President`s Daily Diary, December 23, 1967

P),,t,, , 23 December 1967
Korat. Royal Thai AF Base, Thailand Day
Saturday
,.
Activity (include visited by )
The President was up and dressed by 5:00 a. m. —in khaki shirt and pants and
battle jacket. Wait Rostow and Wm Bundy came in the trailer briefly, and the
President greeted them and then suggested they eave and find a way to get him
into Karachi without the press finding out prior to arrival.
w/
General
w/ General
y*y
Manager
Momyer
The President to his car and departed trailed in which he had spent the night .
The President had been quartered in a series of trailers — his trailer was
number one. The trailer had two bedrooms, a living room and a kitchen. The
President's large double bed filled one of the small bedrooms.
Arrive hanger speech site — in the dark of early morn
The President Went immediately to the stage where he decorated
Capt. William Crieger, 355th TFW -- Silver Star
Capt. Donald F. Miles. 432nd TRW.--Silver Star
Major Myron L. Savage. 355th TFW, --Distinguished Flying Cross (10LC)
Major Wintford L. Bazzell, 388th TFW,-- Distinguished Flying Cross
Major James R. Bassett, 388th TFW, Distinguished Flying Cross
Mjor Lloyd W. Boothby, 8th TFW -- Distinguished Flying Cross
1st Lt. John C. Putnam, 355th TFW -- Distinguished Flying Cross
1st: Lt. George H. McKinney, Jr., 8th TFW -- Distinguished Cross
and made REMARKS
Depart speech site
On the airplane in Presidential compartmert w/
General William W. Momyer
Depty Cdr. for Air Ops & Cdr 7th AF
Date 2 3 Decembe r 1967
Karat. Roya l Tha i Air Forc e Base, Thailandpa y Saturda
Activity (includ e visite d by ) tur
y
Expendie
Code
Takeoff fro m Kora t RTAFB , Thailan d
During this flight, th e Presiden t was briefed by General Momyer —
who came aboard prepared w/ charts an d pointer t o discuss his activities i n th e DMZ.
BREAKFAST
Walt W. rosto w joine d
Aboard A F On e 8697 0 from Korat . RTAFB . wer e th e following :
The President
Mr. W . Marvi n Watson . Specia l Asst t o the President
Mr. Georg e Christian, Pres s Secretary
Mr. Wal t Rostow, S p Asst to the Presiden t
Mr. Jame s Jones , Presidentia l Ass t
Dr. Georg e Burkley , President' s persona l physicia n
Col. Jame s U . Cross , Arme d Force s Aid e t o the President
Mr. Rufu s Youngblood , Deput y Director, U S Secret Service
Mr - Jac k Valenti , President , Motio n Picture
Associatio n o f Americ a
Mr. C. W. Eng elhard
Mrs. C. W . Eng elhard
Mr. Clinto n Hill, SAIC , U S Secret Servic e
Miss Marie Fehmer, Presidentia l Secretar y
—Mrs. Mar y Beck, Presidentia l Secretar y
—Mrs. Nel l Yates , Secretar y
Miss Evely n Ferguson, Press Offic e Secretar y
LCdr .
To m Atkins , "Whit e Hous e Photographe r
Mr. Yoich i Okamoto , Whit e Hous e Photographe r
Miss Ruby Nivens. , Secretar y
Chief Thoma s Mills , corpsma n
M.Sgt- Pau l Glynn , Presidentia l valet .
M. Sgt . Marshall K. Gaddis , Presidentia l vale t
M^—^.VMM^^—^MIII—IHBM^H^^^^^^—VBB^—^VVHBB^^B^—«»^^^—B«M_^^^_B^_^H^_B ^^W^.,^_^
VV^
Date 23
Korat. Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand Day
December 1967
Saturday
Activity (include visited by)
E
Sgt. Jack Cliff, baggage handler
SD 1 Cecilio C. HH Pontanilla, Jr. . steward
Mr. Charles Maguire, Presidential Assistant
Mr. Horace Busby
Hon. Harry McPherson, Special Counsel to the PResident
General Momyer
_ The P esident to the rear of the plane talking
^^ Harry McPherson and inviting him to join
with
. Back to the Presidentialcompartment
Marvin Watson
Walt Rostow
. Gen Wm Momyer Jack Valenti
—Harry McPherson
—Horace Busby
George Christian
Mr. Engelhard
Charles Maguire
_ The President came to the back of the plane from time to time to speak privately
with Walt Rostow, then the two would return to the compartm^nt with the rest of the
gentlemen. _
For this flight, there were two escort planes flyingoff each wingtip.
