DEPARTMENT OF STATE
AIRGRAM
A-924
NO
CONFIDENTIAL
TO: DEPARTMENT OF STATE
INFO: CINCSO for POLAD; CINCLANT for POLAD
FROM: AmEmbassy MEXICO D. F.
DATE: April 8, 1965
SUBJECT: DIAZ ORDAZ after Four Months-A Political Assessment
REF:
SUMMARY
Since his inauguration on December 1, 1964, President Diaz Ordaz has devoted his attention primarily to the unspectacular task of creating his organization and developing plans. There has been little opportunity to judge either yet, but no sharp changes in the basic policies of the preceding administration are foreseen.
As Secretary of Government under LOPEZ Mateos, Diaz Ordaz acquired a reputation for firmness, decisiveness and hard-headed pragmatism. As President, to date he has worked quietly, without marked public fanfare and has given little public evidence of those qualities. Furthermore, for a variety of reasons, his program has not gotten off the ground yet, and the relative inactivity of his first four months stands in sharp contrast to the intensive activity of the last months of the Lopez Mateos administration. Notwithstanding these circumstances, public confidence in him remains high and there is a general feeling of optimism.
Perhaps the most active and controversial member of the new administration is Carlos MADRAZO, President of the PRI, whose intensive efforts to "reform" the party and whose penchant for off-the-cuff talk has brought him into conflict with important elements in the party.
FORM DS-323
4-62
CONFIDENTIAL
GROUP 3
Downgraded at 12-year intervals;
not automatically deciassified.
FOR DEPT. USE ONLY
In Out
