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PENT A
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E.0. 11652, sh ction }
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by Vy owe
Cabinet Meeting, May 12, 1960 - page 5
Seaton all supported Mr. Rogers in opposing the draft language. It
was pointed out that this language had frequently been used before,
but Sec. Seaton stressed that it had never before been Presidentialh
approved. It was suggested that the paragraph at issue be eliminated
completely since it was merely prefatory to the essential recommen
tions and its content was repeated in other language in various plac s
in the paper. The President refused to delete the item on his own
personal judgment when he had constituted a Committee of expert
scientists to develop the paper and this had been their best judgment
after full attention to the specific problem. The Vice President and
the President both suggested possible editing of the language to mak
clear the impossibility of any assertion one way or the other, given
the present lack of conclusive research. Mr. McCone believed the
working group should review the matter, for it might prefer to
eliminate the paragraph on its own responsibility rather than subjec
it to editing.
The President directed Dr. Kistiakowsky to take the paper back to
the working group for review with the understanding that it was
agreed the paper should be published as soon as possible in such
form as would not scare people to death,
a
Following the Cabinet meeting, there was a briefing by the Defense
Department on Russian and U.S. military posture, covering all typ
of forces, including ballistic missile capacity. This was arrange |
as a result of Mr. Summerfield's request some time previously tha
all Cabinet members should be well informed about security matters
because of their frequent public contacts. In the course of the brief
ing, Mr. Summerfield reverted to this point and emphasized that
there was a remaining need for Cabinet members to visit places likg
Omaha or Cape Canaveral, since this would serve to strengthen the
validity of such public comments on defense posture as these
Cabinet members might make.
of the 'I was there" approach,
Mr. Gates agreed on the impact
Adm. Byrnes stressed the sensitivity of the information presented
in the briefing, practically all of which was "Top Secret" in nature.
L, A. Lo
Copy
to:
Airs. Whitman (2)
Mr. Minnich
Mr. Gray
CONFIDENTIAL