Dear
Radford: I am delighted to receive your note--especially as I was just contemplating the dispatch to you of a suggestion.1 This is purely personal and I know that you will keep it confidential.
As you know, some gossip columnists and others have reported that a very great fear is expressed by air force partisans over your appointment. The columnists and officers profess to believe that your fervent, and what they called your prejudiced, arguments of some years back in the struggle over unification and "inter-continental bombing" make it impossible for you to render the impartial and balanced judgments that must distinguish the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.2 They forsee, they say, the destruction of many of the Air Forces plans and programs. There is no need to elaborate further; you are probably as well acquainted with all this as I am.
When I brought you and Charlie Wilson together last winter, I did so after frankly telling him that, at the time some of the old arguments were in progress, I thought you exceeded the bounds of tact and wisdom in the character of your presentation.3 On the other hand, I also gave him my opinion that your concern for the defense of the United States and your breadth of interest were such that, given the responsibilities inherent in the office of the Chairman, you would perform exactly as the requirements of patriotism, loyalty, and dedication to teamwork would necessitate.
I have recited this merely to make one little suggestion. When it becomes possible for you appropriately to make some kind of public statement about your new assignment, could you make some point of the fact with your confirmation in this post will come a divorce from exclusive identification with the United States Navy? I believe you could observe that you now become a Defense man and the champion of all the services, governed by the single criteria of what is best for the United States of America?
You will understand, of course, that I am not trying to put words in your mouth. But I feel so certain of the sentiments and of the devotion in which you approach this new task that I venture to say that a statement, conveying to the public some assurance of your purpose, could not fail to be helpful.4
Mr. Wilson may have told you that one reason for the advanced designation of the new appointees is so that they may get together before they take over their responsibilities, and conduct a sort of sweeping survey of our whole international defense picture. We hope that this will contribute both to the accuracy and wisdom of our policies, and to the teamwork that will be so necessary over the ensuing years.
With every good wish and the assurance of my complete confidence, Sincerely
