On April 14, 1975, President Ford, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, and Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger met with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to discuss aid to Cambodia and Vietnam.

President Ford had addressed a joint session of Congress on April 10, requesting $722 million in military aid and an additional $250 million for economic and humanitarian aid. At this meeting he restated that the money was needed to stabilize the military situation in order to provide opportunity for negotiations between North and South Vietnam and to permit evacuation.

At the request of the Senator John Sparkman, the Chairman of the Committee, Secretary Kissinger and Secretary Schlesinger provided updates on the political and military situation in Vietnam. The senators then discussed their views on providing support for an evacuation and sending additional military aid.

View the entire memorandum of conversation. 

Image: President Ford meeting with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to discuss aid to Cambodia and Vietnam in the Cabinet Room (White House Photograph A4041-24A).