LETTER TO PRESIDENT KENNEDY FROM CAROLE E. HIMMELFARB

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R000100070013-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 30, 2003
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: September 11, 1963
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved F,elea a 2003/11/06 : CIA-RDP80B01,7 R000100070013-2
September il, 1963
NSC REFERRAL NOT REQUIRED
President Kennedy
White House
Washington, D.C.
Dear President Kennedy:
We have always been ardent supporters of your foreign and
domestic policies; however, we find ourselves quite distressed
over the American Government's current position in South
Vietnam. Also the recent disclosures about the alleged
contiuuation.of aid to the Special Forces by the C.I.A.
disturbs us.
Why should we financially support a regime against the
Communists when this said regime is not representative of
the people but is as dictatorial, autocratic, and repressive
as the Communists of North Vietnam and China? In one
breath you have condemned the Nhus and Diem and what they
stand for and in the next breath admit that we will not
withdraw aid. The matter of saving face in isia where saving
face is so important to the Orientals is a fine sentiment,
but it should be tempered with a realistic approach which
is not it humiliating one for the United States Government.
It is true that we have no better solution to offer simply
because we are not schooled in foreign diplomacy or in
political science. All we know is that we resent seeing
out country blackmailed and humiliated by the people who
take our aid for granted.
Two articles in the September 9 edition of the "New York
Times" are of interest. One states that the United States
is considering a cut in Saigon aid to force reform. Next
to this article is one reporting the payments by C.I.A.
officials to the Special Forces. Since the C.I.A. is under
the final jurisdiction of the President of the United Statcgs
it is confusing to read these two conflicting thoughts.
Approv d For Release 2003/11/06 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R000100070013-2
 Approved Fo elease 2003/11/06: CIA-RDP80BO1676R000100070013-2
To add to our confusion, the 10- S4 tember edition of the
"New York Times" reports an interview you had on a news
program in which you stated a different philosophy.
In summary, we feel that:
a. The United States Government should not support a
repressive regime.
b. Since conflicting statements by you on consecutive
days is confusing to us, it must be confusing to
others, including foreign governments. We feel
that quiet diplomacy is better than indecisive statements
aired in public.
o U /
Dr. and Mrs. Ph1liti Himmelfarh
Approved For Release 2003/11/06 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R000100070013-2