Oral history transcript, Robert Komer, interview 1 (I), 1/30/1970, by Joe B. Frantz

Title:

Oral history transcript, Robert Komer, interview 1 (I), 1/30/1970, by Joe B. Frantz

Number of Pages:

62

Description:

Biographical information; how Komer came to work for the Central Intelligence Group (later the CIA); working for the National Security Council at the White House; the role of the vice-president; meeting LBJ; discussing foreign policy regarding India and Pakistan with LBJ; accompanying Vice President LBJ on Middle East trip; disagreeing with LBJ; differences in how JFK and LBJ dealt with their staffs; anecdote regarding King Faisal Abdel al Saud; suggesting conversation topics for Vice-President LBJ to use when talking to foreign dignitaries; LBJ’s ability to read or hear vast amounts of information and retain it; LBJ’s treatment of staff; Food for Peace and giving wheat to India while negotiating for agricultural reform; B.K. Nehru; how LBJ hid his true opinions to negotiate better politically; summarizing State Department briefings on foreign visitors for LBJ; problems between India and Pakistan; getting involved with Vietnam; the December1965 37-day bombing halt; George Ball and the Cyprus situation; LBJ taking advice from people regardless of their position; Komer’s involvement with Arab-Israeli relations; how Komer negotiated with Israel; LBJ’s interaction with foreign dignitaries; LBJ’s June 1964 letter to Turkey in regard to Cyprus; Ralph Bunche; oil diplomacy with the Middle East; Libya.

Contributor:

Komer, R. W.

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 Komer

Subject:

Diplomacy; Vietnam

Relation:

Go to Interviewee bio page

Rights:

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