    "type": "document",
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    "ocrText": "The original documents are located in Box 21, folder \"MIA/POW - National League of\nFamilies Convention (2)\" of the John Marsh Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential\nLibrary.\nCopyright Notice\nThe copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of\nphotocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United\nStates of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.\nWorks prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public\ndomain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to\nremain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid\ncopyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.\nDigitized from Box 21 of The John Marsh Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nJuly 19, 1976\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nJACK MARSH\nDICK CHENEY\nFROM:\nPHIL BUCHEN\nBobbe\nBOBBIE GREENE KILBERG\nBobbie spoke with Dick Wiley, General Counsel of DOD, this\nafternoon and it is Wiley's legal opinion that, if the conditions\nset forth below are met, DOD can legally provide transportation\nfor MIA families to and from Washington, D. C. for meetings\non July 22 through July 25, which include the 7th Annual Meeting\nof the National League of Families of American Prisoners and\nMissing In Southeast Asia, without violating the provisions of\n31 U.S. C. § 551. The conditions are as follows:\n(1) DOD must present its own program on those dates\nwhich addresses DOD issues and operations.\n(2) Invitations to participate in this DOD program must be\nsent to all MIA families, including those families who are not\nmembers of the National League or who are not planning to\nattend the League meeting in D. C.\n(3) The DOD program must consist of at least two separate\ntime block sections of at least two hours each and one of these\nsessions must be either on DOD premises or in a meeting room\nwhich DOD has specifically arranged to'use for that purpose.\n(4) Substantive issues must be discussed at these sessions\nand must involve policy matters that DOD has full or partial\npolicy responsibility for or a substantial interest in. At least\nhalf of these topics must not already be on the League program.\n2\n(5) DOD must make arrangements for any MIA family who\nso desires to read and discuss the full military file of the MIA\nwith a qualified military caseworker from the appropriate service\nbranch. The DOD invitation to all MIA families must state that\nthe files are available and that these arrangements can be made.\nThe Counsel's Office agrees with the opinion of the General Counsel\nof DOD that the above conditions must be met in order to provide\na proper legal basis for DOD to provide transportation to and from\nWashington, D.C. for MIA families on July 22-25. Responsibility\nfor meeting these conditions must rest with the senior officials at\nDOD, and it is our recommendation that they be urged to give it\ntheir highest priority and personal attention.\nDIFENSE\nOFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE\nWASHINGTON, D. C. 20301\nMINITED of AMERICA\n19\nJUL\nINTERNATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS\nIn reply refer to:\nI-7606/76\nMr. Earl P. Hopper, Sr.\nExecutive Director\nNational League of Families\n1608 K Street, N.W.\nWashington, D.C. 20006\nDear Earl:\nThis letter is to further elaborate on Dr. Shields' March 26, 1976\nletter which responded to your request for COIN ASSIST travel.\nAs Dr. Shields indicated to you in the earlier letter, DoD will pro-\nvide whatever support we can. Unfortunately, the support this year\nwill be drastically reduced compared to previous years due to a num-\nber of reasons which I will detail for you. As was indicated to the\nLeague last year, the aircraft inventory was being severely reduced\nbecause of budgetary and operational requirements. This reduction\nwas implemented in the past nine months primarily through the elim-\nination of courier routes, the consolidation of airlift assets and\nthe scheduling of aircraft only when a firm requirement exists.\nIn the past, support to the League was provided through existing\ncapability but space available travel was virtually assured through\nthe scheduling of courier aircrafts to centralized points. The cap-\nability to support the League in the same manner no longer exists.\nDespite these constraints and in an effort to insure that the League\nwould continue to receive support this year, my staff explored the\npossibility of getting special authorization for space required travel\non a one time exception basis, but find that there are statutory pro-\nvisions in 31 U.S.C. 551 which specifically address the issue of funds\nfor transportation to conventions. To do so would violate the statute\nwhich is set forth below:\n\"Unless specifically provided by law, no moneys from funds\nappropriated for any purpose shall be used for the purpose\nof lodging, feeding, conveying, or furnishing transportation\nto, any conventions or other form of assemblage or gathering\nto be held in the District of Columbia or elsewhere\n\"\nREVOLUTION\n$\nAMERICAN\n1776-1976\n2\nOnly recently the meaning of this provision was clarified in Comptroller\nGeneral decision B-166506, dated February 12, 1976, dealing with the\nfunding of conferences by the Environmental Protection Agency. The\nreasoning which applied to the decision applies equally to DoD pro-\nviding transportation to the League. It was through the attempts to\nobtain space required travel for the League that DoD became aware of\nthis ruling which directly impacts on your request.\nFor these reasons DoD support must thus be limited to permitting\neligible persons to use space available which is surplus after all\nrequired travel has been accomodated. This effectively means persons\nauthorized travel as defined in DoD 4515.13-R, paragraph 4-6(b) (2)\nmay register at base operations and apply for travel space but there\nwill be neither scheduled couriers nor assured space. Further, ground\ntransportation in the Washington area will be an expenditure to the\nindividual as other convention expenses.\nI regret that these changes must occur, but to support the League\nconvention in the manner as done in the past would contravene the law--\nsomething which we both recognize cannot be done.\nSincerely,\nRAYMOND A. VOHDEN\nCAPTAIN\nUSN\nPrincipal Advisor,\nOffice of PW/MIA Affairs\nII just opened\nfiles to MIA DBU\ncamilies in at\ndrogque\nof\nfood\nfaim\nNew\ntacq\nmay Worker mtg\nto\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nJuly 19, 1976\n(8:00 a. m.)\nJack:\nDOD has backed off again. Despite Robin West's\nunquestioned green light on MIA flights last week\n(we were even working with Air Force types to set\nschedules), DOD Legal Counsel rejected entire\nplan. I am working with Hooper, Mitler, West\nand Woods in effort to achieve last minute\ncompromise solution. (Ross Perot, possible\nPentagon briefing for all MIA families, etc. )\nYou might mention situation to Jim Connor.\nRuss\nJuly 19\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nJack:\nThis is what we have drafted.\nMilt\nA CONCURRENT RESOLUTION\nTo concur in the Department of Defense provision PAYMENT of\ntransportation for the 1976 National League of Families\nof American Persons Missing in Southeast Asia Annual\nMeeting.\nBe it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives\nof the United States of America in Congress assembled.