Correspondence between Mr. Baron Alex Ostoja Starzewski and President Gerald R. Ford of Garrett Park, Maryland, Regarding Childrens Letters on US Aid to Refugees in Saigon

GENERAL sg ND18-2/C0165-2 May 9, 1975 Dear Mr. Starzewski: The President has asked me to acknowledge your telegram of April 21. He regrets that his heavy schedule did not permit him to meet with you and the Vietnamese children who accompanied you on April 23. The President understands the frustration and anguish that Americans feel about this long and difficult war and about the way it has ended. He made every effort to try to help the South Vietnamese nation and, when this was no longer possible, to evacuate many Vietnamese whose lives were in jeopardy. President Ford now hopes that all Americans will close ranks, avoid recrimination and concentrate on our agreements rather than on our differences. In this spirit, he hopes you will join with him to heal the wounds and to work together on the great tasks that this nation still needs to accomplish. Sincerely, Roland L. Elliott Director of Correspondence X Mr. Baron Alex Ostoja Starzewski Post Office Box 364 GAEratE: wacklrMaryland 20766 ga Garrett Park, Maryland RLE-76 GERALD FORD LIBRARY RLE-76 Ptl: The President has ashed me to achnowledge your telegram of April 21. He regets that this heavy schedule did not permit him to meet with you and the Vietnamese children who accompanied/ you on April АИОӀТАИ Etc. It 2,3$4 cc: Warren Rustand 3ʳ 2611 sg. GENERAL THE WHITE HOUSE ND18-2/C0165-2 WASHINGTON WEI-1 PRT May 6, 1975 Dear Mr. Starzewski: I was deeply moved by the letters delivered to the White House by a group of Vietnamese children on April 22. As I have pointed out in several recent public state- ments, I am greatly concerned about the fate of many Vietnamese if the situation in South Vietnam continues to deteriorate. We are now doing all that we can to provide necessary assistance for as many of these people as possible. Since most of the letters do not include return addresses, I ask that you express my deep concern about this matter to the children and their families. Sincerely, Health R. 7rd x Mr. Alex Starzewski P.O. Box 364 Garrett Park, Maryland 20766 70c letters from Vietnamese children FORD & GERALD LIBRARY RECEIVED MAY 20 1975 7505060000 CENTRAL FILES MEMORANDUM THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON 2611 ACTION May 5, 1975 MEMORANDUM FOR: THE PRESIDENT FROM: HENRY A. KISSINGER B SUBJECT: Reply to Letters to You from Vietnamese American Children On April 22, approximately 30 to 40 Vietnamese American children escorted by Mr. Alex Starzewski came to the White House to deliver letters to you (Tab B). They were received by members of the NSC and White House staffs. At Tab A is a suggested response from you to Mr. Starzewski thanking him for his concern and expressing your concern regarding this matter. Paul Theis has cleared the text of the proposed letter. RECOMMENDATION: That you sign the letter at Tab A. FORD of GERALD LIBRARY 2604 2611 THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON April 22, 1975 MEMORANDUM FOR: KENNETH QUINN THRU: JEANNE DAVIS m FROM: TED MARRS I'm For NSC concurrence and return. Thank you. Enclosures FORD & LIBRARY BERALD THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON April 22, 1975 MEMORANDUM FOR: ROLAND ELLIOTT FROM: TED MARRS SUBJECT: Presidential Reply On April 22, at 10:00 AM, Mr. Kenneth Quinn (NSC) and Mr. John Borling (Office of Public Liaison) accepted, on behalf of the President - 22 letters from 30-40 Vietnamese children who are concerned with the safety / evacuation of their families and the situation in South Vietnam. This group was brought together by Mr. Alex Starzewski, P.O. Box 364, Garrett Park, Maryland 20766 and a Presidential reply should be addressed to him. Mr. Starzewski's wife is of Vietnamese origin. A statement of concern