PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

Table of Contents

<table><tr><td>I. Introduction</td><td>Page 1</td></tr><tr><td>II. 1964 and Beyond</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>III. The Present Situation and Prospects</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>IV. Substantive Requirements</td><td>11</td></tr><tr><td>Recommendations</td><td>13</td></tr><tr><td>V. Organizational Requirements</td><td>17</td></tr><tr><td>Recommendations</td><td>23</td></tr><tr><td>VI. Some Random Strategic Thoughts</td><td>24</td></tr><tr><td>A. Image</td><td>24</td></tr><tr><td>B. The Republican Party and the Independents</td><td>25</td></tr></table>

January 8, 1963

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

MEMORANDUM TO THE GOVERNOR

From: Henry A. Kissinger

I. Introduction.

Ever since our conversation in Albany, I have thought
a great deal about your future course. I have taken the
liberty of setting down some of my reflections with the con-
viction that the greatest candor would be most helpful. You
know that you will be able to count on my friendship and support
even if you disagree with my recommendations.

With respect to some subjects in this memorandum, my
competence is limited. With respect to others, I am unacquainted
with the full range of your activities. There is, however,
one conviction of which I am certain and which I would like
to stress at the outset:

Regardless of what your ultimate decision is for 1964,
it is essential to act now to set up an organization, to devise
a strategy and to develop a substantive program on the assumption
that you will be a contender. Failure to do so will not

that you will be a contender. Failure to do so will not
a strategy and to develop a substantive program on the assumption
it is essential to set now to set up an organization to devise
Regardless of what your ultimate decision is for 1964,
to stress at the onset:

one completion of which I am certain and which I would like
with the full range of your activities. There is, however,
competence is limited. With respect to others, I am unsubstantiated
With respect to some subjects in this memorandum, my
even if you disagree with my recommendations.

know that you will be able to count on my friendliness and support
viction that the greatest candor would be most helpful. You
liberty of setting down some of my reflections with the con-
a great deal apart your future course. I have taken the
Ever since our conversation in Vipandy, I have thought

I. Introduction.

From: Henry V. Klaasen

MEMORANDUM TO THE GOVERNOR

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

January 8, 1963

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

Hon. Nelson A. Rockefeller -2- January 8, 1963

increase but decrease your flexibility. It will force you to
improvise under the pressure of events. It will confront you
with some of the dilemmas of 1960. The key to whatever you
may decide in 1964 depends on meticulous preparation in 1963.

This conviction is central to all other conclusions in
this memorandum.

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

Hon. Nelson V. Rockettler -3- January 8, 1963

this memorandum.

This conviction is central to all other considerations in
which some of the differences of 1960. The key to whatever you
improvised under the pressure of events. It will confront you
to increase put decrease how flexibility. It will force you to

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

Hon. Nelson A. Rockefeller -3- January 8, 1963

II. 1964 and Beyond.

At the moment, the Republican nomination does not appear
too attractive. The Cuban crisis has restored Kennedy's
fortunes. If public opinion polls are to be believed, he
seems unbeatable in 1964. In these conditions, the tempta-
tion is great to retain freedom of action to forego the
candidacy at what may be an unpropitious moment.

However, I believe it essential to separate two problems:
your public posture towards the nomination and your organiza-
tional preparations. I agree that you should retain maximum
flexibility vis-a-vis the Republican Party and the 1964 race.
The nomination should come to you rather than have you pursue
it.

At the same time, it seems to me wise to recognize that
your actual freedom of maneuver may be more circumscribed.
If you adopt an entirely passive attitude, you may well
wind up the prisoner of events. You may be drafted without
having built an organization, or you may be forced by your
convictions into a contest over the G.O.P. platform without
having prepared your program. The only way you can retain
real freedom of action is to keep open the option of running
with all this implies in terms of organization, planning
and substantive preparation.

and insatiable preparation.

with all this trouble in terms of organization, planning
real freedom of action is to keep open the option of running
having prepared your program. The only way you can retain
convictions into a contest over the G.O.P. platform without
having put an organization, or you may be forced by your
wind up the prisoner of events. You may be drafted without
it you adopt an entirely passive attitude, you may well
your actual freedom of maneuver may be more circumscribed.

At the same time, it seems to me wise to recognize that
it.

