George Ball was the Europeanists crucial figure in both the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, where he was under-Secretary of economic affairs in the Dept of State between 1961-1966. Ball exerted a strong influence on President Johnson in European affairs. He had worked with Monnet and Robert Marjolin in the Committee for European Economic Co-operation and had previously worked as lawyer for Monnet on his plan for the reconstruction of France and for negotiating the ECSC Treaty, and continued for many years as Monnet's legal adviser. Ball had gained through these years of working with Monnet and other advocates of European integration, a conviction that an integrated Europe in partnership with the US was the best way of defending the West. This conviction he brought with him to his positions in the US Administration. His work on behalf of Europe was acknowledged when he was awarded an Officer in the French legion of Honour and a Belgian Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown.

The originals are held in various Archives and Presidential Libraries in the USA