and appreciation for their sincere feelings is appropriate. I recommend that a few representative letters be included in the President's reading file. The material should also be forwarded to the State Department for appropriate handling. Thank you. CC: Max Friedersdorf FORD is GERALD LIBRARY THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON Date: April 22, 1975 MEMORANDUM FOR: JEANNE DAVIS FROM: WARREN S. RUSTAND SUBJECT: Baron Alex Ostoja Starzewski, Garrett Park, Maryland The attached is for your appropriate handling. Thank you. GERALD FORD LIBRARY 2 3 36 4 5 6 The White House 1 975 APR 2 Manhington 3 MHB031(1145)(2-017292E111)PD 04/21/75 1145 4 5 ICS IPMMTZZ CSP 1975 APR 21 PM. I 02 % 6 22 AM 10 ROOM HOUSE 3019339136 TOMT GARRETT PARK MD 39 04-21 1145A EST 7 8 PMS HONORABLE GERALD FORD PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, DLR 9 WHITE HOUSE DC 20500 10 11 DEAR MR PRESIDENT 50 SOUTH VIETNAMESE CHILDREN AGE 6-14 ASK FOR 12 PERMISSION TO PRESENT DAY PETITION TO YOU ON APRIL 23 1975 AT 1000AM 13 14 ON BEHALF OF THEIR RELATIVES IN SAIGON EXPECTING YOUR KIND REPLY 15 ACTION RESPECTFULLY TVD 16 SCHEOUL E BD. 17 18 DATE RECEIVED 19 APR 22 1975 FORM 0805 PRINTED BY THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY, U. S.A. 20 BARON ALEX @STOJA STARZEWSKI 21 22 TELEPHONE 9339136 23 PO BOX 364 GERALD $1 FORD мезолав SPEAKERS BUREAU OTHER MSC 24 GARRETT PARK MD 20766 25 APPOINTMENT OFFICE 26 NNNN 50000 1 Dear President Ford. My name is PHO QuocViet. I am 9 years old, I lived with my father, mother, brother sister and a babby sister in virgin A month ago things happened in our country really shook are whole family. Our house suddenly become very quiet my mother didn't go to work, she cried all day long. we wantched the news in TV a lot. every time it make me cry too to see all the people running and children at my age get shot at and die. we worried a lot albout grandpa, grantma, grate grand mother and all the aunt's and uncles, and nieces, and nephews whom I mete when I went home every year. every night we prayed our god, Buddha to help our whole family I came back to Saigon every year I had a good time with our big family I that a Family and 3 country to come back too. It was a whole family ! If Saigon fall not only I will Lose a country but I also loose a family! FORD & GERALD LIBRARY 2 If you cannot help our country, our people, the least you can do is to help reunite our whole family. please help them to come here and live with us. We cannot survive by ourselves. I need my grand ma, grand pa and all an my aunts, uncles to know what a family like- Please help us. Viet Nguyen Hey Thong 2012 No george Mason Dr. Euesday April 22,15 Arl. V.A. 22205 536-3937 Zo Mr. President of the United states Would you please let my relatives comme to the United states to join me. Because I am afraid the communist might kill them. Thank you. Every My relatives are 19 Mrs. Aguyen Hay That, Aguyen Huy my father : Thong, Aguyen Hey Thery T Thank (my half brother), thung, at 99 Iham Dang Hung Da Kao Saigon telephone 257 10. 20) Dr. Nguyen Dang Cac: (my unde) and his wife Aguyen thi tha, Kouyen Bhi Thu Cuc, Aguyen thi ctgoc thung, Aguyen Dang Chi (my cousins) at 688 Chi Lang gia dink VN Saigon 4 telephone 40997 3) my ounts: Aguyen Zhi thuy, The, The, at Ay unde dguyen Hay Tham, chow, Thai, Thayet, at 99 Pham Dang Hang Da Kao Saigon telephone 257.10. 