The Swedish prime minister [Olof Palme] has popped off, too. We’ve just got a press ticker. I talked to [William P.] Bill [Rogers] about it.[note 1] William P. Rogers was secretary of state from January 1969 to September 1973.

The Swedish prime minister?

He said that this proves that it was a war prepared by deceit, that the American government has undermined democracy, and it must withdraw unconditionally from Vietnam. I told Bill we have to call our ambassador back, and he’s going to make a recommendation something to that effect tomorrow morning.

But, you know, now, isn’t that a hell of a damn thing?

Yeah.

“It proves the war—" But also it shows that that’s part of the conspiracy, in my opinion.

Oh, yeah.

He wouldn’t otherwise pay any attention to it. Somebody got to him. Henry, there is a conspiracy. You understand?

I believe it now. I didn’t believe it formerly, but I believe it now.

[Unclear] there is. The fellow who has leaked the papers, whether it’s [Leslie H.] Gelb or the RAND Corporation guy, he’s in conspiracy.[note 2] Leslie H. Gelb was director of policy planning and arms control for International Security Affairs at the Department of Defense from 1967 to 1969. Neil Sheehan’s a bastard.[note 3] New York Times reporter Neil Sheehan obtained a copy of the Pentagon Papers from Daniel Ellsberg. The Times began publishing stories on the top secret Defense Department history on 13 June 1971. I’ve known him for years.

Oh, yes. [Unclear]—

Terrible son of a—why [unclear]—

And then—well, the whole syndrome—[Clark M.] Clifford, the New York Times, the veterans—they don’t all happen at once by accident.[note 4] Clark M. Clifford was a Washington lawyer; adviser to presidents Truman, Kennedy, and Johnson; and chairman of the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board from 1963 to 1968. Clifford served as secretary of defense from March 1968 to January 1969.

Yeah.