\nThat The Congress concurs in the Department of Defense\ninterpretation that provisions of 31 USC 551 do not pre-\nclude the Department from paying through the use of appro-\npriated funds the transportation to and from the 1976\nNational League of Families of American Persons Missing\nin Southeast Asia Annual Meeting of persons authorized at\nthe discretion of the Secretary of Defense or his designee.\nFORD is LIBRARY\nOF ULFENSE\nOFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE\nWASHINGTON, D. C. 20301\nDESTRIBED\nAMERICA\nof\n19\nJUL\nINTERNATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS\nIn reply refer to:\nI-7606/76\nMr. Earl P. Hopper, Sr.\nExecutive Director\nNational League of Families\n1608 K Street, N.W.\nWashington, D.C. 20006\nDear Earl:\nThis letter is to further elaborate on Dr. Shields' March 26, 1976\nletter which responded to your request for COIN ASSIST travel.\nAs Dr. Shields indicated to you in the earlier letter, DoD will pro-\nvide whatever support we can. Unfortunately, the support this year\nwill be drastically reduced compared to previous years due to a num-\nber of reasons which I will detail for you. As was indicated to the\nLeague last year, the aircraft inventory was being severely reduced\nbecause of budgetary and operational requirements. This reduction\nwas implemented in the past nine months primarily through the elim-\nination of courier routes, the consolidation of airlift assets and\nthe scheduling of aircraft only when a firm requirement exists.\nIn the past, support to the League was provided through existing\ncapability but space available travel was virtually assured through\nthe scheduling of courier aircrafts to centralized points. The cap-\nability to support the League in the same manner no longer exists.\nDespite these constraints and in an effort to insure that the League\nwould continue to receive support this year, my staff explored the\npossibility of getting special authorization for space required travel\non a one time exception basis, but find that there are statutory pro-\nvisions in 31 U.S.C. 551 which specifically address the issue of funds\nfor transportation to conventions. To do so would violate the statute\nwhich is set forth below:\n\"Unless specifically provided by law, no moneys from funds\nappropriated for any purpose shall be used for the purpose\nof lodging, feeding, conveying, or furnishing transportation\nto, any conventions or other form of assemblage or gathering\nto be held in the District of Columbia or elsewhere\n\"\nREVOLUTION\na\nAMERICAN\n1776-1976\n2\nOnly recently the meaning of this provision was clarified in Comptroller\nGeneral decision B-166506, dated February 12, 1976, dealing with the\nfunding of conferences by the Environmental Protection Agency. The\nreasoning which applied to the decision applies equally to DoD pro-\nviding transportation to the League. It was through the attempts to\nobtain space required travel for the League that DoD became aware of\nthis ruling which directly impacts on your request.\nFor these reasons DOD support must thus be limited to permitting\neligible persons to use space available which is surplus after all\nrequired travel has been accomodated. This effectively means persons\nauthorized travel as defined in DOD 4515.13-R, paragraph 4-6(b) (2)\nmay register at base operations and apply for travel space but there\nwill be neither scheduled couriers nor assured space. Further, ground\ntransportation in the Washington area will be an expenditure to the\nindividual as other convention expenses.\nI regret that these changes must occur, but to support the League\nconvention in the manner as done in the past would contravene the law--\nsomething which we both recognize cannot be done.\nSincerely,\nRAYMOND A. VOHDEN\nCAPTAIN\nUSN\nPrincipal Advisor,\nOffice of PW/MIA Affairs\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nJuly 19, 1976\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nJACK MARSH\nDICK CHENEY\nFROM:\nPHIL BUCHEN\nBobbe\nBOBBIE GREENE KILBERG\nBobbie spoke with Dick Wiley, General Counsel of DOD, this\nafternoon and it is Wiley's legal opinion that, if the conditions\nset forth below are met, DOD can legally provide transportation\nfor MIA families to and from Washington, D.C. for meetings\non July 22 through July 25, which include the 7th Annual Meeting\nof the National League of Families of American Prisoners and\nMissing In Southeast Asia, without violating the provisions of\n31 U.S.C. 8 551. The conditions are as follows:\n(1) DOD must present its own program on those dates\nwhich addresses DOD issues and operations.\n(2) Invitations to participate in this DOD program must be\nsent to all MIA families, including those families who are not\nmembers of the National League or who are not planning to\nattend the League meeting in D.C.\n(3) The DOD program must consist of at least two separate\ntime block sections of at least two hours each and one of these\nsessions must be either on DOD premises or in a meeting room\nwhich DOD has specifically arranged to use for that purpose.\n(4) Substantive issues must be discussed at these sessions\nand must involve policy matters that DOD has full or partial\npolicy responsibility for or a substantial interest in. At least\nhalf of these topics must not already be on the League program.\n2\n(5) DOD must make arrangements for any MIA family who\nso desires to read and discuss the full military file of the MIA\nwith a qualified military caseworker from the appropriate service\nbranch. The DOD invitation to all MIA families must state that\nthe files are available and that these arrangements can be made.\nThe Counsel's Office agrees with the opinion of the General Counsel\nof DOD that the above conditions must be met in order to provide\na proper legal basis for DOD to provide transportation to and from\nWashington, D. C. for MIA families on July 22-25. Responsibility\nfor meeting these conditions must rest with the senior officials at\nDOD, and it is our recommendation that they be urged to give it\ntheir highest priority and personal attention.\na281\nr W bylryrzvt\nFORD\nAM-Ford-MIAs 400\nBy MARGARET SCHERF\nCERALD\nAssociated Press Writer\nWASHINGTON AP - Unless the issue of Americans still listed as\nmissing in Southeast Asia is resolved no further progress in\nestablishing relations between the United States and Vietnam is\npossible, President Ford said Saturday night.\nFord told the National League of Families of Prisoners and Missing\nAmericans in Southeast Asia that his administration is \"employing\nevery effective means to account for your loved ones.\"\nHe promised that those efforts will continue, but cautioned that\n**information for every missing man may never be available.\"\n\"We are dealing with a government that has shown very little\nčôncern for your feelings \" the President said.\nHe said the United States has exchanged messages with the Vietnamese\n\"indicating our willingness to discuss differenoes.\"\"\nBut. he added. \"without a satisfactory solution of the MIA issue,\nno further progress in our relations is possible.\"\nMore than 900 Americans still are listed as prisoners or missing in\naction in Southeast Asia.\n\"You and your loved ones must be assured of a continuing commitment\nfrom your country to obtain a full accounting of the fate of those\nstill listed as missing in action or prisoners of war, \" Ford said.