Oral history transcript, Harold H. Saunders, interview 1 (I), 9/15/1983, by Ted Gittinger

Title:

Oral history transcript, Harold H. Saunders, interview 1 (I), 9/15/1983, by Ted Gittinger

Number of Pages:

41

Description:

How Saunders came to work for the CIA in 1956; job duties and how Saunders came to work for the National Security Council in 1961; the process of presidential decision-making and the role of the NSC under different presidents; preparation for Tuesday lunches; LBJ’s and Nixon’s preferred use of the NSC; Eugene Rostow and systematic decision-making at the State Department; the oil crisis in the Middle East; McGeorge Bundy’s leadership role; NSC’s involvement in U.S. aid to India to prevent famine; NSC decision-making failures in the 1967 Six Day War; U.S.-Israeli relations; LBJ’s June 19, 1967, speech regarding a peaceful settlement in the Middle East; Saunders’ February 1967 trip to the Middle East and escalating tension there; LBJ’s relationship with President Gamal Abdel Nasser and food aid to Egypt; Lucius 'Luke' Battle; how LBJ dealt with international leaders; U Thant’s withdrawal of the UN Emergency Force from the Sinai; Minister of Foreign Affairs Abba Eban; how the Six Day War began and deciphering exactly what was happening; efforts toward a ceasefire vs. a ceasefire and withdrawal; Prime Minister Levi Eshkol of Israel; Saunders’ activities on the first day of the Six Day War; Eban’s understanding of U.S. policy regarding the Middle East; Israel’s plan to attack Golan Heights.

Contributor:

Saunders, Harold H., 1930

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 Harold H. Saunders

Relation:

Go to Interviewee bio page

Rights:

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