49 my great aunts: Bran Kim, 7th Euyet at 503 Mant Phan. Thank gian Saigar- Td=92808 FORD is LIBRARY GERALD I NEED my grandPARENTS I lov E them I 60 MUCFL I Miss FRAND. FATHER, GRAND-MOTHFQ MAACINT JiNgs WHEN will They CAME HERE to sol me for DLD my MAM AND DAD 3 1 LEE FORD & LIBRARY GERALD 1 Doctor NGUYEN-TRONG-THIEN + HAS (5-12-1918 tin HA.NOI) - MRS VU_THi_ SON (25-5-1921 in BAC NINH) - Miss NGUYEN NGOC -TiNH. (20-1-1958 tin SAIGON) - MRS NGUYEN -THANH - HA Doctor ( 10 8 - 1941 in HA-N01) - MR NGUYEN - VAN-Y (1st February in THUA THIEN) - NGUYEN HOANG QUAN 1-28 & - 1965 - SAIGON 1 NGUYEN - BAO -THW 12-12-1969 - SAIGON - MR NGUYEN - DINH-HAN 5-2-1910 NINH BINH Miss NQUYEN-THI_MAi_ANH 1 3-15-1968 - - SAIGON 5 2 - 1910 NINHBINH I FORD is GERALD LIBRARY DEAR MR PRESIDEN T: My NAME IS YVONNE K.TRAN I AM 5 YEARS OLD AND I LOVE MY GRAND PARENTS VERY MUCH AND I WANT THEM to COME VISIT ME - PLEAS HELP - THANK you - YVONNE TRAN Honorable gerald Ford President of the united states The white house, wash, D.C. Dear Mr. President: we, the children who have relatives in Saigon need you help. Please help wo to get our relatives from saigon to America. we do not want them to be killed By the Communists. we love our relatives and we would like to see them saved and love them just like other children do. Can you help us, please we have send Petters to Dator kissin ger and to the United states. Congress also and we hope pray 100 you all can help us. thank you very munch. Respect fully. tuan NGuyen XaanANH TUAN 5628 Lothian Read Baltimere my 2/2/2 Ex FORD & LIBRARY GERALD Dear president Ford, Please help our Daddy to get out of Viet-Nam. We miss him and we need him. Thank you, They Phan 2013 New hampshire Ave. N.W. Washington D.C20009 FORD & LIBRARY GERALD April 22, I975 Dear President Ford, I am a Vietmamese mother of the two children name Viet and Nam who came to see you to day. First of all, we want to thank you for granting us a little of your precious time to see us to day, and secondly we want to express to you that we have been very touched about all your effort to try to convince Congress to keep their words to give us aids for our Survival. If they choose to destruct the 200 years old United States of America, instead of construct it, let it be so ! If they choose to isolate U,S.A to become only involve with their national affairs, let it be so ! And if they choose to let U.S.S.R. and Red China be stronger politically and military, let it be so ! But we, as a small NATION can not let them destroy us! We have learned a very bitter lesson. We have fought courageously more than two decades, only to give in the principles of U.S.A.We cannot lose our Country, our Freedom, our family ! It isimconceivable to think of. To all of us it is like a nightmare. My own family, among 2,3 millions of refugees have fled the Communists in North Vietmam during I945-I954, to come down South to find Freedom and Kindness. My father has been forced to witness our Grand father buried alive, and many other atrocities of the Communist. Our case was only one case among millions of other cases. FORD & LIBRARY GERALD .../... 2 .../...2 We have fled away from them and hope to live peacefully in other half of Vietnam, under the protection of a Big Nation. Once again we are faced with a possible take over by force. If worst come to woost, where will the refugee go from here ? Where will our Family go ? I wish South Vietnam have another Mose to bring us to another přece of land and rebuild our Life again. We are a minority here in U.S.A. , We worry about our family and relatives. We could not sit and watch them die of a slow death. Financially, we can support them if they come here. All theirs papers to emigrate have been finalize, they will not live under Welfare for sure. We are asking you with all our heart to help us by any means you can, to bring our Family reunite under one roof of Freedom. We might loose not only our country but our own family. We need them as much as our children need them for our Root, our own Survival. Respectfully yours, Insufen MRS NGUYEN VIRGINIA FORD is LIBRARY GERALD President Gerald Ford The White House Dear Mr. President My relatives do not want to live under the communists. They want to live in freedom and peace. Please allow them to come and live with me here in america Your kindness will never be forgotten. Sincerely, Myhoa Nguyen 