\n\"Let me emphasize this is a firm unequivocal commitment \"\nbe added. \"\"It\"S still a very active commitment ... It's a personal\nobmmitment.\"\nOne woman 'ran to the door behind the President as he was leaving and\nsaid in a loud voice, \"Mr. President I think you can do more. I\nreally do.\" Another woman tried to approach Ford, but was stopped by\nSecret Service agents.\nBut Ford received sustained applause at several points in his\nspeech.\nHe said that several months ago he discussed with his staff the\nproblem of declassification of information related to MIAs. \"I\ndirected that progress be made in that regard, he added. \"I'm\ninformed that progress has been made.\"\nFord did not elaborate on that point.\nRep. G.V. \"Sonny\", Montgomery D-Miss. told the convention Friday\nthat a House investigation has produced no confirmable evidence that\nany missing'O servicemen are still alive in Southeast Asia.\nMontgomery chairman of the House Select Committee on Missing\nPersons in Southeast Asia, said it serves no useful purpose to\ncontinue to hold out falsé hopes that a large number of the missing\nare still alive.\n2218pED 07-24\nR W\nAM-MIA 7-25\nBY RICHARD E. LERNER\nWASHINGTON (UPI) -- PRESIDENT FORD HAS PLEDGED AN ALL-OUT EFFORT\nTO LEARN THE FATE OF SOME 800 U.S. SERVICEMEN STILL OFFICIALLY\nMISSING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, BUT HE ALSO HAS WARNED RELATIVES OF THE\nMIAS THAT SOME OF THEIR LOVED ONES MAY NEVER BE ACCOUNTED FOR.\nFORD S MESSAGE, TEMPERING HOPE WITH REALITY, COMES A1 A IME WHEN\nMANY MIA WIFES ARE FIGHTING 1 KEEP 1HEIR HUSBANDS FR M BEING\nDECLARED LEGALLY DEAD AND WHEN IHERS IN THE MIA CAUSE ARE URGING\nU.S. CONCESSIONS TO HANOI IN HOPES OF GETTING NEW INFORMATION.\nTHE PRESIDENT DELIVERED HIS PROMISE OF CONTINUED EFFORTS IN AN\nEMOTIONAL SPEECH SATURDAY NIGHT TO THE 7TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE\nNATIONAL LEAGUE OF FAMILIES OF MIAS, WHICH SAYS DECLARING MIAS DEAD\nWOULD COST THEIR FAMILIES CONSIDERABLE FINANCIAL BENEFITS.\n\"LET ME ASSURE YOU -- WE ARE EMPLOYING EVERY EFFECTIVE MEANS TO\nACCOUNT FOR YOUR LOVED ONES ... AND I WILL CONTINUE THAT EFFORT,\"\nFORD SAID.\nBUT HE ADDED: \"WE MUST BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES. THIS IS A\nFRUSTRATING, PAINSTAKING, DIFFICULT PROCESS. IT'S A TRAGIC FACT --\nTHAT MAKES ME AND ALL AMERICANS VERY, VERY SAD -- 1HAI EVERY MISSING\nMA\" OR INFORMATION REGARDING IMAI INDIVIDUAL MAY NEVER BE AVAILABLE,\nREGARDLESS F ANY SUPER-UMAN EFF R₁ BY THE BES, IN UR G VERMENT\nAFTER HIS BRIEF SPEECH, AS THE PRESIDENT STOPPED TO HOLD TWO YOUNG\nGIRLS IN HIS ARMS, A MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN WITH TEARS IN HER EYES STEPEED\nFORWARD AND SAID: \"MR. PRESIDENT, I THINK YOU CAN DO MORE, I REALLY\nDO.\"\nONE STEP ADVOCATED AI 1ME MIA MEEiING -- A S₁EP WHICH I1 APPEARED\nUNLIKELY ME FORD ADMINIS,RAII M W ULD AKE -- WAS ENDING THE US\nEMBARGO ON TRADE WITH NORTH VIETNAM.\nNELSON AMSDILL OF THE FRAZER, MICH., VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS, AND\nLAWRENCE ZATKOFF OF ROSEVILLE, MICH., PROPOSED A SIX-MONTH TRIAL\nLIFTING OF THE EMBARGO. ZATKOFF SAID: \"IN THAT PERIOD WE EXPECT\nIMMEDIATE, POSITIVE ACTION FROM HANOI TO GIVE US A FULL ACCOUNTING ON\nALL MIAS AND POWS.\"\nTHEY SAID THE GESTURE WAS ONE OF THREE POINTS RAISED BY A HANOI\nDIPLOMAT, FIRST SECRETARY DO THAN, DURING A JUNE 4 MEETING IN PARIS\nIN WHICH DO PROMISED A FULL REP RI iv MIAS AND PRIS NERS F WAR \"WHEN\nY_UR UNTRY D ES S. MEIMING F R US \"\nBU1 F RD SAID C. MMUNIS, G VERMENTS IN at R₁M AND S U1H VIE1\"A\",\nCAMBODIA AND LAOS ARE WITHHOLDING INFORMATION ABOUT AMERICAN MIA'S\n\"TOTALLY WITHOUT JUSTIFICATION \"\n\"WITHOUT A SATISFACTORY SOLUTION OF THE MIA ISSUE, NO FURTHER\nPROGRESS IN OUR RELATIONS IS POSSIPLE,\" FORD SAID. \"YOUR LOVED ONES\nHAVE NOT BEEN FORGOTTEN. YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ABANDOMED. T PROMISE YOU\nI WILL NOT REST UNTIL THE FULLEST POSSIBLE ACCOUNTING OF YOUR LOVED\nONES HAS BEEN MADE.\"\nDUPLICATES B-WIRE POINTS\nUPI 07-25 06:00 PED\nFORD\nGERALD\nMorday, July 26\nUP-024\n(VIET MISSING)\nWASHINGTON (UPI) -- RELATIVES OF SOME 800 U.S. SERVICEMEN STILL\nOFFICIALLY MISSING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA SAID SUNDAY PRESIDENT FORD WOULD\nHAVE TO GET RID OF HENRY KISSINGER BEFORE HE COULD CARRY OUT HIS\nPLEDGE OF AN ALL-OUT EFFORT TO LEARN THE FATE OF THE MIAS.\nTHE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF FAMILIES OF MIAS ENDED ITS 7TH ANNUAL\nMEETING BY VOTING OVERWHELMINGLY TO ASK FORD TO FIRE KISSINGER\nIMMEDIATELY AND REPLACE HIM WITH SOMEONE \"WHO WILL ACTIVELY PURSUE AN\nACCOUNTING FOR THE MISSING.\"\nIN A BRIEF SPEECH TO THE RELATIVES OF THE MIAS SATURDAY NIGHT,\nFORD PLEDGED HE WOULD CONTINUE TO USE \"EVERY EFFECTIVE MEANS\" TO\nACCOUNT FOR THE MISSING BUT HE ALSO WARNED THAT SOME OF THEM MAY\nNEVER BE ACCOUNTED FOR.\nON SUNDAY, THE 600 RELATIVES AT THE LEAGUE SESSION WELCOMED FORD'S\nPROMISE BUT SAID IN A STATEMENT \"BECAUSE KISSINGER'S PAST PERFORMANCE\nIS INCONSISTENT WITH THE PRESIDENT'S STATEMENTS, THE FAMILIES STILL\nFEEL THE SECRETARY OF STATE MUST BE REPLACED BEFORE REAL PROGRESS CAN\nBE MADE TOWARDS RESOLVING THE POW-MIA PROBLEM.\"\nUPI 07-26 09:39 RED\nFORD is LIBRARY\nuri\n277\nR W\nAM-MIA ISTLD-PICKUPOTHGRAF A279 7-20\nBY RICHARD E LERNER\nWASHINGTON (UPI) -- RELATIVES OF SOME 800 U.S. SERVICEMEN STILL\nOFFICIALLY MISSING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA SAID SUNDAY PRESIDENT FORD WOULD\nHAVE TO GET RID OF SECRETARY OF STATE HENRY A. KISSINGER BEFORE HE\nCOULD CARRY OUT HIS PLEDGE OF AN ALL-CUT EFFORT TO LEARN THE FATE OF\nTHE MIAS.\nTHE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF FAMILIES OF MIAS ENDED ITS 7TH ANNUAL\nMEETING BY VOTING VERWHELMINGLY 1 ASK F RD 1 FIRE KISSINGER\nIMMEDIATELY AND REPLACE HIM WITH SOMEONE \"WHO WILL ACTIVELY PURSUE AN\nACCOUNTING FOR THE MISSING.\"\nIN A BRIEF SPEECH TO THE RELATIVES OF THE MIAS SA, URDAY NIGHI,\nFORD PLEDGED HE WOULD CONTINUE TO USE \"EVERY EFFECTIVE MEANS\" TO\nACCOUNT FOR THE MISSING BUT HE ALSO WARNED THAT SOME OF THEM MAY\nNEVER BE ACCOUNTED FOR.\nON SUNDAY, THE 620 RELATIVES AT THE LEAGUE SESSION WELCOMED FORD'S\nPROMISE BUT SAID IN A STATEMENT \"BECAUSE KISSINGER'S PAST PERFORMANCE\nIS INCONSISTENT WITH THE PRESIDENT'S STATEMENIS, .HE FAMILIES S1 ILL\nFEEL THE SECRE:ARY OF SAE mUS, BE REPLACED BEFORE REAL PR GRESS CAN\nBE MADE 1 WARDS RESOLVING THE POW-MIA PROBLEM.\"\nTHE LEAGUE SAID IT HAD RECEIVED TELEGRAMS FROM BOTH RONALD REAGAN\nA ND JIMMY CARTER PROMISING THEY WOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION IF THEY\nWON THE PRESIDENCY TO APPOINT A SECRETARY OF STATE WHO WOULD ACTIVELY\nPURSUE AN ACCOUNTING OF THE FATE OF THE MISSING AND THE RETURN OF\nTHEIR REMAINS.\nTHE LEAGUE ALSO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO SEEK A PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE\nORDER TO BLOCK THE MILITARY SERVICES FROM DECLARING THE MIAS LEGALLY\nDEAD SINCE THIS WOULD COST THEIR FAMILIES CONSIDERABLE FINANCIAL\nBENEFITS.