PERSONS/ENTITIES: SMITH, DAVID MCCONE HARKINS, GENERAL HELMS TUNBULL, WILLIAM COLBY KENNEDY, ROBERT KENNEDY, JOHN F. DATES: Oct. 29, 1963 CATEGORIES: TOP SECRET OCCURRENCE: In a Presidential meeting on Vietnam on October 29, 1963 with MCCONE, HELMS, AND COLBY in attendance. The following record by HELMS and COLBY shows that: it was suggested that in the Ambassador's absence, HARKINS, TURNBULL, and DAVID SMITH act as a committee to direct a coup operation. MCCONE countered with the view that SMITH should not be involved in such a policy making function, although he would be in a position to provide technical advise to HARKINS and TURNBULL as well as carry out their instructions in the operations field. The President stated that if the forces in Saigon were not clearly in favor of the coup we should discourage its launching. The Attorney General felt the U.S. was risking too much based on flimsy evidence. The DCI stated his view that even a successful coup would create a period of interregnum, confusion which might only be solved by a second or third coup. SOURCE: IG Report 1967 (CIA) p. 38 STAFF: FILE: Dawson DATE: 6/27/75 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PERSONS/ENTITIES: HARKINS, DON NUNH LODGE KENNEDY, JOHN F. BUNDY DATES: Oct 30, 1963 CATEGORIES: DIEM OCCURRENCE: In a CIA cable to Saigon (DIR70191) of OCT 30, 1963, BUNDY wrote to LODGE saying that "...a series of action with or without our approval now so significant that we should urgently consider our attitude and contingency plans. We believe our attitude to coup group can still have decisive effect on itsdecision. ... We must have assurance balance of forces clearly favorable...CONNIE should express to DON that we do not find presently reveal plans to give clear prospect of quick results...we badly need some corroborative evidence of men or others directly involved...highest authority desires it clearly understood that after your departure HARKINS should participate in all coup contacts supervision and the event coup begins he become head of country team..." SOURCE: IG Report 1967 (CIA) p. 39 STAFF: Dawson