The Arrogance of Power (123 page)

Anna Chennault/RN:
(background) biographical note, Appendix II,
World Journal,
Taiwan, Apr. 21–26, 1994, ints. Anna Chennault; Catherine Forslund,
Woman of Two Worlds
:
Anna Chennault and Informal Diplomacy in US.–Asian Relations, 1950–1990,
Ph.D. dissertation, spring 1997, Washington University at St. Louis; Anna Chennault,
The Education of Anna,
New York: Times Books, 1980; (Chennault ‘68)
WP,
Nov. 1, 1968, Jan. 12, 1969; Boston
Globe,
Jan. 6, 1969;
Washingtonian,
Sept. 1969; Washington
Star,
Aug. 20, 1979; (joined Republicans) Chennault, op. cit., p. 163; int. Chennault; (Chennault/RN first contacts) Chennault, op. cit., p. 163–; ints. Chennault—first in 1954, according to
World Journal,
Taiwan, Apr. 21–26, 1994; (Vietnam contacts) ints. Anna Chennault; Forslund, op. cit., p. 188–; (tough views) Chennault to RN, Mar. 25, Apr. 4, June 24, 1968, Folder 20, Box 124, Robert C. Hill Papers, Hoover Institution; (phone calls '67)
World Journal, supra.;
(NY meeting '67) ibid; Chennault, op. cit., p. 170–; (“RN would like to see”) Dick Allen to DC, July 3, 1968, cited in Safire, op. cit., p. 89; (“victory”) Chennault, op. cit., p. 170; (“if elected”) ibid., p. 175; (met Thieu) Hung and Schecter, op. cit., p. 19;(“only contact”) ibid. and see Bui Diem with David Channoff,
In the Jaws of History,
Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1987, p. 237; ints. Chennault, Bui Diem; (Chennault/Thieu) Chennault, op. cit., p. 187; ints. Chennault; (“better deal”) ints. Chennault; (Thieu messages) int. Chennault; (other messengers) ibid. and Hung and Schecter, op. cit., p. 23; (Mitchell silent) int. Bui Diem; (changed number) Chennault, op. cit., pp. 174; (Hill, Woods, Hitt) Chennault to RN, June 24, 1968,
supra.
and re: Hitt background, int. Patricia R. Hitt, Patricia Hitt Oral History, Bancroft Library, University of California; (RN publicly mouthed) e.g.,
LAT
and AP, Oct. 18, 1968—urging support for LBJ so as not “to play politics with peace”; (resentment)
MEM,
p. 326; (LBJ devoted to peace/too hesitant) e.g., minutes of foreign policy advisers group meeting, Oct. 14, 1968, citing LBJ not wanting it said “one man died who could have been saved by this plan . . . we'll be scared, but we'll try it,” Tom Johnson meeting notes, Box 4, LBJL and Clifford with Holbrooke, op. cit., p. 80, citing LBJ as labeling aides “a bunch of duds”; (Agnew briefed) Kent Crane to Agnew, Oct. 15, 16, 1968, Folder 31, Box 125, Robert C. Hill Papers, Hoover Institution; (two days later) Chennault calendar entry re: meeting Bui Diem, 10
A
.
M
. Oct. 18, shared with author by Catherine Forslund; (A few days after) ibid., for 11
A
.
M
. Oct. 25; (“Call from payphone”) Hung and Schecter, op. cit, p. 24; (Bui Diem on messages) Bui Diem, op. cit., p. 244, citing messages Oct. 23 and 27; int./corr. Bui Diem; (Read version) Bundy, op. cit., p. 42, int./corr. Bundy; (NSA Intercepts) ibid. and Powers, op. cit., p. 252; (CIA/Diem) ibid; (device/Thieu) ibid., pp. 235, 252; Hung and Schecter, op. cit., p. 80; (Thieu overheard) Walt Rostow to president, “Literally Eyes Only,” Nov. 2, 1968, citing intelligence item of Oct. 26, Item 51, NSF files, Box 137, Vol. 4, LBJL; (Oct. 29 meeting) foreign policy group meeting, Oct. 29, 1968; (2:30
A
.
M
.–) Tom Johnson meeting notes, Box 4, LBJL, and see Clifford with Holbrooke, op. cit., p. 586; (LBJ re: RN “conniving”) Oct. 28, 1968 meeting notes,
supra.,
pp. 20, 21; ed. Barrett, op. cit., p. 817– and 3 memos, Walt Rostow to LBJ and 2 memos Eugene Rostow to Walt Rostow, Oct. 29, 1968, and Walt Rostow, memo for the record, May 14, 1973, all in X, LBJL; (“all adds up”) Tom Johnson meeting notes,
supra.;
(wiretaps/surveillance ordered) memos in “June” folder, FBI HQ 65-62098, released to author, Dec. 1999; (LBJ heavy hint) Forslund, op. cit., p. 221, and see
MEM,
p. 322—although the latter does not mention LBJ's hint, a reference to subversive activity by “old China hands”; (panic in RN camp) Lewis Chester, Godfrey Hodgson, Bruce Page,
An American Melodrama,
London: Andre Deutsch, 1969, p. 727; Godfrey Hodgson to author, Dec. 6, 1996; (Chennault not get through) Chester, et al., op. cit., p. 733; (Chennault/Mitchell call) Chennault, op. cit., p. 190–; (Thieu announced)
WP,
Nov. 2, 1968—reporting announcement same day Saigon time; (RN underhand way) Witcover, op. cit., p. 438; Bundy, op. cit., p. 34; (Rostow/no hard evidence) Walt Rostow to LBJ, Oct. 29, 1968 (8:50
A
.
M
.) in Vietnam, July–Dec., 1968, Box 6, NSF Rostow Papers, LBJL; (FBI/Sheraton Park call) teletype, director FBI to W. Hse. situation rm., Nov. 1, 1968, X, LBJL—partly conf. by Chennault calendar entry, Oct. 31, 1968, Chennault, op. cit., p. 190–; (Nov. 2 Chennault/Diem call) SAC Washington field office, 3, to director FBI, WFO 105-9894, sent as enciphered teletype to W. Hse. situation rm., FBI 65-62298-204, Nov. 2, 1968, both released to author, 1999.

