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OCR Page 1 of 51TELCON
Dr. James Killian (was in Washington)
Mr. Kissinger
4/23/69 6:50 p. m.
HAK: I'm beginning to make a nuisance of myself, but it shows how
much we value your counsel. Let me tell you what has happened since
I last spoke to you. The Pres. and I reviewed the situation and it
seemed to us that the best way to undo what had been done would be
to go back to Frank Long and see if the thing could be rectified. Which
we did, on the basis that this had been handled as a regular political
appointment , and that as soon as the Pres. recognized the true facts
of the National Science Foundation, he regretted it -- this is the
exact truth. Frank Long feels, after long consideration, that he
just cannot begin as a controversial appointment with a heavy
Congressional load and very regretfully, HAK thinks, without any
malice or ill-will, said he could not reconsider. But he indicated he
would certainly be prepared to speak to a designee indicating he would
be happy for him to take the position, and give him support.
Killian: I salute thatx the President and yourself for having done this.
I think this is an act of real understanding and courage.
HAK: We aren't going to give this any publicity, but I think some of
the people who have been very helpful and whose judgment we value
should have this. Now the President is going to invite the Council of the
Academy to meet with him and repeated that the Science Foundation
should be independent. We have two choices. We can ask them to gether
with the National Science Board to make three recommendations to us
of
which we will choose one -- this is one way of handling it. The other
would be to go after Piore now, who has alre ady been approved by the
NSB at one stage -- in fact, he was the first choice -- SO that we wouldn't
be going out of channels. Which of these procedures would be the better one?
Killian: I think the first one you mentioned would be better. I think you
might wind up with Piore under those circumstances, but with much
greater assurance that he would not react as Long did.
HAK: I think the Pres. probably leans a little toward the other one just
to get the thinkg over with.
Killian: I think either course is all right. I think you will need the
participation of some people whom Piore knows and feels easy with.
I'm sure he would appear to go in under a cloud (??)
Kissinger: Even if Long were to urge him to do it? Or if he were told
he could call Long?
Killian: It may work and you could certainly-- you wanted to follow that
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.