Other support and escort planes were at hand, but not inevidence.
THE WmiE HousE Dxtf
23
PREStDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON
DAtLY D!ARY
The President began his day at (Place) Korat,
Time Telephon
Entry i
-^ 1
1
In Out
Lo
^3a VietNam
e
or t
Activity
LD
AF
The
One 86970 toucheddown. Cam H-^Ranh Bay.
Bay, ^^^^-^^--^-^-^^ty
L i^
-_
and
^H^ Republic of
Viet Na
Vice
President
Nguyen Caokey
President was met by
y^^)^^,^;^
^^y^^^^(^
second visit to Cam Ranh— x^r^
Ted
Saturday
(inc)ude visited by)
time
ThiS iS the PreSident'S
.^M ^
^"^
Connell
^ i-*t/
-^^-^
advanced
Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand p^
December 1967
General < ^William
Westmoreland ^^^^y^^
,^^^:&,^^
^
^^^{^^-^^^
^^^.^A^y
Ambassador
Ellsworth
Bunker
departed
Remarks
by
to
Senior
motorcade
Unit
Commanders
^^
^H^
n^t^ 23 December 1967 *
, Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand Day
^
,Ko
Saturday
Expendi-
Activity (inctude visited by) ture
Code
Visited
hosptial
and wounded
therein
awarded
^L^2^^*
%^^4^^5L^
<&*t^ *t^i^%^^.^^^
^/&^^-U?^/. <^2^<
medals
Went
to
'-^t^^^L -6^, ^dZ&<^t^
briefing
room
^& '-^^^^4^-^
^T^d-3^1^
The President arrived the speech site , and posed for pictures immediately outside his
car with
Hon. Ellsworth Bunker American
Amb. Robert Komer
Vice President Nguyen Cao Ky of RVM
General William Westmoreland
General Creighton
Ambassador
Abrams
to
Vietnam
Datf* 23
Korat, Royal Thai Air & Force Base, Thailand Day
December 1967
Saturday
Expx
Activity (include visited by) tu
Cc
The President and Gen. Westmoreland led a group of dignitaries to the stage.
"Hail to the Chief" was played.
General Westmoreland escorted the President in REVIEW of the TROOPS in an
open jeep.
Returned to the stage.
National anthem
of
U.S. Nationia
VietNam
l Anthem
The President then decorated a large number of AirForce, Army, Marine, and Navyenlisted men and officers.
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS:
Spec 4 Paul D. Charles, USA
Lt. Col. Ralph Puckett, Jr. , USA
1 st Lt. Leon Mack Wessel, Jr. USA
Sgt. William C. Thomas, USA
NAVY CROSS:
LCdr. Francis Eugene Rh Rhodes. USN
Gunnery Sgt. John Sherman Green. USMC
Gy Sgt. Leroy Nick Poulson, USMC
AIR FORCE CROSS:
Col. Robert M. White, USAF
SILVER STAR:
Capt. Paul Nagle Gray, USN
Lt., (jg).*x&^)CRH^5a^ Samuel Allen Mies,
USN
Engineman 3d Class Michael Lee Meeks, USN
Capt. Jerald W. Ellington, USAF
Date23 December 1967^
Korat Royal $xhk Thai AF Base, Thailand p^
Activity (include visited by)
Capt. Stewart R. Byrne, USAF
PFC Edward Dale Davis, USMC
Sgt, gxs*. Gerald Vernand Young, USMC
SSgt. Cornell Johnson, Jr. , USA
Spec 4 Charles W. Page, USA
PURPLE HEART:
1st Lt. Leo J. Lemoine, USAF
Cpl. Roger W. VanTatenhove. USMC
Cpl. David G. Bailey, USMC
LCdr. Harold E. Phillips, USN
Cpl. James J. Murphy, USMC
LCpl. David J. Francis, USMC
Lt. Col. Robert M. Rufsvold, USA
2d Lt. Benjamin S. Fordham, USMC
PFC Joseph Sanders, USMC
Lt. Phillip D. Allum, USMC
LCpt. Robert E. Fisher, USMC
HM3 Paul L. Labonte. USN
LCpt. James L. Luthman, USMC
PFC Thomas W. Gaskey, USMC
PFC David A. Dupuy, USMC
PFC James R. Ezzell. USMC
Cpl. Leo Giddings, Jr. , USMC
Spec 4 William M. Freeman, Jr. , USA
LCpl. Terry M. Whitmore, USMC
2nd Lt. Robert W. "HiRBag Thompson, USMC
Saturday
Datf 23
^lace) Korat
,phone
RTAFB. Thailand Day
or t Expendi-] Activity
LD Cocie
December 1967y
Saturday
(include visited by) ture
Then Gen. Westmoreland Said at the request of the Commander-in-Chief, would
the troops fall out and ^HHHH^^^^come to the base of the stage beneath the President.
