Exhibit 1003

Paper Prepared by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (McNaughton), 'Action for South Vietnam' (Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964-1968, vol. II, doc. 193)

Exhibit 1003 · Declassified memorandum (FRUS)

Paper Prepared by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (McNaughton), 'Action for South Vietnam' (Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964-1968, vol. II, doc. 193)

70%—To avoid a humiliating US defeat (to our reputation as a guarantor).

Top Secret; Sensitive draft. Lists U.S. aims 70/20/10 and an 'also' aim 'To emerge from crisis without unacceptable taint from methods used.' Its last recommended item is a contingency plan to downgrade the apparent stakes. Copies went to McGeorge Bundy, Unger, McNamara and Vance.

Source: U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian
Date: 10 March 1965
Quoted from: Doc. 193, para. 1
Grade: Primary record
Document: https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v02/d193
Accessed: 2026-11-10
Cited by: Findings citing this exhibit
Note: Also exact: '(d) Have a contingency plan to downgrade the apparent stakes (per para 8) to be initiated when/if necessary to confuse the issue and diffuse the blame.' The figures are widely cited to a 24 March 1965 version; FRUS dates this draft 10 March.

Cited by

Finding INF-2.5: Primary record A Top Secret draft paper by Assistant Secretary of Defense John McNaughton dated 10 March 1965 lists U.S. aims in Vietnam as 70 percent "To avoid a humiliating US defeat," 20 percent to keep South Vietnam and adjacent territory from Chinese hands, and 10 percent to permit the people of South Vietnam a better, freer way of life.