◆ SpookStack

73. McCone, Memorandum for the File, “Meeting w President on 21 October 1962,” 22 October 1962 22 Cetober 1962 MEMORANDUM FOR THE FILE SUBJECT: Meeting with the Vice President on 21 October 1962 On Sanday night, October 21 at 8:30 I briefed Vice President Lyndon Johnson at the request of the President, conveyed through MeGeorge Bundy. The briefing involved a review of photography by Lundahl paralleling briefings given to General Eisenhower and others. We then discussed policy and dstails of the proposed speech by the President in considerable detail. | The thrust of the Vice President's thinking was that he favored an unannounced strike rather than the agreed plan which invelved blockade and strike and invasion later if conditions warranted. He expressed displeasure at "telegraphing cur punch’ and also commented the blockade would be ineffactive because we in effect are "locking the barn after the horse was gone". I followed the position and the arguments used in my briefing paper of 20 October. The Yice President finally agreed reluctantly but only after learning among other things the support indicated by Gensral Eisenhower. JOHN A. McCONE TMLee/mfb a fo2Z- Reverse Blank