\nTHE PRESIDENT, IN AN EMOTIONAL SPEECH SATURDAY, HAD SAID \"LET ME\nASSURE YOU -- WE ARE EMPLOYING EVERY EFFECTIVE MEANS TO ACCOUNT FOR\nYOUR LOVED ONES ... AND I WILL CONTINUE THA, EFFORI \"\nPICKUP 5TH PGH: BUT HE ADDED\nUPI 07-25 07:29 PED\nLIBRARY\nMISSING IN ACTION ADDRESS - JULY 24, 1976\n-I-\nI AM HONORED TO MEET ONCE AGAIN WITH THIS\nCOURAGEOUS ASSEMBLY OF AMERICANS WHOSE LOVED ONES REMAIN\nUNACCOUNTED FOR IN SOUTHEAST ASIA\nYOU HAVE BORNE A HEAVY BURDEN WITH INCREDIBLE\nCOURAGE\nEVERY CITIZEN IN THIS COUNTRY ADMIRES YOUR\nBRAVERY YOUR DIGNITY AND YOUR PERSISTENCE\n-2-\nTHROUGH LONG MONTHS AND YEARS OF TRIAL, YOU\nHAVE BEEN SUSTAINED BY THE LOVE OF YOUR MISSING MEN AND\nBY YOUR LOVE OF THE COUNTRY THOSE MEN HAVE DEFENDED\nI AM PROUD OF YOU, AND PROUD OF YOUR MEN\nBUT MY ADMIRATION IS NOT ENOUGH\nTHE\nGRATITUDE OF THIS NATION IS NOT ENOUGH\n-3-\nYOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES MUST BE ASSURED OF A CONTINUING\nCOMMITMENT FROM YOUR GOVERNMENT TO OBTAIN A FULL\nACCOUNTING OF THOSE MISSING IN ACTION N in DOW tal an\nYOU HAVE THAT COMMITMENT FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION.\nIT IS A LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT; IT IS STILL AN\nACTIVE COMMITMENT; AND FOR ME IT IS A VERY PERSONAL\nCOMMITMENT, AND THAT IS WHY I'M HERE TONIGHT.\n-4-\nWHEN I CAME HOME FROM THE PACIFIC THIRTY YEARS AGO\nI JOINED SEVERAL VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS AND A SHORT TIME\nLATER BECAME A MEMBER OF CONGRESS.\nDURING MY SERVICE AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE\nI WORKED ON M.I.A. PROBLEMS, ON AN INDIVIDUAL, CASE-BY-\nCASE BASIS, DURING BOTH THE KOREAN AND VIETNAM CONFLICTS.\n-5-\nAS A CONGRESSMAN, I MET WITH MEMBERS OF THE\nNATIONAL LEAGUE OF FAMILIES HERE IN WASHINGTON AND BACK\nHOME IN GRAND RAPIDS\nI DID NOT FORGET YOU THEN, AND I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN\nYOU NOW\nONE OF MY VERY LAST MEETINGS AS VICE PRESIDENT WAS\nWITH YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS\n-6-\nA YEAR AGO AS PRESIDENT I ATTENDED THIS CONVENTION\nAND SHORTLY THEREAFTER MET AGAIN WITH YOUR BOARD OF\nDIRECTORS IN THE CABINET ROOM AT THE WHITE HOUSE\nWE ARE EMPLOYING EVERY EFFECTIVE MEANS TO ACCOUNT\nFOR YOUR LOVED ONES\nLET ME ASSURE YOU TONIGHT THAT\nI WILL CONTINUE THAT EFFORT\n-7-\nWE MUST BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES\nTHIS IS A\nFRUSTRATING AND PAINSTAKING PROCESS\nIT IS A TRAGIC FACT THAT INFORMATION ON EVERY\nMISSING MAN MAY NEVER BE AVAILABLE REGARDLESS OF WHAT\nIS DONE\nFURTHERMORE WE ARE DEALING WITH A GOVERNMENT THAT\nHAS DEMONSTRATED LITTLE CONCERN FOR YOUR FEELINGS\n-8-\nTHE VIETNAMESE CLAIM TO HAVE ESTABLISHED AGENCIES\nTO SEARCH FOR THE MISSING\nBUT THUS FAR THEY HAVE\nWITHHELD THIS INFORMATION -- TOTALLY WITHOUT JUSTIFICATION\nWE HAVE OFFERED TO CARRY OUT THE SEARCHES OURSELVES\nOR TO ENLIST A NEUTRAL GOVERNMENT OR THE RED CROSS IN THIS\nHUMANITARIAN SEARCH\n-9-\nTHUS FAR, NONE OF THESE OFFERS HAS BEEN ACCEPTED\nBUT WE WILL PERSIST; WE WILL KEEP TRYING\nWE ARE WILLING TO TALK WITH THE VIETNAMESE\nAT MY DIRECTION, WE HAVE EXCHANGED MESSAGES WITH THEM\nINDICATING OUR WILLINGNESS TO DISCUSS OUTSTANDING ISSUES\nBETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES\n-10-\nWE HAVE MADE CLEAR THAT OUR PRIMARY CONCERN IS\nTO OBTAIN BOTH AN ACCOUNTING FOR OUR MISSING IN ACTION\nAND THE RETURN OF OUR SERVICEMEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES\nFOR OUR COUNTRY\nWITHOUT A SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION OF THE M.I.A.\nISSUE,\nNO FURTHER PROGRESS IN OUR RELATIONS IS POSSIBLE.\n-II-\nI KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT\nINFORMATION\nDECLASSIFICATION OF MATERIALS RELATED TO M.I.A.'s\nSEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I DISCUSSED THIS PROBLEM\nWITH MEMBERS OF MY STAFF AND DIRECTED THAT PROGRESS BE\nMADE IN THAT REGARD\nI AM INFORMED THAT PROGRESS HAS\nBEEN MADE, AND MORE PROGRESS WILL BE MADE\n-12-\nEVERY ONE IN THIS ROOM HAS DEMONSTRATED A STRENGTH\nAND A RESOLVE WHICH MAKE YOU EQUAL TO THE BURDENS YOU\nARE CARRYING\nYOUR COURAGE HAS BEEN AN INSPIRATION\nTO ME AND TO MILLIONS OF YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS\n-13-\nYOUR LOVED ONES HAVE NOT BEEN FORGOTTEN\nYOU HAVE NOT BEEN ABANDONED\nI PROMISE YOU I WILL NOT REST UNTIL THE FULLEST\nPOSSIBLE ACCOUNTING OF YOUR LOVED ONES HAS BEEN MADE\nTHANK YOU VERY MUCH\nEND OF TEXT\nJuly 26, 1976\nDear Sonny:\nMany thanks for the tremendous help and\nassistance you gave us on the MIA Coa-\nvention.\nThe President also sends his thanks.\nWith kindest personal regards, I am\nSincerely,\nJohn O. Marsh, Jr.\nCounsellor to the President\nThe Honorable G. V. Montgomery\nHouse of Representatives\nWashington, D. C. 20515\nJOM/dl\nFORD LIBRAS\nJuly 26, 1976\nDear Milt:\nYou did a great job on the MIA Conven\ntion.\nThe President is most grateful.\nWith kindest personal regards, I am\nSincerely,\nJohn O. Marsh, Jr.\nCounsellor to the President\nMr. Milt Mitler\nThe White House\nWashington, D. C. 20500.\nJOM/dl\nNERALD no FORD\nJuly 26, 1976\nDear Pat:\nJust a short note to let you know how\nmuch I appreciate all your help on the\nrecent MIA Convention.\nMany thanks.\nWith kindest personal regards, 1 am\nSincerely,\nJohn O. Marsh, Jr.\nCounsellor to the President\nMr. Pat Butler\nThe White House\nWashington, D. C. 20500\nJOM/dl\nSEAL B. FORD\nJuly 26, 1976\nDear Breat:\nJust a short note to let you know how\nmuch I approciate all your help on the\nrecent MIA Convention.\nMany thanks.\nWith kindest personal regards, I am\nSincerely,\nJohn O. Marsh, Jr.\nCounsellor to the President\nThe Honorable Brent Scowcroft\nAssistant to the President for\nNational Security Affairs\nThe White House\nWashington, D. C. 20500\nJOM/dl\n10R6 is LIBRARY 076878\nJuly 26, 1976\nDear Doug:\nJust a short note to let you know how\nmuch I appreciate all your help on the\nrecent MIA Convention.\nMany thanks.\nWith kindest personal regards, I am\nSincerely,\nJohn O. Marsh, Jr.\nCounsellor to the President\nMr. Doug Smith\nThe White House\nWashington, D. C. 20500\nJOM/dl\nCARD FORD\nJuly 26, 1976\nDear Frank:\nYou did your usual great job in your\nskillful advance on behalf of the Presi-\ndent's visit to the MIA Convention.\nThe President sends his thanks.\nWith kindest personal regards, I am\nSincerely,\nJohn O. Marsh, Jr.\nCounsellor to the President\nMr. Frank O Ursomarso\nThe White House\nWashington, D. C. 20500\nHOM/dl\nFORDO in LIBRARY GERALD\nJuly 27, 1976\nDear Dick:\nJust a short note to let you know how\nmuch 1 appreciate all your help on the\nrecent MIA Convention.\nMany thanks.\nWith kindest personal regards, I am\nSincerely,\nJohn O. Marsh, Jr.\nCounsellor to the President\nThe Honorable Richard A. Wiley\nGeneral Counsel\nDepartment of Defense\nRoom 3E980\nThe Pentagon\nWashington, D. C. 20301\nJOM/dl\nGERALD R FORD\nJuly 27, 1976\nDear Roger:\nYou did a great job on the MIA Coa-\nvention.\nThe President is most grateful.\nWith kindest personal regards, I am\nSincerely,\nJohn O. Marsh, Jr.\nCounsellor to the President\nDr. Roger Shields\nDeputy Assistant Secretary\nfor Economic Affairs\nOASD/ISA\nRoom 4E830\nThe Pentagon\nWashington, D. C. 20301\nJOM/dl\nFORD is LIBRARY 1076828\nJuly 27, 1976\nDear Frank:\nYou did a great job on the MIA Con-\nvention.\nThe President is most grateful.\nWith kindest personal regards, I am\nSincerely,\nJohn O. Marsh, Jr.\nCounsellor to the President\nMr. Frank A. Sieverts\nDeputy Coordinator for\nHumanitarian Affairs\nD/HA\nRoom 7802\nDepartment of State\nWashington, D. C. 20520\nJOM/dl\nFORD is LISHAPY 07V838\nJuly 28, 1976\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nDICK CHENEY\nBRENT SCOWCROFT\nFROM:\nJACK MARSH\nAttached you will find photostats of telegrams sent to the Leggue\nof Families by Carter and by Reagah.\nI am somewhat surprised at the stridency of both insofar as\ndirecting attacks on the President on this subject.