Typed memorandum as president hurriedly initialed “JK,” one page, 6.75 x 8.75, pale green White House stationery, July 10, 1961. To General Maxwell D. Taylor, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the memo reads, in full: “Would you talk to Allen Dulles about Fowler Hamilton and if he feels he is good would you ask Gilpatric, who comes from New York to check on him. If all of the reports come up good arrange for me to see him towards the end of this week.” General Taylor has penciled a note to himself in the upper right: “Done. Reported orally 12 July.” Two file holes in top blank margin, and staple holes and light bend to upper left, otherwise fine condition.
In the wake of the Bay of Pigs fiasco three months earlier, CIA Director Allen W. Dulles came under increasing criticism with many calls for his resignation. The official reason, it was rumored, would be a departure based on poor health—though being pressured out of the job was more rooted in reality. Among those under consideration for the post was Hamilton, director of the Foreign Policy World Affairs and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. JFK also had Hamilton in mind to lead the new Agency for International Development. Interestingly, before vetting Hamilton for any position, this letter reveals JFK asked his soon-to-be ex-CIA director whether he believed Hamilton would be “good” for the job. If Dulles approved, then Assistant Secretary of Defense Roswell Gilpatric, a fellow New Yorker, would be asked “to check on him.” The president, writing this letter on Monday, July 10, wanted this to be done immediately, concluding that “if all the reports come up good arrange for me to see him towards the end of this week.” In the end, Hamilton was passed over for the CIA post, instead nominated as head of the AID in September. Dulles, meanwhile, tenured his resignation that same month. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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