The nomination should come to you rather than have you burste
flexibility via-a-vis the Republican party and the 1964 race.
tional preparations. I agree that you should retain maximum
your haptic posture towards the nomination and your organisa-

candidate at what may be an unambiguous moment.

tion is great to retain freedom of action to forego the
seems unattractive in 1964. In these conditions, the tempta-
tories. It haptic opinion holes are to be believed, be
too attractive. The CUPAN criteria has restored Kennedy's
At the moment, the Republican nomination does not abate

II. 1964 and Beyond.

Hon. Nelson V. Rockefeller -3- January 8, 1963

CONFIDENTIAL

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

Hon. Nelson A. Rockefeller

-4-

January 8, 1963

Moreover, Kennedy's position may not be so unassailable as it appears today. For reasons which will be explained later, I believe our foreign position to be extremely fragile. Domestically, the Administration has demoralized the bureaucracy and much of the military. Kennedy's seeming invincibility is in part due to the lack of an effective or coherent opposition.

Thus, as the months go by you may wish to express your views on major national issues. This will emphasize your already powerful claim to the leadership of the Republican Party. The more you express yourself on the challenges our nation faces, the more you will be projected into the political limelight.

Your impetus will be all the greater because the country desperately needs a responsible and enlightened alternative to the existing government by improvisation and manipulation. Today, many people collaborate with policies which make them highly uneasy because they see no other possibility of affecting events. It is important that all those who are disquieted-- and there are many, both in and out of the government--acquire a focal point for their concern.

The country at this writing is overwhelmed by public relations gimmicks and confused by a superficial, somewhat

relations Grumcke and continued by a subterranean somewhat
government at this writing is overwhelmed by public
a focal point for their concern.

and there are many, both in and out of the government--acquire
events. It is important that all those who are graduated--
highly unuseful because they see no other possibility of affecting
today, many people collaborate with politicians which make them
take existing government by improvisionation and manipulation.
desperately needs a reasonable and enlightened alternative to
your agenda will be all the greater because the country
political inequity.

our nation faces, the more you will be projected into the
party. The more you express yourself on the challenges
already powerful claim to the leadership of the Republican
view on major national issues. This will embattelize your
time, as the months go by you may find to express your
is in part due to the lack of an effective or coherent opposition.

cracy and much of the military. Kennedy's seeming invincibility
Domestically, the Administration has demoralized the bureau-
later, I believe our foreign position to be extremely fragile.
as it appears today. For reasons which will be explained
Moreover, Kennedy's position may not be so unuseful

Hon. Nelson V. Rockefeller

January 8, 1963 -4-

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

Hon. Nelson A. Rockefeller

-5-

January 8, 1963

managed press. Leadership has become the registering of public opinion as expressed in the editorials of our leading newspapers. However, the test of leadership is not tomorrow's editorial; rather, it is the one two, three or five years from now. A great leader does not manipulate reality; he creates it. The same is true of an opposition. An alternative must exist before it can attract a following.

Thus, short of a Sherman-type remuneration, ("If nominated I will not run; if elected I will not serve.") you may not be able to avoid the nomination. And if you make such a remuneration you may well forego any future role as a national leader. Whatever happens, your future role in the nation depends on the platform and organization you create for 1964.

For all these reasons, it may be appropriate to analyze how your actions over the next two years can be of greatest benefit to the nation and to the cause of freedom everywhere.

[7]

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

Hon. Nelson A. Rockefeller -6- January 8, 1963

### III. The Present Situation and Prospects.

The Kennedy Administration is demoralizing, both for the country and for our allies. Its manipulativeness makes it particularly dangerous for all those who have an emotional relationship to this country: the only group relatively impervious to it are our enemies, who can use its opportunism to move us from one position of disadvantage to another.

(In this respect Cuba was a case of the Communists overreaching themselves, but also an example of the disdain in which they held the Administration. And even there, the Administration did not press its advantage.)

Within the country, the Administration demoralizes the bureaucracy and the military establishment. The Stevenson episode and the manner in which Fowler Hamilton and General Norstad were dismissed are illustrations of a government which has no respect for personal dignity and which treats people as tools. Self-willed intellectuals, intoxicated with their first taste of power, push their theories regardless of the impact on the morale of the bureaucracy or the professional military.

Thus, in the Pentagon, the RS-70 was curtailed and the Skybolt cancelled on the basis of pure cost calculations, without