June 9, 1996

Hon. Henry Kissinger
Kissinger Associates
350 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10022-6022

Dear Secretary Kissinger:

JUN 14 1996

I am working on an unofficial history of the Atlantic Council and would like to talk to you about your experiences with the organization. I am especially interested in your evaluation of its role in the policymaking process.

The Council, from David Acheson on down, has been very cooperative in my enterprise. I will be examining a wide variety of issues from recruitment and fundraising to the value and prescience of the many publications it has sponsored. But no question is more important--and more difficult--than the evaluation of its relationship to policymaking, and, of course, public opinion.

I have included a brief summary of my credentials.

I realize that you do not often do such interviews (I tried for my 1988 book), but I thought that I should try again. I would need just a few minutes. Or perhaps you could respond to a few questions by mail?

Thanks for your attention.

PS Please respond to my home address--1815 Northwood Blvd., Royal Oak, Mi, 48073.

MELVIN SMALL Professor of History Wayne State University

1815 Northwood Blvd., Royal Oak, Mi. 48073 810-546-9535

3119 FAB, History Department, Wayne State U, Detroit, Mi
48202 313-577-6138

Books

Democracy and Diplomacy: The Impact of Domestic Politics on US
Foreign Relations, 1789-1994 (Hopkins, 1996).

Covering Dissent: The Media and the Anti-Vietnam War Movement
(Rutgers, 1994).

Give Peace a Chance (Syracuse, 1992), co-editor.

Appeasing Fascism (UPA, 1991), co-editor

Johnson, Nixon, and the Doves (Rutgers, 1988).

International War (Dorsey, 1985) co-editor.

Resort to Arms (Sage, 1982), co-author.

Was War Necessary (Sage, 1980).

Wages of War (Wiley, 1972), co-author.

Public Opinion and Historians (Wayne State, 1970), editor.

Further details in Who's Who in America.

NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA
MEDICAL
ASSOCIATES

SANTA ROSA
CARDIOLOGY

George L. Smith, Jr., M.D.,
F.A.C.C.

James E. Price, M.D.,
F.A.C.P., F.A.C.C.

Thomas E. Dunlap, M.D.,
F.A.C.C.

Richard R. Miller, M.D.,
F.A.C.P., F.A.C.C.

D. Gregory Hopkins, M.D.,
F.A.C.C.

William D. Bowden, D.O.,
F.A.C.C.

Peter Chang-Sing, M.D.,
F.A.C.C.

Patrick S. Coleman, M.D.,
F.A.C.P., F.A.C.C.

James G. Grattan, M.D.,
F.A.C.C.

Harendra K. Punatar, M.D.,
F.A.C.C.

July 5, 1996

Dr. Henry Kissinger
Kissinger Associates
350 Park Avenue; 26th Floor
New York, NY 10022

Dear Dr. Kissinger,

We met briefly on one occasion several years ago, when you gave a talk in Santa Rosa, California. We have a mutual friend, Charlie Hill, who encouraged me to write to you. For years I have wanted to share with you my views about Vietnam, and especially how they have changed so much in 25 years. I began thinking of this again six months ago, when reading the extraordinary series of letters, including Mr. Young's polemic, in the Wall Street Journal. Charlie and I have long shared our discouragement about the American amnesia regarding the real history of the early aftermath of the wary.

Like many drafted military physicians who went to Vietnam during the latter stages of the war, I was not happy about being there. After observing the corruption and selfishness of much of the South Vietnamese establishment, I began to feel that it was not worth fighting for them. Although I had read all of Bernard Fall's books, I think the Stanley Karnow version of the war rang most authentically in my mind at the time. As you pointed out to me in our brief conversation several years ago, I was missing an important part of the equation: the character and fanatacism of the people on the other side. Over the years I became appalled about the superficiality and obtuseness of my original "in country" views. I also wondered why those analyzing and writing about the war did not reflect on what happened to a relatively free society after 1975, when it was overwhelmed by a totalitarian state. The media viewpoint really struck me as I first read Shawcross' view of who was fundamentally responsible for the extermination by the Kmer Rouge (You, Me, All Americans- but never the Pol Pot regime). That same logic applied to all the terrible things which happened to the South Vietnamese after 1975.

