Chapter II: The Secret Memorandum Made Public

The Fulbright memorandum was sent to the Secretary of Defense and to the President. It was so secret that other members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, of which Senator Fulbright is the chairman, did not know of its existence.[21] Someone, however, made it available to the United Press International.[22] Senator Thurmond learned of its existence and tried, without success at first, to secure a copy. He, Senator Mundt, and Senator Styles Bridges were concerned that such an influential memorandum was kept secret.[23] As Senator Fulbright himself had said, more than a year before, when something has been leaked to the press it should be more or less officially released. When it is not released, people wonder whether some things which they should know have been withheld from them.[24] But Senator Fulbright was willing to let the people wonder in this case!

Due to circumstances beyond the control of Senator Fulbright, Senator Thurmond secured a copy of the memorandum and inserted it into the Congressional Record.[25] Later the same day Senator Fulbright placed it in the _Record_.[26]

What was the effect of the secret memorandum which, without Senator Fulbright’s aid, has been made public?

FOOTNOTES:

[21] President Kennedy in a press conference on August 10, 1961, _Congressional Record_, August 11, 1961, p. 14449, col. 1,t. See Senator Fulbright’s letter to Senator Thurmond in the _Congressional Record_, August 4, 1961, p. 13687, col. 2,t. _Arkansas Gazette_, July 21, 1961, p. 1. _Congressional Record_, July 31, 1961, p. 13174. August 4, 1961, p. 13687, col. 2,t. _Congressional Record_, July 29, 1961, p. 13005; Compare August 4, 1961, p. 13687. See also Marquis Childs, _Congressional Record_, July 26, 1961, p. 12618.

[22] _Arkansas Gazette_, July 21, 1961, p. 1. See also Marquis Childs, “Birchites Finding Allies in Military,” _Congressional Record_, July 14, 1961, pp. 11659-11660.

[23] _Congressional Record_, July 26, 1961, p. 12621. col. 3,t.; July 29, 1961, p. 13005, col. 1,m.; p. 13005, col. 3,m.

[24] _Congressional Record_, March 28, 1960, p. 6207, col. 2,m.

[25] _Congressional Record_, August 2, 1961, p. 13398.

[26] _Congressional Record_, p. 13436.