December 2, 1968 Mr. D. Thant 3600 Palisades Ave Riverdale, New York 10471 Dear Mr, Thant: As You May Know, I Have Pledged to Br
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OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT-ELECT RICHARD M. NIXON WASHINGTON, D.C. December 2, 1968 Mr. D. Thant 3600 Palisades Ave Riverdale, New York 10471 Dear Mr, Thant: As you may know, I have pledged to brinq into this Administration men and women who by their qualities of youthfuiness, judgment, intelligence and creativity, can make significant contributions to our country. I seek the best minds in America to meet the challenges of this rapidly changing world. To find them, I ask for your active participation and assistance. You, as a leader, are in a position to Know and recommend exceptional individuals. The persons you se- lect should complete the enclosed form and return it to you. I ask that you then attach your comments. My staff will carefully review all recommendations for inclusion in our reservoir of talent from which appointments will be made. I will appreciate greatly, Mr. Thant, your taking time from your busy schedule to participate in this all-important program. Sincerely, Richard M. Nixon RMN/jww Enclosures THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON March 12, 1969 Dear Mr, Secretary General: It was very kind of you to send me the photograph p£ the two of us taken in Rangoon in 1953. I greatly appreciate your generosity and your thoughtfulness in inscribing the photograph to me. It will remain a cherished reminder of our long friendship and our mutual efforts toward world peace and understanding. With warm personal regards, Sincerelys His Excellency U Thant Secretary General of the United Nations New York, New York 10017 THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON July 22, 1969 Dear Mr. Secretary General: The starvation of innocent civilians in the Nigerian civil war has seared the conscience of the international community. I know you personally share my anguish over this tragedy. I know too that we are both deeply concerned that the suffering in the Biafran enclave may be verging on further catastrophe as a result of the current relief impasse. Ambassador Yost has already discussed this problem with you. I wanted you to know, however, of my direct personal interest in restoring the flow of relief. The United States Government stands ready to support any efforts you and the United Nations can make to this end. I have just completed intensive discussions on the civil war and relief matters with Emperor Haile Selassie, and I assured the Emperor that the United States will continue to give its fullest support and encouragement to any efforts of the Organization of African Unity both in restoring relief and in promoting a peaceful settlement. I am also address- ing appeals to the relief agencies and the two parties to reach a prompt and practical agreement on the resumption of the relief airlift. I fully recognize that this is a complicated •problem which requires wisdom as well as zeal. With still greater tragedy looming before us, the United States is determined to explore every avenue in the common interest of saving lives. It is in that spirit that I would hope that the United Nations, through you or in some other way, could make a contribution. In a very real sense, the children who suffer - 2 - most of all in this tragedy represent the world of the future, which the United Nations is dedicated to protect. J look forward, Mr. Secretary General, to continuing close consultations with you on this matter. Sincerely, His Excellency U Thant Secretary General of the United Nations New York 10017 THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON September 22, 1969 Dear Mr. Secretary General: Thank you for meeting with our Peace Corps representatives who are serving abroad. Your deep commitment to world peace and to economic, social and human development is an example to these fine Americans, and to the thousands of Volunteers they represent. I am sure you will find that they share many of your goals, especially your thought that we must "channel the idealism of our young people" into an international effort against injustice and poverty. / As we approach the United Nations' second development decade, I find appropriate and encouraging the international interest in volunteer service which is reflected in the recent significant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council. I am deeply pleased that the United Nations is now studying the possibilities of an Inter- national Volunteer Corps, for if Volunteers of the world can work together, the vision of development will become less distant and the promise of peace will move closer to reality. In keeping with this Administration's dedication to inter- national cooperation and development, the Peace Corps, under the direction of Mr. Joseph Blatchford, is under- taking a number of new initiatives, including a commitment to the concept of international voluntary service. Guiding its new directions is a conviction that the developing countries themselves must take part in their own human development through the formation of their own volunteer organizations. To help achieve these goals, the Peace Corps will seek to send abroad more technically skilled Volunteers, along with the traditional generalists; it will persist in efforts to develop the concept of exchange volun- teer programs and will look to host country leadership in the development of Peace Corps activities. The vast number of people of all ages who wish to offer their goodwill, skills and idealism as Volunteers must be given the chance to do so, and the participation of the United Nations toward this goal merits the highest commendation. I wish you success and assure our full cooperation in this most important effort. Sincerely, His Excellency U Thant Secretary General of the United Nations United Nations, New York 10017 THE WHITK HOUSE WASHINGTON October 6, 1969 Dear Mr. Secretary General: The opportunity to meet with you and so many other distinguished diplomats on the occasion of my recent brief stay in New York was an especially welcome one. I was delighted to see you again and grateful for the privilege of addressing the General Assembly and I want you to know how much I appreciate your thoughtfulness in giving me the unusually handsome album of United Nations stamps. They will always remind me of this interesting and very rewarding visit to United Nations Headquarters. With my best wishes, Sincerely, His Excellency U Thant Secretary General of the United Nations New York, New York 10017 THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON February 18, 1970 Dear Mr. Secretary General: Early in. each year, by tradition, the President addresses the Congress of the United States on the State of the Union. This year I have sent a separate message to the Congress on the subject of United States foreign policy and I thought you might find a copy of the message useful in view of the deep desire of the American people to live in peace with our neighbors throughout the world. With warm personal regards, Sincerely, His Excellency U Thant Secretary General of the United Nations United Nations, New York 10017 THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON June 8, 1970 Dear Mr. Secretary General: Knowing your interest in the progress of efforts for peace in Vietnam, I am enclosing a copy of the text of the interim report on the Cambodia opera- tion which I made to the people of the United States on June 3. It comes to you with my warm personal regards. Sincerely, His Excellency U Thant Secretary General of the United Nations United Nations, New York 10017 THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON June 25, 1970 Dear Mr. Secretary General: Ambassador Yost has conveyed to me and to the Secretary of State your expression of appreciation for the accession of the United States to the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations. Let me voice my personal satisfaction that this item of unfinished business has at last been taken care of. I hope it foreshadows the continued excellent relations between the United States and the United Nations in this 25th anniversary year. It also gives me great pleasure that you have accepted my invitation to be my honored guest at dinner at the White House on July 10 in cele- bration of the Charter anniversary. I look for- ward to seeing you. Sincerely, His Excellency U Thant Secretary General of the United Nations New York, New York THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON July 9, 1970 Dear Mr. Secretary General: The report I gave to the American people on June 30 expresses the purposes and accomplishments of the Cambodia operation. I think you may find the complete text of the report interesting and I am enclosing a copy with this note. It comes to you with my best wishes. Sincerely, His Excellency U Thant Secretary General of the United Nations United Nations, Sew York 10017 THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON July 18, 1970 Dear Mr. Secretary General: On this first anniversary of man's landing on the moon, I am particularly pleased to convey my best wishes to you and to your distinguished colleagues of the United Nations Outer Space Committee and the Security Council. The lunar fragment which Dr. Paine will present to the United Nations this afternoon comes from all of the people of the United States of America. One year ago today Astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin collected it on the sur- face of the moon and then, rejoining Astronaut Collins in the command ship Columbia, returned to earth, bringing with them the flag of the United Nations which you will find mounted together with the lunar fragment. The brave men of Apollo XI, who are with you in New York today, undertook their voyage in the name of all mankind. At that time, one of the world's great statesmen said: "Let us take inspiration from this moment and go forward together in peace here on earth.