\nI am not sure whether the League released these to the press\nand, therefore, I would appreciate your keeping a close hold\non these.\nMany thanks.\nJOM/dl\nFORD Y LIBRARY 076835\nwestern union\nTelegram\nLLD046\nWAD056(1236) (2-016205E206) PD 07/24/76 1236\nICS IPMRNCZ CSP\n1976 JUL 24 PM 2:44\n4155471556 TDRN OAKLAND CA 98 07-24 1236P EST\nPMS COLONEL EARL P HOPPER SR\nCHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD\nNATIONAL LEAGUE OF FAMILIES OF AMERICAN PRISONERS AND MISSING:\nIN SOUTHEAST ASIA, DLR\nSTATLER HILTON HOTEL\nWASHINGTON DC\nTO THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF FAMILIES: IF YOU HAD HAD THE KIND OF\nACTION YOU HAVE BEEN SEEKING YOU WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE GATHERING FOR\nA 7TH ANNUAL MEETING, AS YOU ARE TODAY. THE FIRST WEEK THAT I AM\nJ\nPRESIDENT, A NEW SECRETARY OF STATE WILL BEGIN IMMEDIATELY TAKING.\nEVERY REASONABLE AND PROPER STEP TO RETURN ANY LIVE AMERICANS STILL\nBF-1201 (R5-69)\nBEING HELD IN SOUTHEAST ASIA: TO SECURE AN ACCOUNTING: OF AMERICANS\nSTILL LISTED AS MISSING IN ACTION; AND TO REPAIRIATE THE REMAINS OF\nAMERICAN DEAD. YOU HAVE HAD TO WAIT TOO LONG; FOR ACTION.\nRONALD REAGAN\nNNNN\nSF-1201 (R5-69)\nFORD is LIBRARY CERALD\nwestern union\nTelegram\nLLC034\nWAE044(1024) (2-011494E206)PD 07/24/76 1051976JUL JUL 24 PM12: 40\nICS IPMMTZZ CSP\n4048977110 TDMT ATLANTA GA 260 07-24 1054A EST\nPMS CAL EARL HOPPER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DLR\nCARE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF FAMILIES OF AMERICAN PRISIONERS AND MISSING\nIN SOUTHEAST ASIA STATLER HILTON HOTEL 16 AND STS NORTHWEST\nWASHINGTO DO 20005\nIN APRIL WHEN PRESIDENT FORD ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD REFUSE TO\nNORMALIZE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH VIETNAM, EVEN IN RETURN FOR A\nCOMPLETE ACCOUNTING OF AMERICAN MISSING IN ACTION, HE TURNED HIS\nBACK ON THE HOPES OF MIA FAMILIES FOR THE SAKE OF INTERNAL\nREPUBLICAN PARTY POLITICS.\nTHIS MOVE ON THE PRESIDENT PART WAS MADE SOLEY TO DEPRIVE RONALD\nOF THE CHARGE THAT MR FORD WAS \"SOFT ON VIETNAM\", EVENTHOUGH\nMR KISSINGER, FORDS OWN SECRETARY OF STATE HAD ANNOUNCED LESS THAN 6\nWEEKS BEFORE THAT THE U S WAS PREPARED IN PRINCIPAL TO NORMALIZE\nRELATIONS IN NORTH VIETNAM AND THAT THE ADMINISTRATION'S PRINCIPAL\nCONCERN WAS ACCOUNTING FOR THE MISSING IN ACTION.\nMR FORD HAS HANDED AMERICAN BORN POLICY FROM THE ONE MAN RULES OF DR\nKISSINGER TO ONE MANY RULE OF GOVERNOR REGAN, AND IN THE SAME\nSTROKE, HAS DEPRIVED OUR MIA FAMILIES OF THEIR BEST CHANCE TO KNOW\nTHE FATE OF THEIR LAST SONS, FATHERS, AND HUSBANDS.\nAFTER CLEAR INDICATIONS OF A READINESS TO RESOLVE THE MIA QUESTIONS\nAS PART OF NORMALIZING RELATIONS, THE POSITION OF A NORTH VIETNAMESE\nHAS SHORTLY BEEN HARDENED BY THE ADMINISTRATION'S CAPRICIOUS\nACTIONS. OUR MIA WILL BE FULLY ACCOUNTED FOR, AND PEACE FINALLY\nFORD\nESTABLISHED, ONLY THROUGH AN OPEN, GRADUAL NEGOTIATION OF\nF-1201\nGERALD\nOUTSTANDING ISSUES. THE FAMILIES OF AMERICANS WHO FOUGHT IN VIETNAM\nDESERVE AI LEAST THAT MUCH. MIA FAMILIES ALSO SERVE TO BE TREATED\nSERIOUSLY BY THEIR GOVERMENT, WITHOUT ARBITRARINESS. AND RESENTMENT,\nOUR MIA FAMILIES MUST BE GIVEN A STATUS UPON WHICH THEY CAN RELY AND\nMAKE FUTURE PLANS. SINCERELY\nJIMMY CARTER\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nJuly 29, 1976\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nJACK MARSH\nFROM:\nMILT MITLER\nkut\nJack, in the event you haven't seen this or heard\nabout it, here is the Hanoi reaction to the\nPresident's speech to the National League of Families.\nAttachment (Hanoi reaction to President's Speech to\nNational League of Families)\nFBIS 11\nHANOI COMMENTARY ON FORD'S MIA TALK\n06271747 HANOI INTERNATIONAL SERVICE IN ENGLISH 0100 GMT 27 JUL 76 OW\nCUNATTRIBUTED COMMENTARY: \"GERALD FORD'S UNSUCCESSFUL\nPSYCHOLOGICAL ATTACK\")\n(TEXT) 0\" SUNDAY U.S. PRESIDENT GERALD FORD SUMMONED\nTHE REPRESENTATIVES OF 800 FAMILIES OF AMERICANS REGISTERED AS\nMISSING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA TO THE WHITE HOUSE TO HEAR HIS WORDS\nOF SYMPAIHY.\nWHILE TALKING MINETEEN TO THE DOZEN, THE U.S. PRESIDENT DID\nNOT MENTION A WORD ABOUT THE REASON FOR THE DEATHS OR MISSING IN\nACTION OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN YOUTHS IN A REGION\nHALF A WORLD AWAY FROM THE STATES. HE ALSO WENT TO LENGTHS MAKING\nSLANDERS AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF VIETNAM, LAOS AND CAMBODIA WITH\nREGARD TO THE MISSING IN ACTION PROBLEM. BY SO DOING, GERALD FORD.\nPROBABLY WANTED TO INCITE THE CHAUVINISTIC FEELING AMONG AMERICANS\nTO BUY VOTES IN THE NOVEMBER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.\nHOWEVER, FORD'S PSYCHOLOGICAL BLOW HAS MISSED THE TARGET BECAUSE HE\nLITERED AMBIGUITIES AND FAILED TO PROVIDE ANY CONCRETE EVIDENCE.\nAT THIS WHITE HOUSE MEETING, GERALD FORD ALSO MISSED HIS MARK WHEN\nHE SAID THAT THERE IS NO NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS BETWEEN THE\nUNITED STATES AND VIFTNAM SO LONG AS THE MISSING IN ACTION\nPROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SETTLED.\nFORD'S BLACKMAIL IS TOO OBVIOUS TO TAKE ANYBODY IN. EVERYBODY\nIN THE WORLD KNOWS THAT HF IS EATING THE U.S. PROMISE TO\nCONTRIBUTE TO THE HEALING OF THE TOUNDS OF WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION\nIN VIETNAM. THE QUESTION IS HOW THE UNITED STATES COULD BREAK ITS\nSOLEMN PROMISE TO CONTRIBUTE TO HEALING THE WOUNDS OF WAR AND\nTO THE REBUILDING OF VISTRAM, WHICH IS THE RESPONSIBILITY AND\nOBLIGATION AND a POINT OF HONOR FOR AMERICA.\nIT IS CERTAIN THAT THE COMPATRIOTS OF MR GERALD FORD, THE\nVIFTNAMESE PEOPLE AND THE WORLD PUBLIC WILL NOT LET HIM DO WHAT HE\nLIKES.\n28 JUL 06092 JPC/MC\nGEBALE FORD LIBRARY\nMIA\nJuly 30, 1976\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nTHE PRESIDENT\nFROM:\nJACK MARSH\nI thought you would be interested in seeing what Hanoi said\nconcerning your remarks to the League of Families.\nI have sent a copy of this to Brent for his consideration and\ninterpretation, should you desire.\nec: Brent Scoweroft\nJOM/dl\nFORD & LIBRARY\n%\nMIA\nJuly 30, 1976\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nBRENT SCOWCROFT\nFROM:\nJACK MARSH\nPlease note the attached. The President may ask you about\nthis statement.\nMany thanks.\nJOM/dl\nGLEATO R. FORD LEYER\nHANOI COMMENTARY ON FORD'S MIA TALK\n\"GERALD FORD'S UNSUCCESSFUL PSYCHOLOGICAL ATTACK\"\n(TEXT) On Sunday U.S. President Gerald Ford summoned the\nrepresentatives of 800 families of Americans registered as\nMissing in Southeast Asia to the White House to hear his words\nof sympathy.\nWhile talking nineteen to the dozen, the U.S. President did not\nmention a word about the reason for the deaths or Missing in\nAction of hundreds of thousands of American youths in a region\nhalf a world away from the states. He also went to lengths making\nslanders against the people of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia with\nregard to the Missing in Action problem. By so doing, Gerald Ford\nprobably wanted to incite the chauvinistic feelings among Americans\nto buy votes in the November Presidential elections.\nHowever, Ford's psychological blow has missed the target because\nhe uttered ambiguities and failed to provide any concrete evidence.\nAt this White House meeting, Gerald Ford also missed his mark when\nhe said that there is no normalization of relations between the\nUnited States and Vietnam so long as the Missing in Action problem\nhas not been settled.