Over the past decade, it has seemed to me that all sentient thought about Vietnam became frozen in 1971. For instance, few Americans know that we signed a peace treaty, negotiated by you, in which both sides made promises about refraining from aggression against the other. We kept our word; they did not. How many people in this country realize that?

3536
Mendocino Ave
Suite 200
Santa Rosa
California
95403

PHONE
707 573.6166
FAX
707 573.6165

Dr. Henry Kissinger Letter

Dated July 5, 1996

Page 2

Mr. Young's polemic in the Wall Street Journal contends that you forced the Peace treaty on Mr. Thieu. I think, had we been allowed by Congress to enforce the agreements made, history would have been vastly different. It is hard to know how to educate the public. Folks seem to prefer the inane rantings of an Oliver Stone to any dispassionate look at history. Perhaps a great novelist will emerge from the disillusioned and persecuted South Vietnamese people. That person could tell the story of what tragedy emanated from Congress' betrayal of the signed peace accords of 1973.

Last week I had an interesting encounter which I would like to share with you. While teaching medical residents from the hospital ward, I met a Vietnamese physician who appeared around 40 years old. She told me that she had finished medical school in Saigon several years earlier, and was working here on a three month exchange program. When I asked her whether she or any of her friends ever call her home "Ho Chi Minh City" she looked at me as though I was somewhat demented, and said, without the trace of a smile, "No, never, and we never will". I believe that in the end, it will be the South Vietnamese who will teach the world that the system which we fought against there is a terrible one, inimical to human freedom. Finally, like Leningrad, even the names placed on the country by the Communists will fade into dust.

I will be attending the Hoover Meeting July 17th and look forward to hearing your talk. The following day, the 18th, Charlie Hill is giving a talk for the Commonwealth Club here in Santa Rosa. He and Nori will be having dinner with us, as well as lunch on Friday. We would be honored if your busy schedule would permit you to join us, for either time. My wife and I have a restaurant in the vineyards only 30 minutes from the Bohemian Grove. It's a good location to relax, to talk about history, and enjoy good wine.

Sincerely,

George L. Smith, Jr., MD

/jpk

LIZ SMITH

Sly Has a New Baby

'H

E PROMISED me ears-
rings, but he only
pierced my ears," goes
the old Arabian saying.

SYLVESTER STALLONE left the set of his "Cop Land" movie in NYC Monday morning to fly to the side of his beloved Jennifer Flavin in Miami, where she gave birth to a healthy 7-pound girl that very night. The new Stallone progeny has a full, thick head of hair and has been named Sophia, after Sly's very good friend, film icon Sophia Loren.

Miss Flavin is doing fine and was
thrilled to have given birth. She was in
labor for some 15 hours! (Sly, this de-
serves a token of your love — a little
diamond baguette, some stock, a mar-
riage license?)

FAYE DUNAWAY, as you may know, is set to star in a 52-week national tour of Terrence McNally's "Master Class," playing opera diva Maria Callas. (The role does not require singing, for those of you who recall Faye's "Sunset Boulevard" problems. Andrew Lloyd Webber fired her almost before she could sing a note.) Now we hear that the canny Faye has also snapped up the movie rights to McNally's brilliant work. Finally, a film role the electric Ms. Dunaway can sink her dramatic teeth into!

"Master Class" is still playing to full houses on Broadway, with the great Patti LuPone, another "Sunset" victim. LuPone is very different from Tony-winner Zoe Caldwell, the first actress to play Callas in McNally's blend of fact and fiction. But Patti's fans adore her!

RICKI LAKE, of talk-show fame, and busy Rob Sussman are expecting their first child, due in March. Lake is in pre-production for the fourth season of her TV show. She'll work through her pregnancy.

IN MARTHA'S VINEYARD over the weekend, Louise and Henry Grunwald (he's the man who once made Time run on time) scored a coup with two former secretaries of state at one dinner table. Dr. Henry Kissinger and George Shultz held forth on why some of us poor little old liberal Democrats should vote Republican this election. Henry and George feel the United States is, fast going to hell in a handbasket from President Bill Clinton's lack of any real international point of view or thoughts on preparedness.)

