Brief Chronology of Events, August 3-7, 1964

-2- plans for a meeting of the NAC, SEATO and the Security Council (UN), and arrangements for the initial drafting of a Congressional Resolution. The first draft of the Congressional Resolution was discussed with the Leadership, and in the light of their comments redraits continued in the evening and at a breakfast meeting in the Department of State the Secretary and his associates hammered out a short, basic, agreed version with the bipartisan leaders. This version was reviewed by the President and approved by him immediately upon his return from Syracuse. He had already directed the preparation of an accompanying message which he approved at this same meeting and which went promptly to the Congress that afternoon. Meanwhile at the White House the President's statement to the people was prepared under his immediate direction, and the President, in addition to his other meet- ings, communicated with Senator Goldwater. The timing of the President's address to the nation was complex. The address must be so timed as not to give any battle advantage to the North Vietnamese but at the same time must precede any announcement of the operation from the other side. The time which was eventually agreed met this requirement and at 11:40 the President made his statement to the nation. The President also decided in the course of Tuesday evening that the speech at Syracuse should be related to this set of events, and he issued instructions and guidelines for the preparation of the speech which he delivered on Wednesday morning. On Wednesday the President was briefed by Bundy and Clifton before he departed for Syracuse. On his return he reviewed and approved the Congressional Resolution and the message to accompany it, as previously stated. In the course of the afternoon he received repeated telephone reports on the situation and through the evening he kept close watch on events. On Thursday and on Friday the President continued to receive fully diplomatic and intelligence reports. The American people were kept continuously informed by the appropriate officers of the State and Defense Depart- ments. The Congressional hearings on the Resolution proceeded, and the Resolution was voted Friday noon. The President then issued his statement hailing this event. In this same period the President personally directed and wound up with the necessary votes to pass his Poverty bill in the House of Repre- sentatives. He also kept a close eye upon the work of Under Secretary