As the troops paused uncertainly, the l^m President rose and raised his arms in
a beckoning motion. The troops then ran and squeezed in the area, around the stage.
General Westmoreland then told them to remove their head covers.
REMARKS by the President
Upon finishing his remarks, the President paused a moment, then asked the troops
gathered to indulge him. while he paid tribute to their leaders.—The President awarded
General William Westmoreland — an
Oak Leaf Cluster to the Distinguished Service
Medal he already earned. (Cdr US Military Assistance Command, Vietnam)
General Cratgh Creightonjrams ,
(Deputy
Cdr. US Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
Lt. General Bruce Palmer, Jr. (Deputy CG, US Army, Vietnam)
General William
Momyer,
USAF , (Deputy Cdr for Air Ops USMACV, Cdr 7th AF )
Lt. General Robert HaH^aHHH Cushman, USMC , (CG III Marine Amphibious Force, USM
Vice Admiral Kenneth Vieth , (Commander US Naval Forces, Vietnam)
Vice Admiral "Bush" Bringle William F. ), Commander
7th Fleet
The President then presented civilian awards to!
Hon. Ellsworth Bunker, Amb to VietNam
—
his
second Medal of Freedom
Hon. Eugene Locke, Depty Amb (not present) --Medal of Freedom
Hon. Robert
Komer
Medal
of
Freedom for his work in pacification
Following these awards the troops gave three cheers for the President.
General Westmoreland on behalf of all troops in VietNam wished the President and the
First Lady a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, thanked the President for coming,
SEE TR and wished him God speed --"'"'--"''' -----
?
t?rm "Tt? A\/i?T Ar^^rT\/T^rv rat e
I\o.:
Date 2 3 December 1967
Korat RTAFB, Thailand Day
Saturday
Expendi-
Activity (inc!ude visited by) ture
Code
AF One 86970 departed Cam Ranh Bay, Republic of VietNam with the following aboar
The President and all on the flight from Korat to Cam Ranh with the deletion of
General Momyer and the addition to the manifest at Cam Ranh of Mr. William Bundy.
The President was in his compartment with
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Engelhard
Harry McPherson
Jack Valenti
Marvin Watson
Mrs. Johnson
in Washington
The President visited with the Englehards' -- looked at the opal cufflinks he had purch
in Australia for Pat and Chuck -- and conferred with various advisers between receivin
cables.
The President rode his exercise machine -- owpx opening the door so all aboard could
see that he was exercising.
LUNCH -- soup, sandwiches, ice cream.
In the compartment with the President were
Mr. & Mrs.Engelhardd
mf mb
and Jack Valenti and Walt Rostow and Marvin Watson -- all in and out
The President was concerned with a report from Tom Johnson
trying to mislead the press, etc.
on press attitudes saying
n^ 23
Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base. Thailand n^y
December 1967 '
Saturday
Activity (include visited by) ture
ExpendiCode
The President signed two hills and a. large number of letters ( written to the airmen and
officers who had been responsible for the remodeling of this aircraft to make it more
comfortable for this trip the
President had instructed Col. Cross to see that this wa
done as the men had performed the job at mtH^ considerable personal sacrifice.)
The President to the back of the plane talking with various people —
mainly conferring with George Christian
n^t^ 23
Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand p^y
December 1967
Saturday
Expendi-
Activity (inc!ude visited by) ture
Code
AF One on ground at Karachi, Pakistan
The President metwith President Ayub in the terminal during this refueling stop .