The widower, Mr. Shultz, who now resides at Stanford U, as an *eminence grise* in foreign policy, made a large hit with all the ladies because of his trim waistline and beguiling manner. I asked if he would show me — a perfect stranger — his famous tiger tattoo. But he demurred, saying that he once actually had to have a State Department spokesman issue a statement of "deniability" about the whole affair. (Maybe when I know him better . . . )

KISSINGER WAS with his truly
brilliant wife, Nancy, who is looking
fabulous these days. The Doctor him-

AP Photo

Sylvester Stallone
Flew to Jennifer's side

self was also quite funny. He told us
how his baritone had disturbed the
frogs at the exclusive Bohemian Grove
in California. The frogs set up such a
racket that a herpetologist was called in
to tape Kissinger talking. The tape also
caused the frogs to go berserk — it
seems Kissinger's voice resembles that
of a male frog in heat!

The scientist who was studying all this said, however, that at least male frogs "sometimes shut up."

At another Vineyard fete, given by New York's blond bombshell Lynn Forrester (once Mrs. Andy Stein), guests such as Universal's Frank Biondi, Pulitzer winner Lucinda Franks, New York DA Robert Morgenthau, attorney Zoe Baird, Mary and Mike Wallace, Lazard Freres' Steve Rattner, assorted wives, hubbies and girl and boyfriends, were treated to an in-person glimpse of the sizzling romance going on between hostess Forrester and political savant Michael Kramer. Now this was really fun!

BUT THE Vineyard *piece de résistance* was a charming *al fresco* lunch laid on at Katharine Graham's fabulous place. Such worthies as Bill and Rose Styron and Mike Nichols and Diane Sawyer agreed Mrs. Graham knows how to make guests happy. She served tiny barbecued pigeon legs!

And they say the Hamptons are too "social." Well, the Vineyard would make Mrs. Astor's old "400" feel unworthy.

My own hostess, the divine Mrs. Grunwald, whom I've known since she was a pup, asked if I'd like to leave some clothes at her house so I didn't have to *schlep* everything back up next weekend. I told her I couldn't leave anything; I'd worn every single garment I'd packed. There was wine, coffee, brandy, salt water and sand spilled over everything.

I was much in need of the dry cleaner, whom I intend to marry the next time around.

SEP 03 1996

FROM LIZ SMITH
IN NEWSDAY
AND THE NEW YORK POST
A SCANDICATED
AND MAJOR NEW
THROUGHOUT THE USA

HONAM
+
NANAM
KISSINGON

HENRY A. KISSINGER

December 18, 1996

Dear Dick:

I have been travelling constantly for the last month and have fallen embarrassingly behind in my correspondence. But I do want you to know that your memoranda are very interesting and helpful and that I appreciate them.

I hope your book is progressing well. Mine is going slowly -- not helped by the aforementioned travel.

It was good seeing you, and I hope we'll get together soon again.

Mr. W.R. Smyser
Executive Director
Conrad Hilton Humanitarian Prize
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
10100 Santa Monica Boulevard
Suite 740
Los Angeles, CA 90067-4011

TWENTY-SIXTH FLOOR • 350 PARK AVENUE • NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022 • (212) 759-7919

CONRAD N. HILTON FOUNDATION

10100 SANTA MONICA BOULEVARD, SUITE 740, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90067-4011 U.S.A.

DIRECTORS
ROBERT BUCKLEY, M. D.
GREGORY R. DILLON
WILLIAM H. EDWARDS
JAMES R. GALBRAITH
BARRON HILTON
ERIC M. HILTON
STEVEN M. HILTON
WILLIAM B. HILTON, JR.
DONALD H. HUBBS

DIRECTOR EMERITUS
OLIVE M. WAKEMAN

W. R. SMYSER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CONRAD N. HILTON
HUMANITARIAN PRIZE

TELEPHONE
(310) 556-4694
FAX
(310) 556-2301

November 15, 1996

Dr. Henry Kissinger
350 Park Avenue, 26th Floor
New York, NY 10022

NOV 18 1996

Dear Henry:

This letter covers three memos on separate topics, answering some questions and intended to make it easier for your busy staff to put each memo into the following topic files:

-- Hanoi's plans for an offensive, 1974-75;

-- Egon Bahr's comments on you in his memoirs;

-- My request for an Introduction to my next book on Germany.