\nFord's blackmail is too obvious to take anybody in. Everybody\nin the world knows that he is eating the U.S. promise to\ncontribute to the healing of the wounds of war and reconstruction\nin Vietnam. The question is how the United States could break its\nsolemn promise to contribute to healing the wounds of war and\nto the rebuilding of Vietnam, which is the responsibility and\nobligation and a point of honor for America.\nIt is certain that the compatroits of Mr. Gerald Ford, the\nVietnamese people and the world public will not let him do what\nhe likes.\nJUL 20 1976\nNATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL\nJuly 29, 1976\nMEMO FOR:\nJACK MARSH\nI thought you would find of interest the\nattached comments which Hanoi made\non the President's remarks last Saturday\nnight. I prepared a summary of this\narticle for the President's July 29 morning\nbrief.\nKn\nKen Quinn\nFBIS 11\nHANOI COMMENTARY ON FORD'S MIA TALK\n06271747 HANOI INTERNATIONAL SERVICE IN ENGLISH 0100 GMT 22 JUL 76 OW\nCUNATTRIBUTED COMMENTARY: \"GERALD FORD'S UNSUCCESSFUL\nPSYCHOLOGICAL ATTACK\")\n(TEXT) 0N SUNDAY U.S. PRESIDENT GERALD FORD SUMMONED\nTHE REPRESENTATIVES OF 800 FAMILIES OF AMERICANS REGISTERED AS\nMISSING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA TO THE WHITE HOUSE TO HEAR HIS WORDS\nOF SYMPATHY.\nWHILE TALKING MINETEEN TO THE DOZEN, THE U.S. PRESIDENT DID\nNOT MENTION A WORD ABOUT THE REASON FOR THE DEATHS OF MISSING IN\nACTION OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN YOUTHS IN A REGION\nHALF A WORLD AWAY FROM THE STATES. HE ALSO WENT TO LENGTHS MAKING\n9.ANDERS AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF VIETNAM, LAOS AND CAMBODIA WITH\nREGARD TO THE MISSING IN ACTION PROBLEM. BY SO DOING, GERALD FORD.\nPROBABLY WANTED TO INCITE THE CHAUVINISTIC FEELING AMONG AMERICANS\nTO BUY VOTES IN THE NOVEMBER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.\nHOWEVER, FORD'S PSYCHOLOGICAL BLOW HAS MISSED THE TARGET BECAUSE HE\nUTTERED AMBIGUITIES AND FAILED TO PROVIDE ANY CONCRETE EVIDENCE.\nAT THIS WHITE HOUSE MPETING, GERALD FORD ALSO MISSED HIS MARK WHEN\nME SAID THAT THERE IS NO NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS BETWEEN THE\nUNITED STATES AND VIFTNAM so LONG AS THE MISSING IN ACTION\nPROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SETTLED.\nFORD'S BLACKMAIL IS TOO OBVIOUS TO TAKE ANYBODY IN. EVERYBODY\nIN THE WORLD KNOWS THAT HE IS EATING THE U.S. PROMISE TO\nCONTRIBUTE TO THE HEALING OF THE WOUNDS OF WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION\nIN VIFTNAM. THE QUESTION IS HOW THE UNITED STATES COULD BREAK ITS\nSOLEMN PROMISE TO CONTRIBUTE TO HEALING THE WOUNDS OF WAR AND\nTO THE REPUILDING OF VIETUAM, WHICH IS THE RESPONSIBILITY AND\nOBLIGATION AND A POINT OF HONOR FOR AMERICA.\nIT IS CERTAIN THAT THE COMPATRIOTS OF MR GERALD FORD, THE\nVIFTNAMESE PEOPLE AND THE WORLD PUBLIC WILL NOT LET HIM DO WHAT HE\nLIKES.\n28 JUL 06092 JPC/MC\n018ALD FORD LIBRARY\nAUG 2 1976\nNATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL\nAugust 2, 1976\nTO:\nJACK MARSH\nFROM:\nKEN QUINN Ken\nThe attached Vietnamese News Agency attack on\nPresident Ford is one of the most biting ones I\nhave ever seen. I frankly do not understand what\nmotivated them to use such harsh language. It\nshould be noted that the item is in the Vietnamese\nlanguage and thus intended primarily for consumption\nwithin Vietnam. Moreover, it was published July 22,\ntwo days before the President's remarks to the\nNational League of MIA Families. The usual Hanoi\nline is to attack the President's policies. To call his\npersonal probity into question is a most unusual affront.\nI prepared a summary of the article for the\nPresident's morning brief of August 3.\nFile\nGERAT FORD LIBRARY\nIV. 30 Jul 76\n5\nASIA & PACIFIC\nANNEX\nWe were deeply touched at hearing Prime Minister Pol Pot saying: \"The friendship and\nsolidarity between the Kampuchea and Vietnam revolutions, between Kampuchea and Vietnam\nconstitute a problem of both strategy and sacred feelings. Should that friendship and\nsolidarity go well the revolution in our two countries would develop finely. There's\nno other way\".\nThe Vietnamese press and television delegation on visit to the Democratic Kampuchea shall\nkeep forever the nice and profound recollections and shall do its utmost to contribute\neven a small part to keeping the two countries, as the first secretary of the Vietnam\nWorkers Party said: \"Already bound to each other in the struggle for national liberation,\nto be forever attached to each other in the national reconstruction and protection, for\nthe sake of the independence and prosperity of our respective country and for the\nrevolutionary interests of the people in southeast Asia and the world over.\" [sentence\nas received]\nVIETNAM\nVNA DESCRIBES FORD AS CORRUPT, REACTIONARY POLITICIAN\nHanoi VNA in Vietnamese to VNA Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 1320 GMT 22 Jul 76 OW--\nFOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY\n[VNA document: \"Ford's True Nature\"]\n[Text] In reality, what is Ford? Following are some features on him:\n--Ford started his political career by jumping into the U.S. House of Representatives with\nthe assistance of the Western family, one of the wealthiest and most influential families\nin Michigan and having relations with the well-to-do uppercrust families in the United States.\n--Ford has the past of a reactionary. In a letter addressed to his friends in 1971, he\nconsidered the liberals in the Democratic Party as dangerous elements with regard to the U.S.\nway of life and philosophy.\n--Ford assisted Nixon in selecting ultrarightist judges such as Carswell and Hainesworth to\nthe Supreme Court.\n--He 1s well-known racist in the United States.\n--He is an advocate of increasing the Pentagon's inherently huge national defense budget.\n--He is a defender of corruption in the United States. As confirmed by sources from\nWashington, Ford took large payoffs at his office in Washington from an employee of the\nGeneral Electric Co. who asked him as the House minority leader to help Thomas O. Paine,\ndirector of the monopolist company, win the post of NASA deputy director. A few days\nafter Paine Was appointed to hold this post, the General Electric Co. signed a contract\nwith NASA worth $50 million to carry out a satellite project. This contract was approved\nby the Faderal Government.\n--Ford has close relations with the major financial companies in the United States. On\n22 January 1968, he was appointed director of the old Kent Bank and Trust Company in\nGrand Rapids, a big bank of [words indistinct] which sent him to run in the congressional\nelections. This Bank possesses assets worth $500 million. In the United States, the\nbanks have big intirests in all problems related to the laws concerning banks and\nfinance. Thus it it not surprising that many Federal projects have been carried out\nthrough the Kent Belk.\nAccording to a U.S law, a state official such as a congressman and the U.S. president\nare not allowed to assume functions in any private organs.\nIV. 30 Jul 76\n6\nASIA & PACIFIC\nANNEX\nBut Ford has had no trouble when he violated this law.\nRobert Winter Berger, one of those specializing in seeking persons who wish to sign\ncontracts with the company which he represents, wrote in his book \"Washington Payoff\"\nabout the bargain between him and Ford on the purchase of the title of U.S. ambassador\nto France for Francis Kellog, president and main share sholder of the International\nMining Corporation in New York.