Their discussion covered both bilateral matters and issues of
common
concern
on the world scene President Ayub outlined the rapid progress being made in
agricultural as well as
industrial development in Pakistan. President Johnso
n
Congratulated President Ayub on its continuing progress and especially for the success of
—expanding both irrigation and chemical fertilizer application.—He assured President
—Ayub of the continued support of the U.—S. for Pakistani economic development,
including food and in meeting what both Presidents hope and believe will be a
diminishing food deficit. Both Presidents expressed gratification at the inauguration
of the Mangla Dam and the prospects for other such projects. The two PresidentS
then reviewed the world situation
with special HHH^^emphaSis on the possibilities
of
moving towards peace in VietNam, President Johnson conveyed his impressions from
discuSsions earlier that day in Vietnam and both Presidents shared their regret that
Statement
The President bAck to the aircraft
Takeoff from Karachi
PRESS POOL to the Presidential compartment.
11 23
Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand
j^
December 1967
Saturday
Activity (include visited by)
Aboard AF One 86970 from Karachi, Pakistan, were the following:
The President ^
Mr. W. Marvin Watson, Sp Asst to the President
Mr. George Christian, Press Secretary
Mr. Walt Rostow, Sp Asst to the President
Mr. James Jones, Presidential Asst
Dr. George Burkley, President's Personal Physician
Col. James U. Cross, Armed Forces Aide to the President
Mr. Rufus Youngblood, Deputy Director. US Secret Service
Mr. Jack Valenti, Pres., Motion Picture Assoc. of America
Mr, & Mrs. C. W. Eng elhard, guests of the President
Mr. Clinton Hill, SAIC, US Secret Service
Mrs. Nell Yates Secretary
Miss Marie Fehmer, Presidential Secretary
Mrs. Mary Beck, Presidential Secretary
MiSS Evelyn Ferguson Press Office Secretary
LCdr Tom Atkins, White House Photographer
Mr. Yoichi Okamoto, White House Photographer
Miss Ruby Lois Nivens, Secretary
Chief Thomas Mills, corpsman
M Sgt Paul Glynn, Presidential valet
M Sgt.Marshall K. Gaddis, Presidential Valet
Sgt. Jack Cliff, Baggage handler
SD 1 Cecilio C. Pontanilla , Jr. , steward
Mr. Charles Maguire, Presidential Assistant
Hon. Harry McPherson. Special Counsel to the President
—Hon. Horace Busby
PRESS POOL:
Mr. Hugh Sidey, Time-Life
Mr. Frank Cormier,
Mr. Merriman Smith, UPI
Mr. Frank Reynolds, ABC
AP
VmiE HousE Datf
23
December
1967
)ENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON
DtARY
^resident began his day at (Place) Day
Tim?. Telephone
^""' f
1]
In Out
Lo
or t ExpendiActivity
LD
Code
(include visited by ) ture
Pat Heffernan, Reuters
Mr. Garnet Homer, Washington Evening Star
During the flight the President read two memos from Mr. Eng elhard on the balance of
payments and had them forwarded to Joe Califano. He also asked Mr. Rostow to stud
them.
In the cabin with the President after the press left the President (to go to the back of th
plane to sleep in the bunks), the President had
Mr. & Mrs. C. W. Engelhard
Mr. Walt Rostow
Mr. George Christian
He worked on his statements for Rome and messages to send the rulers over whose
countries he flew.
Then about 3 hours out, the President took a NAP.
6:58pm Rome Time
AF
One 86970 landed at Ciampino Naval Air Port, Rome, Italy
P 2
Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand p^
3 December 1967
y Saturda y
Activity (includ e visited by )
TThe President departed Ciampino Airport by helicopter
w/ Ambassador G . Frederick Reinhardt, American Amb to Italy
Italian Protocol Officer
Jack Valenti
Rufus Youngbloo
Porziana Porziana
-Arrive Porcianna Villa --to meet with President Saraga
Mr Rostow
dictating
notes
Prime
Minister
Aldo Maro
/*^^^^ ^t4^^>sL^€ ^ ^^€ ^ )^^*^^7
Foreign
Minister
Amintore
Fanfani
^%<^!X^^-2^--U
. <^y-W^<-.-t^5^-t^L<
'
-JZ^-y<-^.<^^'.n,,*
^^
—y-
Porziana
Porziana
The President departed Dore.i.q.inAO Villa by helicopter
—
d
t
^^<-«^-^r<t.n<^^[
- T
p,,tf. 23 December 1967
Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand
p^
Saturday
Activity (inctude visited by)
E
The President 's helicopter landed at the Vatican
for meeting with Pope Paul VI
The President was greeted by
Archbishop Benelli
(Substitute Secy of State)
and Msgr. Paul A. Marcinkus
and Count Galeassi, Vatican Administrator
--automobile and motorcade to the private apartments of the
Pope — Cortile San Damaso
Elevator to second floor - and through RxpKX Papal antechambers. In one large
room, American student seminarians were gathered -- they cheered, and all had
instamatic cameras.
