AMBASSADOR WATSON

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-295-2-17-4
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: June 1, 2010
• Sequence Number: 17
• Publication Date: March 20, 1972
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/01 : LOC-HAK-295-2-17-4
i Ir
SECRET/SENSITIVE f AXE
ONLY INFORMATZ?N
March 20, 1972
MEMORANDUM FOR: THE PRESIDENT
FROM: GENERAL HAIL/3
SUBJECT: Ambassador Watson
Ambassador Watson has sent you the attached message (,*t Tab A)
on the subject of the Jack Anderson article about his behavior on
the airplane.
Some Democrats such as Wayne Hays and Frank Church have tried
to make mischief out of this article, but I believe the incident has
now blown over in the press. It may not be dead on the Hill.
I spoke with Ambassador Watson an the phone and told him our
strategy here is one of damage-limitation, not a punitive one.
Dr. Kissinger and I spoke to Secretary Rogers and we are all agreed
that damage limitation not recrimination is to be the strategy.
Ambassador Watson did not issue the statement he refers to in his
Message.
Attachment
S ET SEMITTVE l.XES ONLY
Retyped:AMH:nm:3/20/72
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/01 : LOC-HAK-295-2-17-4
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/01 : LOC-HAK-295-2-17-4
SECRET
15 March 1972
25X1
FROM: AMBASSADOR WATSON, PARIS
TO: THE WHITE HOUSE, FOR THE PRESIDENT (EYES ONLY)
In view of the fact that a most scurrilous article is appearing in
the Anderson column of Thursday about me, I wanted you to have the
statement I will issue here in. Paris when the article appears.
I certainly don't want to embarrass either you or the Administration
and therefore at any time you felt compelled to find my replacement, I
would be willing to resign,,
The following is the statement I will issue when the article appears:
"I have read the Anderson article. It is an exaggeration of what
in reality was a rather trivial incident.
"I boarded the flight involved after having worked through the
prior night and, therefore, not having slept in two days. I was of course,
tired, and, I regret to say, irritable. As I recall it, harsh words were
exchanged between me and members of the crew.
"The most that one could reasonably say about this matter is that I
was exceedingly, and, I believe uncharacteristically, rude. For that
reason, before deplaning, I apologized to the crew members involved.
"Although this appears to be the sort of episode that finds its way
into the Anderson column, it was not, in fact, the kind of event which
warrants print. "
SECRET
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/01 : LOC-HAK-295-2-17-4