\nWinter Berger said to Ford: \"He is ready to offer $30,000 more to the Republican\nNational Committee.\" Ford replied promptly: \"All right, please tell him that he can\ncome and see me at any time as he pleases.\"\nBefore leaving, Winter Berger warned Ford: \"Be careful, this is a hot piece of char-\ncoal!\" Ford replied: \"Don't worry, money is the name of this game.\"\nAll the aforesaid facts have exposed the true nature of Ford who is now playing a bigger\nchess game in the United States.\nJAPAN\nKANEKO READS JCP CC REPORT ON DRAFT RESOLUTION\nTokyo JPS in English 1512 GMT 29 Jul 76 OW--FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY\n[All figures at beginning of paragraphs are as received]\n[Text] Tokyo, July 30 JPS--On the first day of the 13th extraordinary congress of the\nJCP (July 28), the Central Committee proposed the draft resolution; Mitsuhiro Kaneko\nread the report on behalf of the Central Committee. Some points are added to the draft\nresolution by consideration of the development in the subsequent situation and adoption\nof the contents of discussions in the entire party. Kaneko read out the report, which\nincludes the added parts.\nPointing out the \"importance of the aggravation of the LDP crisis resulting from the\nprogress of the criminal investigation into the Lockheed scandal case since the announ-\ncement of the draft resolution, Kaneko said as follows:\n1. The correctness of the draft resolution saying that the dangerous maneuver of the\nMiki cabinet for hush-up of the Lockheed scandal is starting too, was endorsed again.\n1. We should not belittle the danger that maneuvers for hushing-up the Lockheed scan-\ndal will gain success.\n1. The Liberal-Democratic Party and the Miki cabinet are attempting to divert the\ncriticism of the people under the new cloak of \"rebirth of the LDP.\"\n1. We should not [be too] lazy to pay attention to various political moves resulting\nfrom the aggravated crisis of the LDP.\n1. (Such LDP political moves) do not mean that the straight retrogression in the LDP's\nrule and its rapid approach to \"the alliance of conservatives and progressives\", the\nmodernization of the LDP body, etc. are inevitable.\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nAugust 3, 1976\nMIA\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nRUSS ROURKE\nFROM:\nMILT MITLER\nteese\nRuss, attached is a letter from Earl Hopper - National\nLeague of Families - containing a Resolution passed\nby the League calling for the replacement of the\nSecretary of State. I have responded to Earl telling\nhim that the letter was received and has been made\nknown to the President.\nAttachment (letter fr Earl Hopper and Resolution -\nNational League of Families)\nNATIONAL LEAGUE OF FAMILIES\nOF AMERICAN PRISONERS AND MISSING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA\n1608 K STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON, D. C. 20006 (202) 628-6811\nJuly 27, 1976\nHonorable Gerald R. Ford\nPresident of the United States\nThe White House\nWashington, D.C. 20500\nDear Mr. President:\nMembers of the National League of Families of American Prisoners\nand Missing in Southeast Asia in attendance at the League's\nSeventh Annual Meeting have given me a mandate to present you\nwith the attached resolution.\nThis resolution was introduced from the floor at a regular\nbusiness meeting, discussed then passed with only two dissenting\nvotes. It calls upon you to replace Secretary of State Henry\nKissinger with a person who will actively pursue a Southeast\nAsian policy that is in the best interest of the people of the\nUnited States and which will secure an accounting of those\nAmericans who are still prisoner or missing as a result of\nthe war in Southeast Asia.\nMr. President, the POW/MIA families are most serious in their\nresolve for you to replace Dr. Kissinger and sincerely appeal\nto you to do so as soon as possible.\nRespectfully,\nEarl P. Hopper, Sr.\nColonel, AUS-Ret.\nExecutive Director\nEPH:jjf\nNATIONAL LEAGUE OF FAMILIES\nOF AMERICAN PRISONERS AND MISSING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA\n1608 K STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON, D. C. 20006 (202) 628-6811\nRESOLUTION\nWHEREAS, Some three and a half years ago Dr. Henry Kissinger,\nchief architect of the Paris Peace Agreement, chose to abandon\nover 1, 300 Americans who are Prisoners of War and Missing in\nAction, leaving their fate to the good will of the Indochinese\ncommunists, and\nWHEREAS, Secretary Kissinger has repeatedly lied to the families\nof these men and the American public with false assurances that\nthese men would be returned and accounted for, and\nWHEREAS, The Secretary of State has declined to publicly testify\nto the House Select Committee on Missing Persons in Southeast\nAsia on the POW/MIA problem and repeatedly lied to Members of\nCongress as to secret agreements and commitments of aid to the\ncommunists nations holding our men, and\nWHEREAS, Secretary Kissinger admitted to the National League\nof Families that he felt there may be Americans still held\ncaptive in South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, yet has exhibited\nmalfeasance in office by refusing to attempt to gain their\nrelease, and\nWHEREAS, The Socialist Republic of Vietnam has repeatedly\nadmitted that they indeed do have information on our men as\nwell as those Killed in Action whose remains have been re-\npatriated to the United States, and\nWHEREAS, The families of these men have constantly called upon\nthe Secretary of State to speak out on the POW/MIA issue and\nseek a solution he has chosen instead to ignore the importance\nof this issue and refuses to press for an accounting.\nNOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the National League of\nFamilies calls upon the President of the United States to\nreplace the Secretary of State with a person who will actively\npursue a Southeast Asian policy that is in the best interest\nof the People of the United States of America and which will\nsecure an accounting for those who are Prisoner or Missing\nas a result of serving our Country in the Southeast Asia war.\nAUG 9 1976\nMEMORANDUM\n4392 (add-on)\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nAugust 7, 1976\nMEMORANDUM FOR JACK MARSH\nB\nFROM:\nBRENT SCOWCROFT\nSUBJECT:\nHanoi's Attack on the President\nThere is no question that Hanoi's personal attack on the President\ngoes substantially beyond what we usually see. Ordinarily, Hanoi\nattacks some aspect of the President's policy rather than his\npersonal character. The harsh tone is also inconsistent with other\nmore authoritative commentaries which Hanoi has disseminated\nrecently. For example, its reaction to the President's July 24\nremarks at the MIA Convention was more measured than this\ndiatribe. Ordinarily the sharper attack could be expected to follow\nthe President's taking a tough line on the MIA problem.\nThe best explanation I can think of is that this commentary was\nmeant for internal consumption in Vietnam. It seems obvious\nthat the information the article uses came from some \"research\"\nwhich an American commentator compiled. We believe Hanoi\nregularly receives all such material, and probably jumped on this\nitem as a \"good foreign source\" on which to base an attack on the\nPresident. Moreover, it is in the Vietnamese language and it was\na wire item. The words which Hanoi really wants us to hear are\nsent in English over its international radio service.