Oral history transcript, Robert N. Ginsburgh, interview 1 (I), 6/2/1983, by Ted Gittinger

Title:

Oral history transcript, Robert N. Ginsburgh, interview 1 (I), 6/2/1983, by Ted Gittinger

Number of Pages:

53

Description:

How Ginsburgh joined the Policy Planning Council at the State Department and his duties under the Policy Planning; Ginsburgh’s work on the Vietnam negotiating group; how Policy Plannine made their recommendations; Walt Rostow; bombing campaigns in Vietnam; intelligence input to the Policy Planning Council; the response of intelligence analysts when their advice was not used; Dean Rusk’s relationship with Robert McNamara; joining Rostow on the National Security Council staff in 1966; Ginsburgh’s work on Vietnam negotiations; Ginsburgh’s educational background; Ginsburgh’s work for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; General Earle Wheeler; keeping information from Rostow and Wheeler separate; negotiating the exchange of information between Rostow and Wheeler; Anna Chennault; how the JCS felt about the way LBJ was conducting the war in Vietnam; pros and cons of cutting off North Vietnam’s petroleum supply; how bombing programs were proposed and approved; General Hoyt Vandenberg; military dissatisfaction with LBJ’s actions regarding Vietnam; Robert McNamara leaving LBJ’s cabinet; distinguishing between the National Security Council and National Security Council staff; the chairman of the JCS’s staff and their duties vs. the director of the Joint Staff; influential national security staff members; Bob Komer; General Maxwell Taylor; the effect of U.S. involvement in Vietnam on the rest of the world; controversy over the order of battle in Vietnam; inaccurate body counts; intelligence regarding the Tet offensive; failure to explain Tet to the political officials; why General Wheeler was sent to Vietnam to visit General Westmoreland; a change in LBJ’s opinion about increasing troop numbers in Vietnam in March 1968; why General Wheeler’s recommendations were not accepted by LBJ; briefing the Wise Men; the Pueblo; LBJ’s March 31, 1968, speech; Clark Clifford’s change in stance on the issue of Vietnam; Ginsburgh’s evaluation of the bombing campaign; lessons from the Vietnam War; troop morale; relaying information between Rostow and Wheeler; Wheeler’s involvement in Westmoreland’s denied request for 200,000 men.

Contributor:

Ginsburgh, Robert N.

Collection:

LBJ Library Oral Histories

Collection Description:

Go to List of Holdings

Series:

Transcripts of LBJ Library Oral Histories

See Also:

See all online interviews with Robert N. Ginsburgh

Relation:

Go to Interviewee bio page

Rights:

Possibly copyright restricted: see deed at end of transcript for details