◆ SpookStack

Chapter 2 Organization and Procedures of the Committee April 22, 1961 Dear General Taylor: I am delighted that you have consented to serve as my advisor on a series of important problems, and I send this letter to indicate the range of the matters which I hope you will consider. It is apparent that we need to take a close look at all our practices and programs in the area of military and para- military, guerrilla and anti-guerrilla activity which fall short of outright war. I believe that we need to strengthen our work in this area. In the course of your study, I hope that you will give special attention to the lessons which can be learned from recent events in Cuba. Since advice of the kind I am seeking relates to many parts of the Executive Branch, I hope that you will associate with yourselt, as appropriate, senior officials from different areas. I have asked the following to be available to you in this fashion: Attorney General Robert Kennedy from the Cabinet, Admiral Arleigh Burke from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Director Allen Dulles from the Central Intelligence Agency. I hope that each of them will have an opportunity to review and comment on your conclusions. But in the end what I want is your own report, drawing from past experience, to chart a path toward the future. I hope I may have a preliminary report by l1ay 15th. I hereby authorize you to obtain from all officials of the Goyernment any information or records which you may find -pertinent to your work. While your appointment will be as a Consultant to me., on the White House staff, the Department of Defense will provide tfqvel, funds, and administrative support that you may require. =r Sincerely, /s/ John F. Kennedy 1 '"t .... •j. 'I