NATIONAL SECURITY ACTION MEMORANDUM NO. 55 THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON June 28, 1961 NATIONAL SECURITY
ACTION MEMORANDUM NO. 55 TO: The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff SUBJECT: Relations of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the
President in Cold War Operations I wish to inform the
Joint Chiefs of Staff as follows with regard to my views of their relations
to me in Cold War Operations: a. I regard the Joint
Chiefs of Staff as my principal military advisor responsible both for
initiating advice to me and for responding to requests for advice. I expect
their advice to come to me direct and unfiltered. b. The Joint Chiefs of
Staff have a responsibility for the defense of the nation in the Cold War
similar to that which they have in conventional hostilities. They should know
the military and paramilitary forces and resources available to the
Department of Defense, verify their readiness, report on their adequacy, and
make appropriate recommendations for their expansion and improvement. I look
to the Chiefs to contribute dynamic and imaginative leadership in
contributing to the success of the military and paramilitary aspects of Cold
War programs. c. I expect the Joint
Chiefs of Staff to present the military viewpoint in governmental councils in
such a way as to assure that the military factors are clearly understood
before decisions are reached. When only the Chairman or a single Chief is present,
that officer must represent the Chiefs as a body, taking such preliminary and
subsequent actions as may be necessary to assure that he does in fact
represent the corporate judgment of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. d. While I look to the
Chiefs to present the military factor without reserve or hesitation, I regard
them to be more than military men and expect their help in fitting military
requirements into the over-all context of any situation, recognizing that the
most difficult problem in Government is to combine all assets in a unified,
effective pattern. |