The Moment of Truth

THE breakthrough in the Paris talks was a long time coming--and in the end it came after two major turning points, one that occurred in Paris and one in Washington.

The first came on Oct. 9, when a North Vietnamese negotiator asked whether it was really true that the bombing of the North would halt if the way was cleared for the Saigon government to join the talks. Chief U.S. Negotiator Averell Harriman replied that this was indeed the case, and flashed word back to Washington that the long-awaited signal had come.

The second break came on Oct. 29, after President Lyndon B. Johnson and his chief advisers had probed and considered for 20 days. The best evidence, the best advice, argued for a halt. But Johnson still hesitated, harried by a final doubt. There was only one man who could resolve it for him, and he summoned home General Creighton W. Abrams, U.S. Commander in Viet Nam. At 2:38 a.m., dressed in civilian clothing to disguise him en route to the White House, Abrams walked into the Cabinet Room and sat down at the President's left. Johnson brought him up to date on the pending decision, then asked for his military assessment. While other advisers listened silently, the President leaned on his elbow and kneaded his face. Then he shot a vital question at Abrams: "Has it reached the point where we could reduce the bombing without causing casualties?" Abrams looked squarely at the President, his jaw firm. "Yes sir," he said. If there was any single moment when Johnson finally decided to gamble on a bombing halt, that probably was it. Shortly thereafter, he put in motion the orders to ground the planes.

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