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ADMINISTRATIVE MEMO 10 7 March 10, 1970 Memorandum of conversation Bill Gill of ABC called from Washington. He said, "Off the record and very privately , Tom, I want you to know that I plan to carry a storymon tonight's show which is indirectly tied to the publication today of a book by Phil Goulding. Goulding paints McNamara as the hero of the bombing pause, then goes on to tell how Clifford championed the battle for the President's mind during March after McNamara left. My story is very simple, and came from sources here in Washington- - - not from any conversations with President Johnson or his people in Texas. That story is that Secretary "Rusk, in a meeting on Feb. 27, in the presence of Rustow, Bundy, Califano and others first suggested the bombing halt. I am not asking you for any comment or any denial. My purpose in calling is only to say: 1. this is planned for this evening and 2. how's the boss? I'm sorry I could not get back down there, but duties in Washington prevented it. I hope you will tell him that Mitzie and I are thinking of him. 11 TJohnson

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