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Declassified per Executive Order 13526, Section 3.3
NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011 TOP SECRET – Sensitive
NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011 TOP SECRET – Sensitive
DATE | EVENT OR DOCUMENT | DESCRIPTION |
1 Nov 1964 | VC Attack Bien Hoa Airport | The VC launch a mortar attack on the Bien Hoa airfield that kills Americans and damages aircraft. The military recommend a reprisal against the North; the President refuses. |
3 Nov 1964 | Johnson re-elected | Lyndon Johnson is re-elected President with a crushing majority. |
Task Force Begins Policy Review | At the President's request, W.P. Bundy heads an inter-agency Task Force for an in-depth review of US Vietnam policy and options. The work goes on throughout the month. | |
26 Nov 1964 | Bundy Group Submits Three Options | The Bundy Task Force submits its draft conclusions to the Principals. They propose three alternative courses of action: (1) continuation of current policy with no escalation and a resistance to negotiations; (2) a significant set of pressures against the North accompanied by vigorous efforts to start negotiations; (3) a modest campaign against the North with resistance to negotiations. |
30 Nov 1964 | NSC Principals Modify Bundy Proposals | The NSC Principals reject the pure form of any of the recommendations and instead substitute a two-phase recommendation for the President: the first phase is a slight intensification of current covert activities against the North and in Laos, the second after 30 days would be a moderate campaign of air strikes against the DRV. |
1 Dec 1964 | President Meets with NSC and Taylor | The President, in a meeting with the NSC Principals, and Taylor, who returned on 23 November, hears the latter's report on the grave conditions in SVN, then approves Phase I of the proposal. He gives tentative approval to Phase II but makes it contingent on improvement by the GVN. |
3 Dec 1964 | President Confers with Taylor | In a last meeting with Taylor, the President stresses the need to get action from the GVN before Phase II. |
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TOP SECRET – Sensitive