UN Secretariat Item Scan - Barcode - Record Title Page 82 Date 12/06/2006 Time 2:11:33 PM S-0882-0003-04-00001 Expanded Number S-0882-0003-04-00001 ™e Items-in-USA - Ball, George W. Date Created 26/04/1968 Record Type Archival Item Container s-0882-0003: Correspondence Files of the Secretary-General: U Thant: with Heads of State, Governments, Permanent Representatives and Observers to the United Nations Print Name of Person Submit Image Signature of Person Submit mm vnRK TIMES. FV-Mav. Pb Anril 196b Johnson's Choice for U.N. 5|^|v%ff George Wildman Ball *• "teX'iSjHEHS" N the nearly six years he I spent in the No. 3 and No. 2 positions in the State Department in the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations, George Wildman Ball came to be regarded as a sort of benign devil's advocate. When most top policy plan- ners seemed confident that escalation of the Man iwar in Vietnam. r would lead, to r^l- in the • ative stability in News * Southeast Asia, the tall, burly and incredibly energetic Mr. Ball argued forcefully against what he called "the Vietna- mese detour with its deep ruts and treacherous quick- sands." As eariy as 1961, Mr. Ball told President Kennedy he should not send 15,000 Amer- ican servicemen to Vietnam. He counseled that 300,000 more men would have to be sent later to get them out, a prediction that has been more than borne out. Both President Kennedy •K^K.*U«»M^HVMM^M^MPi^^BH^^^M^WMM^M«MMHM«MMH and President Johnson appre- Lawyer, economist and diplomatic tioubleshootei ciated Mr. Ball's reasoned (Mr. Ball in 1965, when he was Under Secretary of State) voice of the loyal opposi- tion within their Administra- we have mired ourselves in and 1956 in behalf of Mr. j tions, even though they often a frustrating war that turn* Stevenson's Presidential cam- i decided not to take the prof- our otherwise sensible coun^ paign, and although he sup- fered advice, trymen into placard-carrying ported Mr. Stevenson's quiet i hysterics and impedes our quest for. the Democratic | Advice Still Sought coming to grips with funda- nomination' in 1959, he en- After Mr. Ball1 left his post mental problems in our cities, thusiastically backed John F. as Under Secretary of State our society and the world. Kennedy once Mr. Kennedy in 1966 (he served for 10 Already -we hear the queru- had won the nomination. months in the No. 3 position! lous frog-croaks of an old Under Secretary of State for isolationism. The timid are New Balance of Power Economic Affairs, early in demanding that we put our In his recent book, Mr. Ball the Kennedy Administration), heads in the sand and con- made it plain that he believes Mr. Johnson continued to seek centrate on affairs close to the United States should re- his advice, notably on the home; the impatient would direct its foreign policy handling of the capture of bring events to a conclusion toward a new world balance the intelligence ship Pueblo with a bang. of power, concentrating on by North Korea in January! "No man has the wit to improving its position in Mr. Johnson again exhib' foretell how soon or T>y what Western Europe. He foresees ited his esteem for Mr. Ball, means we may work our a future power balance com- yesterday, when he said ha way out of the Vietnamese posed of the United States, would succeed Arthur Jl gluepot. But it is clear that, the Soviet Union, a unified whatever the outcome, our Europe and Japan, the only uu^=ls as United States Representative at the United world will never Be the same modern, industrialized state Nations. i again." in Asia. The announcement came as, l Mr. Ball, who is 6 feet, Mr. Ball is one of Secre- Mr. Ball was en route to Z /2 inches tall, was born tary of State Dean Rusk's Montreal, and the tuning Dec. 21, 1909; in Des Moines, few close friends—-"one of a seemed fitting. For Mr. Bal^ Iowa, the son of an official handful of guys the Secretary seems constantly to be trav-j of Standard Oil (Indiana). can sit and have a quiet eling. The dynamic lawyer,! The family moved to Evans- Scotch with," as an old friend economist, and' diplomatic ton, 111., when he was 11 of Mr. Ball puts it—hut he troubleshooter has made at years old. He received a courteously disagrees with least 200 Atlantic crossings; bachelor of arts degree in many of Mr. Rusk's beliefs. by plane and 20 by ship.j 1930 and a law degree in Among these is Mr. Rusk's 1933 from Northwestern view that the Southeast Style Is Forceful j University. Asian Treaty Organization - , Fortuitously, or .perhaps be- In the early days of the a.sreemont obligated the Unit- cause he knew he would be-^ New Deal, Mr. Ball served ed States to intervene in come delegate to the United; as a Government lawyer, Vietnam. Nations, Mr. Ball made aj first with the Farm Credit Mr. Ball would also favor move, two months ago, thai? " Administration, then the trade with Communist China ..will make it. unnecessary for Treasury Department. From and United Nations member- :o trayet far to work.) 1935 to 1942 he was a tax ship for the Peking regime, lugbtKs duplex apart-j and corporation lawyer with and he urged in his book that ui yMted Nations Pla-K two Chicago firms, one in- the United Stetejiatendon; izaj'ftb.but ai'two-minute strol!