Internet Exercise 1

Kennedy's Middle Path: The 1961 Decision to Commit Advisors

First, review the Taylor-Rostow Mission section of Chapter 3 of America's Longest War.

Then read item 210, Letter From the President's Military Representative (Taylor) to the President, and the first attachment to that letter, Paper Prepared by the President's Military Representative (Taylor) at the following link:

http://www.state.gov/www/about_state/history/vol_i_1961/u.html

Then read this excerpt from the November 11, 1961, Rusk-McNamara Report to Kennedy:

http://vietnam.vassar.edu/doc7.html

Next, open the following link and scroll down to and read item 239, Letter From the Ambassador at large (Harriman) to the President, and its attachment, Draft Memorandum Prepared by the Ambassador at large (Harriman):

http://www.state.gov/www/about_state/history/vol_i_1961/w.html

Finally, open the following link and scroll down to and read item 272, National Security Action Memorandum No. 111:

http://www.state.gov/www/about_state/history/vol_i_1961/z.html


1		What general and specific recommendations did General Maxwell Taylor make to President Kennedy? Which of Taylor's proposals do you think was the most controversial? Why?



2		According to Secretary of State Dean Rusk and Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, what national interests were at stake for the United States in South Vietnam? How did these officials hope to achieve America's objectives in South Vietnam?



3		Into what two categories did Rusk and McNamara divide American forces operating in South Vietnam? What problems do they believe would accompany the deployment of Category (B) units? What do these concerns suggest about their attitude toward Taylor's recommendation for the commitment of an American military Task Force to South Vietnam?



4		What course of action did W. Averell Harriman argue would best achieve America's goals in South Vietnam? On what earlier international agreement did he propose basing this initiative?



5		How did Harriman's proposal differ from either Taylor's or Rusk and McNamara's recommendations?



6		What course of action did Kennedy ultimately implement through National Security Action Memorandum 111? How did this program differ from Taylor's recommendations? How did it differ from Harriman's suggested approach?



7		Given the options available to Kennedy, do you think he made a wise choice regarding Vietnam in the fall of 1961? What policy would you have pursued?

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