Correspondence Between Senator Bob Dole and a Constituent Regarding Efforts to Return POWs (Prisoners of War)

Item

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s-con_293_017_001_Redacted_tr.txt

Transcription (Scripto)

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Extent (Dublin Core)

3 Pages

File Name (Dublin Core)

s-con_293_017_001

Title (Dublin Core)

Correspondence Between Senator Bob Dole and a Constituent Regarding Efforts to Return POWs (Prisoners of War)

Date (Dublin Core)

1971-04

Date Created (Dublin Core)

1971-04

Congress (Dublin Core)

92nd (1971-1973)

Topics (Dublin Core)

See all items with this valuePrisoners of war--United States

See all items with this valueVietnam War, 1961-1975

Policy Area (Curation)

Armed Forces and National Security

Creator (Dublin Core)

Dole, Robert J., 1923-2021

Record Type (Dublin Core)

correspondence

Names (Dublin Core)

See all items with this valueNixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994

See all items with this valueMeneilly, Robert

Rights (Dublin Core)

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/

Language (Dublin Core)

eng

Collection Finding Aid (Dublin Core)

https://dolearchivecollections.ku.edu/index.php?p=collections/controlcard&id=31&q=

Physical Location (Dublin Core)

Collection 002, Box 293, Folder 17

Institution (Dublin Core)

Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS

Archival Collection (Dublin Core)

Robert J. Dole Senate Papers-Constituent Relations, 1969-1996

Full Text (Extract Text)

This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas
http://dolearchives.ku.edu

COPY

handwritten on page: Leg. pow

April 19, 1971

(Redacted)
Merriam, Kansas 66204

Dear Mrs. (Redacted):
Have attempted on several occasions since receipt of your April 9 letter to reach you by telephone, but thus far, as you know, have been unsuccessful.

I was greatly concerned to receive your comments and the copy of Reverend Meneilly's sermon, and in fact, discussed the contents of your letter personally with President Nixon. The President was also very disturbed upon learning of your anxieties and growing lack of confidence in the Administration's efforts to bring home our American prisoners of war.

While I do not wish to quarrel with Dr. Meneilly, frankly, I am wondering just what it is that makes him such an expert on the war. As you know, he spent only a few brief days in Paris and has not made any personal first-hand study of the situation. It is interesting to note, also, that prior to his departure he made a statement to the effect that we should not set any specific date for withdrawal of troops from Vietnam, and has now completely reversed his position.

In any event, as you now know, President Nixon has recently made several very strong statements to the effect that we definitely will not withdraw all American forces from Vietnam until positive steps have been taken on behalf of our prisoners of war and measures taken to insure their return. The welfare of our prisoners of war and their families are, I am convinced, uppermost in President Nixon's mind, and even some of the Democrats today are finally admitting that President Nixon is ending this tragic and costly war.

Thank you for writing, and if there is any way in which I or my staff may be of assistance to you, I trust you will let me know.

Sincerely yours,
BOB DOLE
U.S. Senate

BD:jc

s-con_293_017_001_A1b.pdf Page 1 of 3

This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas
http://dolearchives.ku.edu

April 9, 1971
President Richard M. Nixon
The White House
Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. President:
By way of re-introduction (I met you last September at Forbes Air Force Base, Topeka, Kansas). I am (Redacted). My husband Air Force Captain (Redacted) has been a prisoner of war in Hanoi for 4 1/2 years.

Like many other wives I have promoted letter writing campaigns to Hanoi and Paris for the last two years. I do believe these campaigns have had an impact on world opinion and consequently have resulted in more correspondence and better treatment for our prisoners. Of course, our ultimate goal is their release. Which brings me to the point of this letter. In the last few months I have begun to realize it will probably be another three or four years before my husband and the other men are released ---- if ever. I believe the men themselves are feeling this way. One of the other wives here received a letter from her husband last week. He didn't even complete the seven line form letter and his signature was almost illegible. A Communistic psychological trick? I doubt it. How many of them will be even existing in another couple of years?

I realize you are much more knowledgeable about the whole Indo-China situation, and I can't be objective or see the over-all goals for our country, as you can, but I do not believe there will be any progress in Paris. I must add at this point my belief has been influenced by the enclosed sermon by Dr. Robert Meneilly, a man I greatly respect, admire and believe in. I feel the only way to save my husband, the other POW's and the thousands fighting over there now is for you to offer a date for withdrawal on the condition that if the Communists do not begin serious negotiations within a certain time period our country would then take action, such as bombing Haiphong.

I do believe you will eventually publicly set a date for withdrawal. I think most Americans would be sorely disappointed and slightly enraged if you waited until it was politically advantageous.

I understand your frustration with the non-negotiating Communists, but I do not feel at this point we would lose prestige in the world by setting a withdrawal date. I think

S-con_293_017_001_A1b.pdf Page 2 of 3

This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas
http://dolearchives.ku.edu

we might gain some respect by putting politics aside and by saying we will announce a date for withdrawal if it results in a cease-fire and the release of all POW's. If the date is December 1972, how could anyone say we were abandoning the South Vietnamese people? Isn't a ten year commitment, thousands of American boys and billions of dollars to another country enough?

I dearly love my country and I appreciate my right to openly express my opinion to you as I have in this letter, because I realize no North Vietnamese would dare express an opinion contrary to that of his government. However, I wonder if you will read it and the many other letters you probably are receiving like this one. Do the majority of Americans feel as I do or am I just an emotionally distraught POW wife?

Most Sincerely,
Mrs. (Redacted)
Merriam, Kansas 66204

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