63. Editorial Note
On April 27 at 10 a.m., the National Security Council held its 479th meeting with President Kennedy presiding. Thirty-three people attended the meeting including Vice President Lyndon Johnson, Acting Secretary of State Chester Bowles, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, Secretary of the Treasury Douglas Dillon, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, Bureau of the Budget Director David E. Bell, Acting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Arleigh Burke, Central Intelligence Agency Director Allen Dulles, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director J. Edgar Hoover, and U.S. Information Agency Director Edward R. Murrow. U. Alexis Johnson, George Ball, Ambassador to Vietnam Frederick E. Nolting, and Theodore Achilles also attended for the Department of State. From the White House Staff, McGeorge Bundy, Maxwell Taylor, Walt Rostow, and Chester Clifton attended. Roswell Gilpatric and the Secretaries of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force; Elvis J. Stahr, Jr.; John B. Connally, Jr.; and Eugene M. Zuckert, respectively, attended for the Department of Defense.
NSC Action No. 2410 summarizes the decision taken on Laos. It reads:
“Discussed the current situation in Laos and noted the President’s view that the Congressional leaders should be promptly briefed on the subject. A meeting with the Congressional leaders was arranged for later in the morning.” (Department of State, S/S–NSC (Miscellaneous) Files: Lot 66 D 95, Records of Action by the National Security Council)
The meeting concluded at 12:02 p.m. (Kennedy Library, President’s Appointment Book) For an account of the meeting with the congressional leaders, see Document 65.