\nSince there is no clear evidence that Hanoi meant to pick a fight\nwith us directly by publishing this item, I recommend that we not\nmake an issue of it now. Rather we should save it for use as a\nrationale for being tough with Hanoi when critics suggest we are\nnot being sufficiently forthcoming to the Vietnamese.\nFORD STBRAST\nMIA\nAugust 5, 1976\n(Leaguery Familie)\nMEMORANDOM TO: BRENT SCONCROFT\nFROM:\nJACK MARSH\nBrent, I would appreciate your thoughts on the attached.\nMany thanks.\ncb\nFROM FORD LIBRAR,\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nAugust 5, 1976\nTO:\nJACK MARSH\nRuss\nFROM: RUSSELL A. ROURKE\nFor Direct Reply\nRxor\nFor Draft Response\nXX\nFor Your Information\nPlease ad to\nSand B for (in\nAUG 8 1976\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nAugust 3, 1976\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nRUSS ROURKE\nFROM:\nMILT MITLER\nRuss, you may have already seen this transcript\nof a diatribe against the President by Hanoi.\nThis was released on July 22, 1976, before the\nLeague of Families speech. It represents an\nunusually harsh attack against the President\nand unlike the normal run where the President's\npolicies are attacked. It was also in Vietnamese\nand so intended primarily for consumption within\nVietnam.\nAttachment (transcript - \"Ford's True Nature\")\n5\nASIA & PACIFIC\nANNEX\nwere deeply touched at hearing Prime Minister Pol Pot saying: \"The friendship and\nsolidarity between the Kampuchea and Vietnam revolutions, between Kampuchea and Vietnam\nconstitute a problem of both strategy and sacred feelings. Should that friendship and\nsolidarity go well the revolution in our two countries would develop finely. There's\nno other way\".\nThe Vietnamese press and television delegation on visit to the Democratic Kampuchea shall\nkeep forever the nice and profound recollections and shall do its utmost to contribute\neven a small part to keeping the two countries, as the first secretary of the Vietnam\nWorkers Party said: \"Already bound to each other in the struggle for national liberation,\nto be forever attached to each other in the national reconstruction and protection, for\nthe sake of the independence and prosperity of our respective country and for the\nrevolutionary interests of the people in southeast Asia and the world over.\" [sentence\nas received]\nVIETNAM\nVNA DESCRIBES FORD AS CORRUPT, REACTIONARY POLITICIAN\nHanoi VNA in Vietnamese to VNA Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 1320 GMT 22 Jul 76 OW--\nFOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY\n[VNA document: \"Ford's True Nature\"]\n[Text] In reality, what is Ford? Following are some features on him:\n--Ford started his political career by jumping into the U.S. House of Representatives with\nthe assistance of the Western family, one of the wealthiest and most influential families\nin Michigan and having relations with the well-to-do uppercrust families in the United States.\n--Ford has the past of a reactionary. In a letter addressed to his friends in 1971, he\nconsidered the liberals in the Democratic Party as dangerous elements with regard to the U.S.\nway of life and philosophy.\n--Ford assisted Nixon in selecting ultrarightist judges such as Carswell and Hainesworth to\nthe Supreme Court.\n--He 1.s well-known racist in the United States.\n--He is an advocate of increasing the Pentagon's inherently huge national defense budget.\n--He is a defender of corruption in the United States. As confirmed by sources from\nWashington, Ford took large payoffs at his office in Washington from an employee of the\nGeneral Electric Co. who asked him as the House minority leader to help Thomas O. Paine,\ndirector of the monopolist company, win the post of NASA deputy director. A few days\nafter Paine was appointed to hold this post, the Ceneral Electric Co. signed a contract\nwith NASA worth $50 million to carry out a satellite project. This contract was approved\nby the Faderal Government.\n--Ford has close relations with the major financial companies in the United States. On\n22 January 1968, he was appointed director of the old Kent Bank and Trust Company in\nGrand Rapids, a hig bank of [words indistinct] which sent him to run in the congressional\nelections, This Bank possesses assets worth $500 million. In the United States, the\nbanks have big int|rests in all problems related to the laws concerning banks and\nfinance. Thus it It not surprising that many Federal projects have been carried out\nthrough the Kent Bahk.\nAccording to a U.S law, a state official such as a congressman and the U.S. president\nare not allowed to issume functions in any private organs.\n76\n6\nASIA & PACIFIC\nANNEX\nBut Ford has had no trouble when he violated this law.\nRobert Winter Berger, one of those specializing in seeking persons who wish to sign\ncontracts with the company which he represents, wrote in his book Washington Payoff\"\nabout the bargain between him and Ford on the purchase of the title of U.S. ambassador\nto France for Francis Kellog, president and main share sholder of the International\nMining Corporation in New York.\nWinter Berger said to Ford: \"He is ready to offer $30,000 more to the Republican\nNational Committee.\" Ford replied promptly: \"All right, please tell him that he can\ncome and see me at any time as he pleases.\"\nBefore leaving, Winter Berger warned Ford: \"Be careful, this is a hot piece of char-\ncoal!\" Ford replied: \"Don't worry, money is the name of this game.\"\nAll the aforesaid facts have exposed the true nature of Ford who is now playing a bigger\nchess game in the United States.\nJAPAN\nKANEKO READS JCP CC REPORT ON DRAFT RESOLUTION\nTokyo JPS in English 1512 GMT 29 Jul 76 OW--FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY\n[All figures at beginning of paragraphs are as received]\n[Text] Tokyo, July 30 JPS--On the first day of the 13th extraordinary congress of the\nJCP (July 28), the Central Committee proposed the draft resolution; Mitsuhiro Kaneko\nread the report on behalf of the Central Committee. Some points are added to the draft\nresolution by consideration of the development in the subsequent situation and adoption\nof the contents of discussions in the entire party. Kaneko read out the report, which\nincludes the added parts.\nPointing out the \"importance of the aggravation of the LDP crisis resulting from the\nprogress of the criminal investigation into the Lockheed scandal case since the announ-\ncement of the draft resolution, Kaneko said as follows:\n1. The correctness of the draft resolution saying that the dangerous maneuver of the\nMiki cabinet for hush-up of the Lockheed scandal is starting too, was endorsed again.\n1. We should not belittle the danger that maneuvers for hushing-up the Lockheed scan-\ndal will gain success.\na:\n1. The Liberal-Democratic Party and the Miki cabinet are attempting to divert the\ncriticism of the people under the new cloak of \"rebirth of the LDP.\"\n5\nby\n1. We should not [be too] lazy to pay attention to various political moves resulting\nfrom the aggravated crisis of the LDP.\n22\nor\n1. (Such LDP political moves) do not mean that the straight retrogression in the LDP's\nel\nrule and its rapid approach to \"the alliance of conservatives and progressives\", the\nba\nmodernization of the LDP body, etc. are inevitable,\nf1)\n100\nare"
}