Letter from McGeorge Bundy to Dean Acheson

HARVARD UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT LITTAUER CENTER M-22 CAMBRIDGE 38, MASSACHUSETTS June 22, 1953 Mr. Dean G. Acheson Union Trust Building Washington, D. C. Dear Dean: Thanks for your letter of June 17, which makes it look as if we had a pretty good line-up for July 2. I do not know what to say about Herbert Marks; I just don't know him at all well. I think he would be fine if you want to have him; he certainly has a first-rate repu- tation. My own inclination with regard to the four others you mention would be to wait until the July 2 meeting. We have seven certain and nine likely members at that gather- ing, and I am not at all sure that we ought to get very much larger than that. It is part of my original feeling that twelve might be a little too big, and if you disagree, then I think I would consider Gene Rostow first, although I have to say that this is a guess, because I have not seen him for more than ten years. I have no bright ideas about the way to begin on July 2. I take it from your reference to April 1949 that you are thinking largely about North Atlantic Treaty and its con- sequences, and this seems to me the logical opening subject. I have a real interest myself in problems of transition, and there must have been a really tricky one between yourself and Lovett right at the beginning. My only real suggestion is that it mi ght be well to begin with January and not April. As ever, S. man AND McGeorge Bundy us c SERVICE MB:pc