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; . wo . To:son —____ a wi, Bolnoite wr! . X _ Nr Mokr — : Bes Copy S 1 DeLoach , r. Casper . r t Mr. Callahan duly 19, i.vd Mr. Conrad ——___. . hoe, -_ Mr. not —_——__—_ = a aa iMr. Gale ——__ MR FOLSON: j a wm ME. Rosen Mr. Sullivan’ The President(alled at aporoxunately 5:20 p en My rear Sunday, 7-18-65, and talked for approximciely 25 minutes. Lf ly Ty, The President mentioned hs was sericcesly thinking © appointing Abe Fortas to a major departmvuarcai oosition. He stated he knew we had investigated Fortas somcume ogo at wis, the President's, specific instructions, however, he thought that this investigation should be brought up to date, “ic stated he remombered * that Fortas had belonged to a number of communist front c._nizations back in the | early 1940's, however, he placed no credence on these .ucis > inasr, auch as Fortas since ‘had matured and was now a well trusted, loyal indivicueal. The President stated he trusted Fortas as much as he did Lady Birc and even more so with respect to advice regarding business and international matiers. The President advised thai iv intenceda naming Fortas to this nositio.n "within the next day or so. He stated he wantec to .ind out first exactly what oppos-.tion he would encounter after he named Fortas. Mc stated he thought we should interview a number of Senators and get them on record. Ee t.cn named Senator Cannon, Eugene McCarthy, Douglas, Senator Bob Kennecy and Coantor id Kennedy. (i interrupted the , President at this point and asked him 1i 2c was sericus. Lie replied that he certamly ' recognized ihat the Senators would give be Sortes a bad name, however, he thought he should go on record in order to prevent these Scnators from issuicg adverse press i statements later on.) The President added Senators Kuchel and Dirks a. Wath resect ito Senator Dirksen, the President stated that Dirksen was in a bad way physically anc : he was afraid he would be losing him within ihe next several weoks, The President : added he wanted a number of conservative Senators .nterviewed. Ee then named Hruska, , Nickenlooper, Co..cn and Murphy of California. He stated that Murpnay would know sotn.2 t about Abe Fortas, however, it would be a good idea to ,.. nim on recora. ' The Pres:cent specifically staicd he wanted our Agents, if questioned, to intimate that Fortas was to be appointed to a precidentic. civisory commission. Ze j Stated this, of course, was not true, however, he wanted to keep from arousing commecat aas much as possible. I told the President that FSI interview o: the Senators named above wouid certainly cause comment. He repized he knew this, however, hoped thet the .genis could handle this investigation as quietly as posso.ule. Cpp:«a! conraw: DCXT PaGE 2S @) [Gl 286 eu ; a - al CLOSURE