Memorandum of Conference with the President Regarding Ford Foundation Support for the People-to-People Foundation

October 11, 1957 MEMORANDUM OF CONFERENCE WITH THE PRESIDENT October 10, 1957 Other S present: Mr. Heald Mr. David Secretary Herter Mr. Allen Dulles Mr. Arthur Larson General Goodpaster Mr. David reported the action of the Ford Foundation Trustees turn- ing down the request for financial support for the People to People Program. At the President's request, Mr. Heald gave the reasons, which he indicated as two: in overseas work, the Foundation has found that it cannot work effectively through intermediaries, but must exercise very careful direct control; the Foundation is recog- nized as a private agency, and in many areas is able to work effec- tively only because its freedom from governmental influence and connection is unchallenged. If they were to support the People to People Program, they would lose the selectivity they wish to retain and would inevitably be thought to be linked to the government. The President said he was astonished regarding these points. From the outset he had stressed that this activity must not have a govern- mental tie. He had limited his own participation simply to helping launch the project. He also said that he did not see how the question of selectivity was connected with this particular request, inasmuch as the money asked for was to provide administrative support so that the central organization could go out and raise funds for particular efforts. He recalled that since he had come to Washington he had given his name to only one project, the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowships. He felt that People to People contact is essential in the world today, and that if private people are unable or unwilling to support this effort we as a nation are doomed to a very bad future. He said that, as a result of their decision, he did not know where to turn, but he could