7052 31st Street N.W Washington D.C. 20015 FORD is GERALD LIBRARY Dear President Ford, Please let me bring my cousins here so I can play with them. Sincerely, 7052 31 St Mytrang Street n.w nguyen Wash D.C. 20015 FORD & LIBRARY GERALD please help my relatives to get out of viet-nam I Love my unclesand aunts and want them to be Safe. thank you hr. president thank you very much. Vinh Hy Nguyen 7052-31ˢᵗ ST Street W ashington D.C. FORD is GERALD LIBRARY 20015 Honorable Gerard Ford The White House Dear Mr. President, I am hopeful to you now that I have someone to tell named Phan Thi Minh for which my troubles to. I have a brother I love but haven't seen in years. I'm afraid he will very soon little room for him on the plane, be killed. If you could spare a he could get along, If their are no seats, he may Sit on the floor. Just so long as he is alive. I now ask you for my one and only brother. I know you are very busy and don't have time. so much. A lot of American But I know you are trying volunteers have been very helpful and you, Mr. President have worked so hard, with money and problems So if you cannot bring my FORD & LIBRARY DERALD brother; I, who love him so much that I could die; will always remember your hardship. Although I haven't seen him in a long time; I still remember him. certain wonderful things about Please try to help my brother come over to America to live a happy life. He's the only the family. My father is 80% invalid from the war. so my brother is the only boy, He has a permanent visa two years ago, and my mother works hard to save money and get a ticket from PANAM for him, but finally he couldn't come here! you probably think I'm one of these girls writing to you for just someone, but I'm different because I have a very very special brother, Please get him out of that is Phan Tan Minh, 10 Hong dangerous place! His name Thap TU, Saigon I , GERALD FORD LIBRART Respectfully yours, Phan Ky-Huong Thi Grade 5 Thomas Stone Elem. t.Rainier M.D. Honorable Gerald Ford , The White House. Dear Mr. President , My name is Que Huong thi Phan ; It' s really a big opportunity for me to come here, to visit you and to let you read my letter. Mz. President , I would like to say that I was very lucky to come here last year , but I also don't have any good time since I am here. I always miss my father each time I think of him. I don't know what will happen to his situation. May be I'm not happy without the love of my father. I Rear the news from VietNam and I'm very worried ! Specially at night , I couldn't sleep until midnight ; I miss my father so much, I cry. Please Mr. President, please help me to find my faternal love ; I'm afraid that I'm going to lose him soon. My father is an old man. He's 50 years old and he is invalid 80% by the war; His name is Phan, châu. He 's living in a small place at 10G Hông - Thap Tu street, Saigon I. Please Mr. President, please help him to come here; : FORD I appreciate very much. I never forget your help. GERALD Sincerely yours, QueluougHuPhau 10th grade, Northwestern High School. Hyattsville . Md. Dear President Ford, Please stop the killing in Viet-nam. Save our people. Save our family Thank you, Vinh Phan 2013 New Hampshire Ave. n.W. Washington D.C. 20009 FORD & GERALD LIBRARY The Honorable Derald Ford President of the United States of america The It hite House Washington D.C. Dear mr. President, We the children who have relatives in Saigon need your help, my grandparents and aunts fled the communists in North Vietnam 20 years ago, They are very pearful for their lives now if the communists take over South Vietnam, my other relatives who are natives of South Vietnam are also fearful for their lives. We do not want them to die. Please help us save our country from communism, and if necessary, please help us bring our relatives from Saigon to america Thank you verymuch, Respectfully, Nguyen Dic age 9 4600 