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    "label": "September 1-18, 1969 [2 of 2]",
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    "title": "September 1-18, 1969 [2 of 2]",
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    "ocrText": "Telecon\nSecretary Laird\n3:00 p. m.\n9/15/69\nLaird said he had the last draft (1: 30 p.m. and wanted to know why they\ndidn't buy the other draft with the actual numbers of troops. K said\nthe President wated to go back from the last figure. In February, the\nfigure was 543, 540. Laird said the problem is you have a figure pax\nbut you have changed it. When the Administration took office it was\n532,500. If you take your figure, you are going all the way to the end\nof February. These figures were announced each week in Saigon. You\nshould use January 18 figure of 535, 500. It is true that your figure is\nthe highest but thats at the end of February. That date is the 22 of Feb.\nThe If you want to be factual, the day the Vietnamization program started\nwas July 1. That particular figure is 539,500. K asked why don't we\nsubstitute the 539, 500 figure. The President didn't want to say between\n61 and 62. He could say at least 60 and use the other figure.\nLaird said in the 1:30 statement there were two other erros. Troops on\nleave and in hospitals are also in body count. K wanted to know what\naccounted for difference in authorized and actual ceilings. Laird sent\na memo this morning which lays that out cold. The easiest way to\nunderstand is to take Army company. The Commander has to stick with\nthat authorized figure and he doesn't want to be overstaffed. K wanted\nto know if troops earmarked are not counted. L indicated they are\nnot counted until they are in country. For seven days they are not\ncounted. K said he would be coming over in a half hour and they would\ndiscuss it. Laird said the actual strength would be from 5 to 6 below.\nYou can't keep every unit filled to authorized strength. He pushed XX hard\nto be at 515. They have over-reacted. K understood. He wanted to find\nsome language and get it cleared.with Laird when he came over. Laird\nsaid about 60, 000 will be withdrawn by Dec. 15. K said we needed some\nphrase that explains the differences from actual and authorized. Laird\nsaid he would have that for K when he cameover. K said we would use\nit as Laird wants it.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library\nDECLASSIFIED\nThis document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified."
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