Agnew/Albuquerque:
Seymour Hersh article,
NYT,
June 27, 1973; (LBJ ordered checks) Cartha DeLoach to Clyde Tolson, Nov. 19, 1968, re: Nov. 12 order, FBI 65-62098; (Hoover warned Chennault) int. Anna Chennault; (Hoover/DeLoach conspired) Cartha DeLoach,
Hoover's
FBI,
Washington, D.C.: Regnery, 1995, p. 396–; (call to Hitt) Cartha DeLoach to Clyde Tolson,
supra.;
(Robert Hitt) “Special Inquiry,” Murray Chotiner, Apr. 21, 1969, FBI HQ 161- 6284, and re: cash–E, II, pp. 541, 573, 588–; (paymaster) Wise,
Police State,
op. cit., pp. 3–, 12; (Pat Hitt)
Who's Who in American Politics,
1995/96, unid. clipping in Theodore White Papers, 1968, Box 32, JFKL,
SF Chronicle,
Feb. 1, 1975—and see main text
supra.
re: being named by Chennault; (Rostow to LBJ re: Albuquerque) Rostow to LBJ, “Eyes Only memo,” Nov. 12, 1968, X, LBJL; (Rostow surmised) Nov. 2, 1968, X, LBJL.

Chennault/S. Vietnam Embassy contacts:
(overheard Nov. 7) Special Agent in Charge, WFO to director FBI, 3 messages, Nov. 7, 1968, FBI 65-62098, Serials 226, 228, 256, released to author 1999; (Thieu congratulations) Special Agent in Charge, WFO to director, FBI, Nov. 7, 1968, FBI 65-62098-227; (RN in FL)
MEM,
p. 335;
PAT,
p. 248.

LBJ/RN/Humphrey:
(LBJ furious)
MEM,
p. 329; Harry McPherson and James Rowe, Jr., ints., Oral History Collection, LBJL; (late Friday night) Safire, op. cit., p. 93; (on her own) Witcover, op. cit., p. 442; George Christian,
The President Steps Down,
New York: Macmillan, 1970, p. 93; (“laughter”) Chester, et al., op. cit., p. 734; Godfrey Hodgson to author, Dec. 6, 1996; (“Johnson certain”) Joseph Califano, Jr.,
The Triumph
&
Tragedy of Lyndon Johnson,
New York: Simon & Schuster, 1991, p. 328; int. Joseph Califano, Jr.; (“horrendous”), ibid.; (Humphrey told/reaction) int. James Rowe, Jr.,
supra.;
Grant, op. cit., p. 311; McClendon, op. cit., p. 61; Austin
American,
July 9, 11, 1969; Hung and Schecter, op. cit., p. 485, Solberg, op. cit., p. 397–; (“What kind of guy?”) Lawrence O'Brien int., Oral History Collection, LBJL; (might “want to consider”) int. Max Kampelman in “Wheeler on America,” Prog. 1, BBC-TV, Feb. 18, 1996; Bundy, op. cit., p. 551n92; (“very well blow”) Cartha DeLoach to Clyde Tolson, Nov. 4, 1968, FBI 65-62098-170, released to author, 1999; (advisers decided) “Eyes Only memo,” Walt Rostow to president, Nov. 4, 1968, NSF Files (item 27A), Vol. 4, Box 137, and int. Harry McPherson, Oral History Collection, LBJL; (“blow whistle” query) “Literally Eyes Only” memo, Walt Rostow to president, Nov. 8, 1968, X, LBJL.