Oxford Street Garrett Park, md. LISEARY GERALD R. FORD THE HONORABIE GERALD FORD PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. DEAR MR PRESident We love you MR PRESident and We love you more if you CAN GET My relatives out of the communists. Please help US, please Timmy NGUYEN Thai FORD & GERALD LIBRARY The Honorable Gerald Ford President of the United States of America The White House Washington, D.C. Dear Mr. President, We, the children, Who have relatives in Saigon need your help. Please help us to bring our relatives to help America. We do not want them to be killed by the Communists. We love our relatives and would like to see them safe here with us. Will you please help us? We hope and pray that you will. Thank you very much. Sincerely yours, Marc Nguyen Hão Alain Nguyen Hien FORD : GERALD LIBRARY The Honorable GERALD FORD PRESIDent OF The UNITED stAtes OF AMERICA DEAR MR PRESIDENT We love you MR PRESI DENT and We lovE our relatives too, especially our grands parents . Please help US to take them out Thank you Teddy NGUYEN THONG GERALD ? FORD Honorable Gerald Ford President of the United Statesof america She White House Washington, D.C. Dear Mr. President, We the children who have relatives in Saigan need your help. Please help us to get our relatives from Saigon to america We don't want them to be killed by the communists We love our relatives and we would like to see the saved and love them just like other children do, can you help us please? We have sent letters to Dr, Kissinger and to the United States Congress also and we hope and pray so you all can help us. Respectfully, Thank you very much, Liem Vu 36 38 Cumberland st, n.W. FORE : 03/839 WashingtondC 20008 April21.1975 Dear president Ford >lao I woh My name is PHO QUOC Nam. I am 7 year old I have a brother named viet and a sister named van. Every year we went back home to Saigon It was real good to see great grand mother, grand ma, grand pa, aunts, wholes I had a good time, I really look forward to Summer to go "home, sweet home". But now if South Vietnam lose, I will have no place to go I will lose not only 111) country but also my big family! My mother mentioned if communist take over, they will kill our grand pa grant ma, because they ran away from communist long long time ago. I don't want that to happen. I wish they could come here and live with us. I need them, I miss them. I pray to our God every night; Now I ask for your help to you alone can bring Miracle to our family. Please help to bring oun grand parents, our awnts and 2 uncles to live with us. >bod trow Thank you for every thing you can do for us. boop boN I of ylool v/loar "sirron Nam of xd Iliwa 1-1 pino, Tory seol Hiw Cid aelp tud hiriomas boorp 400 yorf yarlt opo your and pool pwot Telewmoo yon't 1 of todt thow trob avil brus bsb GERALD R. FORD THE 1 The Honorable Gerald Ford President of the United States of America Department of State Washington, D.C. 20520 Dear President Ford, I am 12 years old. I came to the United States of America in 1969 with my Motherand Father My Mother is vietamese, but now she is an American, I have two brothers and one sister, she is to years old and was born in Honolulu. My brother Minh is 10 years old and was born Maryland. in DaNang. My. other brother Phong is 5 and was born in We have in Saigon our Grand Parents, Auntsand uncles, You you have helped my Mother to get the visas for my relatives and I thank to mother very to much. bring can my you Grand please Father help Grand me, my Mother, two brothers, Aunts and my kid America? I did not see them since 1969 and my my sister and and Uncles might kill them all. Please help us I know you and the congress brother hasn't seen them at all. I am afraid that the communist my I can do it. I will write the same letter to Dr.Kissinger and congress much, hope you and the Congress can help us, Thank you very can we will pray for