Meeting - private - w/ Pope Paul VI (JV
took notes:)
After his meeting w/ the Pope, the President had other members of his party
brought into the library - Mr and Mrs. Charles Engelhard. Dr. Burkley.
Charles Maguuire. Jim Jones, mf
Gift Exchange - Pope gave the President a 15th century painting -President gave him an 8 inch bust.
The President departed the Vatican by helicopter
We arrived Ciampino Airport, Rome and went aboard the
helicopter. Accompanying the President were Ambassador
Reinhardt, Walt Rostow, Ambassador Corrias, Jack
Valenti, and Rufus Youngblood.
We arrived at Castel Porziano landing field -- at 7:20p
We drove to the Villa, arriving at 7:25p
The President rode in the car for this five minutes with
Ambassador Corrias, Rufe Youngblood, and Jack Valenti.
He was greeted on the steps of the villa by President Saragat
and his daughter and her two children, and Prime Minister
Moro and Mr. Fanfani.
We went to the second floor of the villa to a large meeting
room and sat at a green felt covered table. The President
sat across the table from Saragat. Reinhardt and Jack Valenti
sat to the President's right and Walt Rostow to his left.
On Saragat's right was Moro, and Fanfani on his left.
Interprepter sat behind Saragat. The meeting began at 7:30p
and ended at 8: 17p -to the landing strip for helicopter ride to the Vatican
arriving at 8:40p in the Vatican Garden.
We drove in a car from the Garden, accompanied by a
representative of the Pope. In three minutes we were at
the steps of the Pope's private apartments. We were met
there by Marcinkus. We walked through a large assembly
room where 130 young American priests studying in Rome
gave the President a warm ovation as he came through.
Then we were ushered into the private office of the Pope
with only Jack Valenti accompanying the President inside
the office. The President sat at the Pope's desk, with Jack
Valenti to his right. Sitting across from him was the Pope
and to the Pope's right was Cardinal Cicognani, Secy of State
and Archbishop Corelli.
Meeting lasted from 8:50p-10:17p (Jack Valenti's notes of
discussion to DT)
Midway in the meeting, the President asked Jack Valenti to
bring in Walt Rostow who came and sat at the President's
left.
After th e meeting , th e Presiden t ha d othe r member s o f hi s
party brough t in , an d th e photographer s recorde d th e
presentation t o th e Pop e an d th e gif t exchange .
Jack Valenti/m f
The President received a handwritten letter
is in exile in Rome while he was in Rome dielivered
THE WHITE HOUSE WHO
handed
PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON
from King Constantine of Greece who
via the 1st Secretary of the Am Embassy
Date 23
it unopened to the President .
December
to Mr. Rostow
DAILY DIARY
The Presiden t began his day at (Place)—Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base,—Thailand
Entry
No.
Telephone
f or t
Time
In
Out
Lo
10:40p
ll:00p
Day Saturday
Expenditure
Code
Activity (include visited by)
LD
The President returned to AF One
and talked in his compartment with
George Christian
AF One 86970 airborne for the Azores -same manifest: drop Mr. Christian
ll:05p
The President stayed in his cabin talking with
Mr. &: Mrs. Charles Englehard
Walt Rostow
Harry McPherson
Jack Valenti
Horace Busb y
Marvin Watson
about his experience s in Rome. He thought the trip very successful, especially
with the Pope
DINNER - - soup, king crab, stea k
The President to bed for a NAP
2:00am
1:35a
2:14
2: 55 am
Azores Time
2:44p
AF One 86970 landed, th e Azores, Portugal -- US AF Base Loges
AFB
The President awakened soon after landing, and discovered everyone gone
to the base post exchange so, the President joined at the exchange, buying
gifts to take his family.
President driven by USAF car Sgt. Lee driving
AF One departed the Azores
same manifest; add Mr. William Bundy
SEE TRAVEL RECORD
FOR TRAVEL ACTIVITY
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1967 OF —256-957
Page No.