RN reverses position:
(LBJ “actively sought”) Rostow memo for record, May 14, 1973, X, LBJL, and see Hung and Schecter, op. cit., p. 486n32; (LBJ/Humphrey forecast) Tom Johnson meeting notes, Oct. 29, 1968, Box 4, LBJL—citing LBJ as saying “Nixon will double-cross after Nov. 5,” and ibid., Nov. 20, 1968—citing Humphrey as saying “Nixon will move and fast. He'll sell them down the river”; (strong word) Dallek, op. cit., p. 597; (“flabbergasted”) int. Anna Chennault; Chennault, op. cit., p.193; (Chennault harried) ibid.; int. Herb Klein; (fended enquiries) Chennault, op. cit., p. 195–; St. Louis
Post
-
Dispatch,
Jan 8, 1979;
NYT,
July 23, 1969; (feared for safety) int. Anna Chennault; (“I've certainly paid”) Chennault, op. cit., p. 197–.

SE Asia conflict in presidency:
(casualties final 5 weeks): supplied by U.S. Dept. of Defense Electronic Records; (Holbrooke) int. Richard Holbrooke for BBC/History Channel; (“a man so consumed”) Califano,
Triumph
&
Tragedy,
op. cit., p. 328.

Thieu reaction:
(champagne)
Newsweek,
Nov. 18, 1968, but see U.S. Embassy Saigon to Sec. of State, Nov. 15, 1968, Box 6, Clark Clifford Papers, LBJL; (“We did it”) Chicago
Daily News,
Nov. 15, 1968; (Thieu felt) Hung and Schecter, op. cit., pp. 483n1, 31, 34; (Thieu would defy)
MEM,
pp. 584, 690–, 702, 707, and see Clifford with Holbrooke, op. cit., p. 593fn; (at first meeting) Hung and Schecter, op. cit., p. 30; (RN reassured) ibid., p. 34.

RN in WH:
(Cambodia deaths) Cambodian Genocide Project, Yale University, New Haven, CT; (RN bombing N. Vietnam) George Herring,
America's Longest War,
New York: Knopf, 1986, p. 250–;
Radical History Review,
Fall 1994, p. 185, and see Karnow, op. cit., p. 658–; Shawcross, op. cit., pp. 217–, 260; (RN argued) Richard Nixon,
No More Vietnams,
New York: Touchstone, 1990, p. 277; (contrary case)
SF Chronicle,
Mar. 4, 1984; Arthur Pearl,
Landslide,
Secaucus, NJ: Citadel Press, 1973, p. 97; George McGovern in
Rolling Stone,
June 16, 1994; (RN/peace “won”) Nixon,
No More Vietnams,
op. cit., pp. 206, 277; (“I agree war mistake”) int. Sen. George McGovern in eds. Strober,
Nixon,
op. cit., p. 171, and McGovern article,
Rolling Stone,
June 16, 1994—Sen. McGovern was Kissinger's visitor in early 1969.

“This really is”:
NYT,
June 23, 1993.

