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OCR Page 1 of 34Telecon
Secretary Laird
11/24/69 9:15 p.m.
L asked if everything was all set for tomorrow. K said all set, we put
the suggestion L made to NSDM. L said he thinks it's important to have
it in there. K said it's in there.
L asked if the President was going to have a regular press conference
tomorrow at 10:00. K said no, he is just going to read the statement
to the TV cameras. It's not regular; he's not even going to answer
questions. He's going to read a summary of the NSDM. Then he's
going to release a longer press statement which lays it our precisely.
L asked if he was going to release questions and answers. K said no,
we thought if he answered
you do it the next day in the Pentagon.
L said I do it the next day at the Pentagon? K said yes, not that after-
noon, wait until the next day.
L said he had gotten Wheeler aboard on this thing. K said the P intends
to make it clear that without the cooperation from Defense, he couldn't
have done it. L said Ryan and Westmoreland don't understand. L said
Moorer is better about it than R and W. K asked if Moorer was coming.
L said yes; Wheeler can't be there. K said Wheeler had asked if he
coudl be excused. L said if Wheeler can't be there, Moorer should be.
L said Westmoreland and Ryan don't understand, and he doesn't want
them answering questions on it. K said Moorer understands? L said
yes, Moorer understands, but you've got to draw pictures for Westmore-
land and Ryan. K asked how long they are in for. L said they're all in
for 4 years, at the pleasure of the President. K said they don't have
enough first-class generals at that level. L said we've got a real gap
in the Navy. K said what about that guy in Norfolk. L said Henderson?
K said yes; somebody said he's pretty good. K said the President would
be very sympathetic if we could yank someone. L said that guy in Viet-
nam--Dumwalt? isn't bad. K asked if L was still thinking of keeping
Moorer up. L said he doesn't know yet; it doesn't have to be done before
April, does it? K said no; L said we're doing okey. They've never been
through anything like what they've been through during the past six WEEKS
months. K said it's miraculous that they haven't blown their stacks. L
said the JC disapproved of what we're doing tomorrow, but they are com-
ing around. K said it is a historical occasion. L said it's amazing it
was never done in the Kenne dy or Johnson administrations. K said and
never done in the Eisenhower administration.
K said it's really due to L that this has gotten off the ground. L said
it's amazing that there's been no policy. K said his academic friends
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library
DECLASSIFIED
This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.