EYES ONLY FOR THE PRESIDENT

NOTES OF THE PRESIDENT'S MEETING WITH:

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE CLARK CLIFFORD
SECRETARY OF STATE DEAN RUSK
GENERAL EARLE WHEELER
ADMIRAL THOMAS MOORER
GENERAL LEONARD CHAPMAN
GENERAL JOHN McCONNELL
GENERAL BRUCE PALMER
BROMLEY SMITH
WALT ROSTOW
GEORGE CHRISTIAN
TOM JOHNSON

JOINING THE MEETING:

SENATOR RICHARD RUSSELL
GENERAL WILLIAM WESTMORELAND

OCTOBER 14, 1968
Cabinet Room
1:40 pm

SECRETARY CLIFFORD: There have been instructions issued on authority to release nuclear weapons in the event the President has been killed or cannot be found. This is to prevent a breakdown in the chain of command.

The project's code-name is "Futherance. "

We recommend three major changes:

(1) Under the former orders, a full nuclear response against both the Soviet Union and China was ordered if we were attacked. Under the change, the response could go to either country not both. There could be a small-scale or accidental attack. We do not recommend full attack at all times. This would permit a limited response.

(2) Instructions on the response to a conventional attack would be conventional, not nuclear as is now in the plan.

(3) There was only one document of instructions beforehand. Now there would be two documents.

We all recommend this.

WALT ROSTOW: We think it is an essential change. This was dangerous. We recommend going forward.

GENERAL WHEELER: All the Joint Chiefs of Staff and commanders have been consulted. We recommend approval.

GENERAL McCONNELL: I concur, Sir.

GENERAL CHAPMAN: I concur.

ADMIRAL MOORER: I concur.

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EYES ONLY FOR THE PRESIDENT