Election '68:
(Harris poll)
TW68,
p. 446; (aboard plane) ibid., p. 452–; (Op. Eagle Eye) Garment, op. cit., p. 141 and see Whalen, op. cit., p. 14; (Op. Integrity)
Life,
Sep. 5, 1969, ed. Miller,
Breaking of the President,
op. cit., vol. 3, p. 68; int. J. Edgar Nichols; (nervy)
MEM,
p. 332; (RN election night)
TW68,
p. 455–;
MEM,
p. 331; (RN urged Humphrey) ibid., p. 320; Wicker, op. cit., p. 361; (“tell Hubert to quit”)
MEM,
p. 333; Wicker, op. cit., p. 383; (women isolated)
PAT,
p. 246; (Pat vomited) ibid.; (voting figures)
TW68,
p. 462–; (Graham) Graham, op. cit., p. 449–;
PAT,
p. 247; (Woods weeping)
NYT
News Service, Nov. 11, 1968; (“bring together”) full text at Adler, op. cit., p. 124; (“verge of victory”) Graham, op. cit., p. 450; (“Victory at Sea”)
MEM,
p. 335;
PAT,
p. 248; (pirouette) ibid.; (Air Force One) Safire, op. cit.,
p. 107; (“Mr. President”) ibid., p. 248; (S. Service) ibid., p. 249; (Searchlight) John Curtin to John Vermilye, (Miami Police Intelligence), Nov. 13, 1968, supplied to author by Gordon Winslow; (Starlight) Walker, op. cit., front matter; (“very strange”) Matthews, op. cit., p. 270.

Transition:
(“Baloney!) int. John Ehrlichman in eds. Miller Center, op. cit., pp. 122, 135; (Pierre) Carl Brauer,
Presidential Transitions,
New York: Oxford University Press, 1986, p. 131; Stans,
Terrors,
op. cit., p. 140; (
Who's Who
) int. John Ehrlichman in eds. Miller Center, op. cit., p. 135; Whalen, op. cit., p. 224–; (Ehrlichman/AG?) int. John Ehrlichman in eds. Miller Center, op. cit., p.123; (“no politician”) Smith,
Dewey
, op. cit., p. 631; (“RN's right arm”) ed. Schoenebaum, op. cit., p. 444; (“take care”) int. Dwight Chapin in eds. Strober,
Nixon,
op. cit., p. 295; (RN/Martha) Bryant with Leighton, op. cit., p. 256, Haldeman with DiMona, op. cit., p. 9; (alcohol problems) int. Chapin
supra.;
McClendon, op. cit., p. 63.

Haldeman:
(Ike: “S.O.B.”) Haldeman with DiMona, op. cit., p. 54; (“pluperfect”) ibid.; (quiet) White,
Breach,
op. cit., p. 92; (“fine guy”) notes of Haldeman int., Nov. 22, 1968, Theodore White Papers, Box 40, JFKL; (accounts) William Shannon,
They Could Not Trust the King,
New York: Macmillan, 1974, p. 149; Medved, op. cit., p. 307; (“dream”) int. Larry Higby; (“swam too far”) White,
Breach,
op. cit., p. 92; (Germans/“Nazi”) Haldeman with DiMona, op. cit., p. 55; Lewis Chester, Cal McCrystal, Stephen Aris, and William Shawcross,
Watergate,
New York: Ballantine, 1973, p. 13; Bernstein and Woodward,
Men,
op. cit., p. 304; eds. Strober,
Nixon,
op. cit., p. 55; (dined once) Haldeman with DiMona, op. cit., p. 65; (“didn't see as person”) ibid., p. 74; (“never asked”) ibid., p. 72; (“machine”) ibid., p. 74; (“Executioner”) ibid., p. 111.

friends dumped:
(Klein) int. Herb Klein; Brauer, op. cit., p. 135; (Klein decent) e.g., Dickerson, op. cit., p. 153; (“Zig-zag”)
NM,
p. 391; (Woods moved)
NM,
p. 461; int. Patricia Hitt, and see Safire, op. cit., p. 113–; (“Go fuck!) Wicker, op. cit., p. 400.

W.H. young men:
(Magruder/Chapin/Huston/Strachan/Colson)
NM,
pp. 7, 11, 30, 151–, 187–; Magruder,
American Life,
op. cit., p. 3; (“Judas”)
AOP,
p. 606; (“viciously”)
NM,
p. 11; (“please boss”) ibid., p. 280; (“If Nixon told”) int. Tom Huston, 1973, in
Harpers,
Oct. 1974; (obedience) e.g., int. John Ehrlichman; eds. Miller Center, op. cit., p. 129, int. John Ehrlichman; Haldeman with DiMona, op. cit., pp. 59, 319; and Medved, op. cit., p. 319; Haldeman, op. cit., p. 59–; Safire, op. cit., p. 285, William Doyle,
Inside the Oval Office: The White House Tapes from FDR to Clinton,
New York: Kodansha Int., 1999, pp. 171–, 177.