Memorandum of Conference with the President

THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON MEMORANDUM OF CONFERENCE WITH THE PRESIDENT March 5, 1957 10:45 A. M. - 11:05 A. M. Present: The President, Arthur Larson, Mr. Charles (Electric) Wilson, L. A. Minnich, Jr. Mr. Wilson presented the President with a book covering the formation of the People-to-People Program and the People-to-People Foundation which has been established to procure funds for the activities of the forty-one committees. He said the Foundation was shooting for a goal of $5 million during the first year, to be obtained from Foundations with- out going to the general public. Mr. Wilson made brief reference to an incipient problem on the rela- - tionship of this program to the Federal Government. He expected the problem to dissipate quickly as the program gets moving, and he was con- fident of achieving all necessary coordination to prevent any significant deviation from Government policy. Mr. Wilson recounted at length his discussion circa 1951 with Mr. Malik 2nd about the ensuing invitation from the Russian Government to visit Moscow. The vi sit had been disallowed by President Truman and Secretary Acheson despite Mr. Wilson's strenuous pleas. The President expressed some surprise at the outcome. Mr. Larson concluded the discussion by showing the President some photographs in Life Magazine regarding one of the first activities of the People-to-People Program. He also told the President how a group of sailors on an oil tanker had raised funds for establishing a school in Barcelona. Th a Rig fam L. A. Minnich, Jr.