The first group, under John McNaughton, developed a military plan based on the premise that actions would be designed to “hurt” but not to “destroy.” He hoped that such limited action would convince the North Vietnamese to desist from their support of the Viet Cong. The second group, under William Sullivan, recommended a vast expansion of the American military and civilian advisory effort to put a “tall American at every point of the stress and strain.” The third group, under NSC staff member Chester Cooper, analyzed possible enemy reactions to U.S. moves. The fourth, led by Under Secretary of
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