The decision appears to have been an operational decision taken outside of formal structures such as NSC meetings, as was common for urgent matters.
The National Archives found no record of an NSC meeting on July 16, 1954.
The one hard idea that's surfaced in the NSC meetings so far calls for air strikes against Indian supply routes.
The NSC meeting continued to consider the appropriate course to resolve the crisis.
The NSC meeting was scheduled to begin in less than ten minutes.
The motorcade would wait, as would the NSC meeting, if need be.
He knew they only had a few minutes before the NSC meeting began.
NSC meetings had grown less frequent, as had Cabinet meetings.
NSC meetings are minuted and form part of the Cabinet Office record of central government.
Woodward examined notes from such NSC meetings and also interviewed administration officials including President Bush.