I also want to thank you for the chance to meet with you in New York. I was glad to see you looking well, thinking as clearly as ever, and writing that third volume. Somebody must set the 1973-1976 record straight. You can do it better than others.

You were very kind to offer to support the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize. As I told you, we will certainly hope to see you at one of our New York ceremonies in future but I do not suggest your coming to Los Angeles for the 1997 ceremony.

I also appreciate the prospect of your introducing my book on "The German Question, 1943-1990." I hope you would enjoy the chance to utter some thoughts on this, especially given your own interest in the topic.

I am delighted to keep in touch and I hope that this letter and the memos will serve that purpose. And, please, say hello from Sally and myself to Nancy.

With best wishes and warm regards.

W.R. Smyser
Executive Director
Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize

FROM THE DESK OF

W. R. SMYSER

MEMORANDUM FOR DR. KISSINGER

SUBJECT: My Recollections of North Vietnam's Plans in 1974.

November 15, 1996

In reply to your question about North Vietnamese (DRV) plans in 1974, I recall that I was looking at them with deep concern.

As you know, many well-known Americans (including quite a few who had urged us to get into Vietnam) had decided by 1974 that they wanted the DRV to win. I still recall in astonishment the vitriol being poured on the Thieu government from so many corners of our political spectrum.

I believed then, and still do, that Hanoi planned to repeat the Tet experience and to try to go for South Vietnam during a U.S. election year, obviously 1976. But Ho's successors saw an opening in 1974-1975 and decided to move early.

In late 1974 (I think November) we were in Seoul for President Ford's visit to South Korea between Tokyo and Vladivostok. I gather that you were being given conflicting estimates from Phil Habib and others about what Hanoi would do, for the evening after your official dinner in Seoul you asked me to write down my prediction.

In reply, I wrote a memo with the following points:

- Hanoi expected to make its decisive attack in 1976, an American election year.

- In the meantime, it would mount a major dry-season offensive during the winter of 1974-1975, partly to help its forces under pressure in the South and also to see how far it could go.

- If the dry season campaign showed that the South was weak, or that the U.S. was hobbled, Hanoi would try to take over all of the South by 1975.

- We should, therefore, get ready for a big push in 1974-75.

I did not keep a copy of the memo when I left government. I do not know where it would be in the NSC files. It could be either in my chrons, in the Vietnam file, or in the Seoul file, for it was requested and delivered during Ford's and your presence in Seoul.

(Y)

You asked what my areas of concentration were during my 1973-75 work in the NSC. I was Senior Staff Member for Asia, having replaced John Holdridge, but did not cover China because you had Dick Solomon for that.

Although I did all of Asia except China, I did most of my work in two areas:

-- First, I concentrated on Indochina. I wrote quite a bit of the Indochina material during much of the period. However, Bill Stearman did most of the writing on the final phases of the war in 1975 because of his own greater concentration on the fighting. He and I divided up the work for the various emergency meetings, with each of us writing papers, but as I recall he wrote more of those than I did. I had done the bulk of the work before then, or at least the bulk of the memos to you.

-- Second, I concentrated on Japan. As you may recall, this was a very sensitive time in Japanese-American relations (not the first nor the last), with a number of economic and political issues as well as Ford's planned visit to Tokyo. The latter, which was to be the first visit by a sitting U.S. President to Japan, absolutely consumed the Japanese government. Tokyo did not want to have the trip canceled as Eisenhower's had been. I spent a lot of time and effort preparing the trip and making the Japanese feel that we took it seriously and would make it go well.

I did not cover Korea, in part because we had Jack Froebe but mainly because you had Phil Habib at State. As you know, Phil (may God rest his soul) was absolutely determined that nobody except he should talk to you about Asia. But I did serve as NSC advance man for Ford's trip to Korea and, since I was in the area, for the trip to Vladivostok.

I hope this is helpful and answers your questions. I remember some things about that period very well and others less well. But I would be prepared to review the Asia part of your manuscript if you would like to have me do so. You might also want to ask Dick Solomon.

I did not take any papers when I left the government so I would not be able to document any particular points. I remember the memo on DRV plans as clearly as yesterday, however, for I thought it was important to get you a real estimate instead of bureaucratic clap-trap.