Edward L. Rowny
Geneva to negotiate INF. Nitze 's deputy, Mike Glitman, seemed a natural for the
job. I also heard rumors that Senator Tower was looking for a job in Geneva but
thought he might become the D&S negotiator.
Imagine my surprise, therefore, when I was summoned to Secretary Schultz's office
and told the President had decided to put in a new team of negotiators. I told him
I was shocked that we had fal le n for the Soviet ploy of putting in new negotiators.
I was certain they would not do so.
Schultz said it was beside the point. The President would name Kampelman the
overall negotiator who would also negotiate D&S. Senator Tower would take my
place as START negotiator and Glitman would take Nitze 's place in INF .
i
"Well, I said, "I think the President is making a mistake but he's the boss.
Special Advisor to the President, Arms Control Matters
Schultz said the President wanted
and me to stay on and become special
advisors to him on arms control. " H e wants to take more interest in arms control
and thought he would like to have you stay in Washington, close at hand, to advise
him. I told Schultz I was a big boy and he didn't have to sugar-coat the pill. I f
they didn't want me, I was ready to leave. " n o , no ," Schultz insisted, " th e
President wants you. I said I would like to hear it from the President himself.
Schultz called up the President and got me an immediate appointment to see him.
On the way to the White House, Schultz said he hoped I wouldn't turn the
President down when he made his request for me to stay on. I said, "Well, I want
to hear it from him."
Schultz did not go into the Oval Office with me when I met with the President.
The President asked me what I thought about the new team. I said it was his call,
but I always considered continuity to be important and was certain the Soviets
wouldn't change their team. He said that his idea was not to change the team but
to have me in Washington where I could concentrate on advising him. I said, " Mr.
President, you don't have to let me down easy. It was an honor to have served
you, and I think I should leave and do something else."
"No," he insisted, "I want you to stay.
I said I didn't know how it would work. " I won't have a portfolio; I won't have
a r a job."
el
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