|}S <finAi*aiti:iBA\*w Stevenson the "myth" thaf Sie Govern- from the United Nations cpm-ti; ment in Taip$j$?iq!gfll$i $®> plex and the United StatestJ S?active hi 1952 government Qf^Ghirtas^ Mission across First AYenui& • Until their . recent move9,"! Mr. Ball and his'wife, the • former Ruth Murdoch of Pittsburgh, maintained a home in Washington, which they -have sold. -They have two sons, John, who is mar- ried and has two children, and Douglas, a graduate stu- dent at Columbia University. Mr, Ball, who likes to write and rewrite his own speeches, rented a maid's room at United Nations Plaza to do his writing. His style is smooth and forceful. In. 'his book "The Discipline of Power: Essen- tials of a Modern World Structure," published .this month by Atlantic-Little Brown, Mr. Ball wrote: "Today America is id an ugly mood. By a series of small steps, taken in good faith over a period of years, "^'OUTING SLIP FICHE DE TRANSMISSION TOj The Secretary-General FOR ACTION POUR SUITE A DONNER FOR APPROVAL POUR APPROBATION FOR SIGNATURE POUR SIGNATURE PREPARE DRAFT PROJET A REDIGER FOR COMMENTS POUR OBSERVATIONS MAY WE CONFER? POURRIONS-NOUS EN PARLER? YOUR ATTENTION VOTRE ATTENTION AS DISCUSSED COMME CONVENU AS REQUESTED SUITE A VOTRE DEMANDE NOTE AND FILE NOTER ET CLASSER NOTE AND RETURN NOTER ET RETOURNER FOR INFORMATION XX POUR INFORMATION VS Date: 3 May 1968 CR. 13 (i:L-64) Bolltieel Affeiss Division W. George &. Ball was born on 21 December 19Q9 in Des Stoiaes, Iowa, His father bosn in Devonshire, England, came to the United States at ths age of five, i&. Ball attended high school ia Svanston, Illinois, and subsequently studied at UostlRjeste^n (Jaivessity, receiving a lara degree ID 1933• Daring 1933 snd 1^3^ be served in th« United States Government., holding poets in the l&tsm Credit Administration and the Treasury Department, then for the next seven years returned to the private practice of law in Shieago, Adlai I* Stevenson was a jaembes of one of the lav films h<s served uith? and be and 33?* Ball became good friends. At Stevensoh.°s suggestion, Bail setujpned to gowsensaent eeEviee in 19^2? holding posts io tfe S^od-Lsaee Administration and ths Bbi'eign Sconomie Administration. In l^U he vas appointed director of the United States Strategic Bombing Saj?veys a group establishes to assess the effects of the strategic sis offensive against Qermany, In 19^5-1*6 he served es general eomnsel for the French Supply Council; vjhich waa engaged ia the acquisition of supplies fo? the jeekabilitation of Fssnce, In July 19^ he became a founding partner of the law fisa of CSleary, Gottlieb, Stean ana Ballj, which ffepgesentcd American companies and individuals doing business in forsign eountsiea. Be b@cam@ acquainted with Jean Monnet; and worked closely with Monnet ia establishing the European Goal and Steel Qomsanity. As a member of his firm? Ball represented the ISuropaan Economic Coiamanity, the Eusogean GommiMiity of Atomic Energy, the European Coal and Steel Community and ths Stench maeufactjagess" association (the-FatxoturtJ. In the 1952 Presidential campaign Ball served as the national of Volunteers foa? Stevenson and in 1956 ^as directos of public relations Stevenson and SGefauver. In 1960 he helped prepare e sepojft on foreign affairs, taking chasge of the groups tjojrking on economic policy, balance of payments^ outflow of gold, foselgn aid and commes?cial policy. On January 11, President Kennedy appointea Ball Undes-Seesetary of State fo? Bconomic Affairs, the thisti-sanking post in the State Department0 -2- Buring the eaj?ly months of the Kennedy administration Ball concentrated mainly on questions of trade, anticipating that the United Kingdom would $oin the European CoHusson Basket, as hoped for by the administration, Iat«3f, his assignments incl«dacl political problems involving the Congo, the Dominican Bepiablie, Korea and Ghana* On 5 December 1961 Ball took up the office of $nder Secretary ©f State* When the Seesfetasy of State, Bean Siaisk, left on a European mission the follow- ing week, Ball, as acting Secretary of State, was confronted vith the problems involved in the United latioas military aetion in lOataagao On 10 December 1^ he said M0u? aiai ia the consolidation of the country under "a stable government «.