you and for the congress so that you help us, Respectfully yours, Hung ja-starzewski Minh Ostoja Starzewski PHONG NGA GOSTOJA-STARZEWSKI USTOJA-STARZEWSK7 GERALD ? FORD LIST OF OUR RELATIVES TRUYEN THI NGUYEN, gread mother, CHUYEN VAN NGUYEN, grand father, CAN VIET NGUYEN, uncle, LIEN KIM NGUYEN, aunt, NGOV BICH NGUYEN, NAM NGUYEN, HOANG MINH NGUYEN, SON MINH NGUYEN, All of them have recived the visas-forty-five as stated in te- legram from the State Department to Embassy in Saigon. All live in : 73 Hoang Dao ,SAIGON 3, South Vietnam. Hung Ostoja Starzewski Minh Ostoja Starzewski Nga C.Ostoja Starzewski Phong Ostoja Starzewski Tel.301-933 91 36 3740 Bright View Street Wheaton, Md. GERALD R. FOR: MEMORANDUM 2611 THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON ACTION MEMORANDUM FOR: THE PRESIDENT FROM: BRENT AAR SCOWCROFT SUBJECT: Reply to Letters to You from Vietnamese American Children On April 22, approximately 30 to 40 Vietnamese American children escorted by Mr. Alex Starzewski came to the White House to deliver letters to you (Tab B). They were received by members of the NSC and White House staffs. At Tab A is a suggested response from you to Mr. Starzewski thanking him for his concern and expressing your concern regarding this matter. Paul Theis has cleared the text of the proposed letter. RECOMMENDATION: That you sign the letter at Tab A. LISA GERALD ? FORD Retype 415175 Tab If 2611 MEMORANDUM NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL Tab I facked 5/5/75 ACTION April 25, 1975 MEMORANDUM FOR: GENERAL SCOWCROFT FROM: WILLIAM L. STEARMAN SUBJECT: Reply to Letters to the President from Vietnamese American children On April 22, approximately 30 to 40 Vietnamese American children escorted by Mr. Alex Starzewski came to the White House to deliver letters to President Ford (Tab B). They were received by Mr. Ken Quinn and Mr. John Borling of Ted Marrs office who accepted a total of 22 letters on behalf of the President. At Tab I is a memorandum from you to the President transmitting these letters and a suggested reply (Tab A) from the President to Mr. Starzewski. Paul Theis has cleared the text of the proposed letter. RECOMMENDATION: That you sign the memorandum to the President at Tab I. GERALD ? FORD is FORD GERALD DOC RECD LOG NBR NSC CO RESPONDENCE PROFILE MO DA MO DA HR 2611 Quan Marre 4 22 4 23 10 7502604 Sparman INITIAL ACTION O REFERENCE: CIRCLE AS APPROPRIATE TO:PRES FROM: KISSINGER S/S UNCLAS LOG IN/OUT SOURCE/CLASS/DESCRIPTION kissinger COLBY, W OTHER LOU NO FORN NODIS SCOWCROFT SChLESINGER, J C EYES ONLY EXDIS SUBJECT: DAVIS nsc Concernence ST EX SEC Reason be Re on TS S the codeword SENSITIVE fen 30-40 bretname Thilliers re they safe evocuation INTERNAL ROUTING AND of DISTRIBUTION their ACTION INFO facents REC CY ACTION required Jm Gretnam ADVANCE CYS TO HAK/SCOWCROFT FOR MEMO FOR HAK ( ) STAFF FAR EAST secretary Steaman X MEMO FOR PRES ) * REPLY FOR ( ) ( ) DISTRIBUTION/INITIAL ACTION ASGMT SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA MEMO APPROPRIATE PAUIS TO ACTION MArrs MID EAST / NO. AFRICA / so. ASIA ( * ) EUROPE / CANADA RECOMMENDATIONS ( ) LATIN AMERICA JOINT MEMO ( ) UNITED NATIONS refer TO FOR: ( ) ECONOMIC ANY ACTION NECESSARY? ( ) SCIENTIFIC CONCURRENCE. ( ) program ANALYSIS DUE DATE: 4-24 NSC PLANNING COMMENTS: (INCLUDING SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS) CONGRESSIONAL OCEANS POLICY INTELLIGENCE 2 +x Surper DATE FROM pate Santh TO S 25 he to SUBSEQUENT Sga ACTION the REQUIRED to Stargemski (OR TAKEN): CY (4) TO X 5/6 29) Nachs C Pres dad Hr to Starreaski SUBSEQUENT ROUTING/ACTIONS BERALD R. FORD DISPATCH RQMTS: SEE ABOVE attack PLUS: dow & DATE mairs max 5/6/75) Leonard) BY m to CY MICROFILM & FILE RQMTS: NSC/S DISP INSTR NOTIFY M/F'D BY SPECIAL DISPOSITION: CRT ID: SA SF CROSS REF W/ OPEN HP NS SUSPENSE CY ATTACHED: X FOLDER: CLOSE mak WH EP PA DY (NBC-74-21)