Oral history transcript, Robert Komer, interview 2 (II), 8/18/1970, by Joe B. Frantz

Title:

Oral history transcript, Robert Komer, interview 2 (II), 8/18/1970, by Joe B. Frantz

Number of Pages:

82

Description:

Libya and its effect on the Middle East crisis; Wheelus Air Force Base and U.S. military bases in Turkey; declining U.S. military presence in the Eastern Mediterranean; meeting with LBJ after the JFK assassination; writing a letter to Saudi Arabia and inter-cultural communication; writing material that would reflect LBJ’s personality; foreign policy dealing with oil in the Middle East; problems between Cyprus and Turkey; June 1964 letter from LBJ to Turkish leaders; George Papandreou and Ismet Inonu; differences between Walt Rostow and McGeorge Bundy; Komer taking charge of Vietnam issues as Special Assistant to the President; the quasi-military character of “the other war” in Vietnam vs. pacification; unifying the management of the war; using the term “pacification”; comparison of Ky and Thieu; differentiating between ambassadors in Vietnam; working with General William Westmoreland; Bill Moyers; problems with being the only full-time high-ranking government official workingon the Vietnam situation; who advised LBJ regarding Vietnam; Bill Leonhart; Ellsworth Bunker; the successes/failures of pacification; health and education under pacification; Vietnamese draft system; the Joint Recovery Council; the Tet offensive; Bill Colby as Komer’s successor; problems regarding Komer’s ambassadorship; losing his job when Nixon became President; LBJ’s visit with Indira Ghandi; how Komer met LBJ and discussed the Pakistan-India issue; White House visits from foreign dignitaries; sending wheat to India; comparing presidents’ knowledge of foreign policy; LBJ’s decision-making.

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:

Assassinations; JFK Assassination; Vietnam; Tet Offensive, 1968

Relation:

Go to Interviewee bio page

Rights:

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