Back to July 22, 1975 - Ford, Representative Sonny Montgomery, Senator Robert Packwood, MIA Families
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July 22, 1975 - Ford, Representative Sonny Montgomery, Senator Robert Packwood, MIA Families
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1553175
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July 22, 1975 - Ford, Representative Sonny Montgomery, Senator Robert Packwood, MIA Families
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Memoranda of Conversations (Nixon and Ford Administrations)
Ford Administration Memoranda of Conversations
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Missing in action
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
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1975-07-22
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1975
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1975-07-22
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1975
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File scanned from the National Security Adviser's Memoranda of Conversation Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
Ed
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
PARTICIPANTS:
President Ford
Representatives of the National League of
Families of Missing-in-Action
Cong. G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery (D. - -Miss.)
Senator Robert Packwood (R. -Ore.)
Lt. General Brent Scowcroft, Deputy Assistant
to the President for National Security Affairs
Roger Shields, Dept. of Defense
Frank Sieverts, Special Assistant for POW/MIA
Matters, Dept. of State
DATE & TIME:
Tuesday - July 22, 1975
5:30 p.m.
PLACE:
The Oval Office
President: It is a pleasure to have you here to see how we can work out
something. Most of you know my feelings on this, both now and in the
past. We want to do anything possible to resolve this terrible problem.
We must be realistic, but I want you to know we will do everything within our
power. I am pleased to have Senator Packwood and Congressman Montgomery
here.
Bus Mills: We are honored at the opportunity to meet with you to discuss
some of the concerns we have. We were pleased that you could meet with
some of our families last week. I want to point out that we are discussing
the problems from our point of view.
[He reads a statement.
President: Thank you very much, Bus. Would some of you like to make
comments? I am sure you recognize that what Congress does is an
initiative on their part. I think there are several alternatives, Sonny.
There is one proposal for standing committee jurisdiction; there is a
proposal for a select committee. I can't interject myself into the Congres-
sional process, but if they want our help we will cooperate in every way.
I would rather not give you answers now to the questions in your statement.
I would rather give it thoughtful consideration later.
DECLASSIFIED
E.O 12958, Sec. 3.5
NSC Memo, 11/24/98, State Dept. Guidelines
By
, NARA, Date 1/26/00
RALD GERALD LERRARY FORD
- 2 -
Hartness: We get many queries as to why you don't speak out on this
issue more -- like recognizing this meeting.
President: I did refer to the problem in my Memorial Day address. And
the press will cover this meeting.
Franks: We are concerned not only with this war but all wars. We worried
that in future wars men won't want to serve because under the situation
as it is, we won't or can't do everything possible to get them back.
President: If there are laws which should be changed, I would appreciate
knowing it. I would be upset if I thought our Government wasn't able to
do everything possible for its prisoners and missing.
Lewis: We appreciate this meeting but hope you will meet with us
periodically during the year.
President: I will do my best, but there are only so many hours in the day.
Martin: I represent the 400 men on whom there have been presumptive
findings of death. This problem will go on forever as far as some of these
people are concerned.
President: I can appreciate that.
Cong. Montgomery: My bill has more sponsors than any bill before.
Our problem is with committees and reluctance to have another Select
Committee.
The basic step is to get to the sites and get there fast -- the jungle is
closing in and people forget. I don't know how we do it, but that is the
most important first move.
President: One of the staff people can say what our efforts have been.
Shields: He detailed the activities of the MIA searches and their termination
with the evacuation of South Vietnam.
]
Sieverts: [Described the diplomatic efforts at getting an accounting. ]
Hartness: We have a new ballgame now. All these countries want to trade
with us. We hold some trump cards -- we have an embargo with Cuba for
less reason than this.
- 3 -
Harper: We feel there is a basis for talks. We are not for ransom but we
think we should take some initiatives.
Scowcroft: [Described that we are in contact and continued on the cynical
nature of their treatment of this issue. ]
President: I can assure you we will not recognize those countries nor will
we give them any assistance.
Mills: We are pleased to hear that you won't recognize or aid them. We
would push the UN. There is the thought that if Israel were kicked out of
the UN we would reduce our support. We should contemplate the same on
this issue.
President: Would someone like to summarize? I would just say we will
fight to keep Israel in the UN. The UN has not always done as much as we
would like but we will keep trying.
RALO GE A. FORD TBRART
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FORD & LIBRARY CERRITO
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FORD & LIBRARY PA
30