Public Diplomacy, 1969–1972
1. Briefing Book Prepared in the United States Information Agency
Source: National Archives, RG 306, Office of Administration and Management, Assistant Director’s Correspondence File, SUBJ 1968–1972, Entry UD–164, Box 1, INF 14–1 Briefing Papers, Transition Books—Vol. I and II 1968. Confidential. The portion of the briefing book printed here is Volume I. In a November 19, 1968, memorandum to agency officials, Posner indicated that the briefing book consisted of information provided by “all Agency Elements” regarding “policy and program issues.” He continued: “As anticipated, changes in the world situation and the passage of time may make it necessary to up-date some of the materials. We are prepared to make such changes as elements, in their judgment, consider necessary to present a current picture of Agency problems and conditions.” (Ibid.; INF 14–1 Briefing Papers (Orderly Transition of Presidency) 1968)
2. News Release Prepared in the United States Information Agency
Source: National Archives, RG 306, USIA Historical Collection, Office of the Director, Biographic Files Relating to USIA Directors and Other Senior Officials, 1953–2000, Entry A1–1069, Box 11, Leonard H. Marks, Director, 1966–1968. No classification marking.
3. Report of the United States Advisory Commission on International Educational and Cultural Affairs
Source: Sixth Annual Report of the U.S. Advisory Commission on International Educational and Cultural Affairs, Letter From the Chairman, the U.S. Advisory Commission on International Educational and Cultural Affairs Transmitting The Sixth Annual Report of the Commission, Pursuant to the Provisions of Public Law 87–256, 91st Congress, 1st Session, House Document No. 91–66, Washington: Government Printing Office, 1969. Additional copies are in the National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 405, Subject Files, The United States Advisory Commission on International Educational and Cultural Affairs [Jan.–Mar. ‛69] and ibid., RG 306, Office of Research and Assessment, Library, Archives, Office of the Archivist/Historian, Records Relating to the Advisory Commission on International Educational and Cultural Affairs, 1962–1978, Entry P–138, Box 1. All brackets are in the original. The report is entitled “Is Anyone Listening?” The members of the Commission in 1968 were Smiley, Babbidge, Adams, Moody, Picker, Robinson, Sachar, Scalapino, and Tompkins.
4. Memorandum From President Nixon to the President’s Counsel (Ehrlichman)
Source: Nixon Library, White House Central Files, Subject Files, FG 230, Box 1, EX FG 230. No classification marking. Printed from an uninitialed copy.
5. Paper Prepared in the United States Information Agency
Source: National Archives, RG 306, Office of Research, Special Reports, 1953–1997, Entry P–160, Box 28, S–58–69. No classification marking. No drafting information appears on the paper. The paper is entitled “President Nixon in Foreign Eyes: Images and Expectations.”
6. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Rogers and the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Kissinger Telephone Conversations, Chronological File, Box 1, February 1–11, 1969. No classification marking.
7. Memorandum From President Nixon to the Chairman of the United States Advisory Commission on Information (Stanton)
Source: Nixon Library, White House Central Files, Subject Files, FG 230, Box 1, EX FG 230. No classification marking.
8. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 321, Subject Files, East/West Center [Feb 1969–Sept 1972]. No classification marking. Sent for action. A handwritten notation in an unknown hand at the top of the memorandum reads: “Return to Ed Roberts for file.” The memorandum is Tab A to an April 11 memorandum from Kissinger to the President, printed as Document 15.
9. Memorandum From the Director of the United States Information Agency (Shakespeare) to all USIA Element Heads
Source: National Archives, RG 306, Director’s Subject Files, 1968–1972, Entry A1–42, Box 16, IOP—Youth Activities 1970. No classification marking.
10. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant (Harlow) to the Director of the United States Information Agency (Shakespeare)
Source: National Archives, RG 306, Director’s Subject Files, 1968–1972, Entry A1–42, Box 1, INF–Information (General). No classification marking. Loomis initialed the top right-hand corner of the memorandum.
11. Memorandum From the Deputy Director for Policy and Research, United States Information Agency (Ryan) to all USIA Element Heads
Source: National Archives, RG 306, Executive Committee, E/CLS Files, ExComm, Entry UD–112, Box 1, Executive Comm—Miscellaneous. No classification marking.
12. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) and Max Frankel of the New York Times
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Kissinger Telephone Conversations, Chronological File, Box 1, March 14–31, 1969. No classification marking.
13. Minutes of a USIA Executive Committee Meeting
Source: National Archives, RG 306, Executive Committee, E/CLS Files, ExComm, Entry UD–112, Box 1, Chron Files—Meetings 1 thru 4. No classification marking.
14. Memorandum From the Assistant Director, Africa, United States Information Agency (Reinhardt) to the Director (Shakespeare)
Source: National Archives, RG 306, Director’s Subject Files, 1968–1972, Entry A1–42, Box 7, INF–1 General Policy Plans Coordination. Limited Official Use. Shakespeare sent a copy of the memorandum to Garment under an April 10 covering memorandum, noting that Reinhardt planned to meet with Palmer on April 11 to discuss the proposal. He added, “The attitude of the State Department officers below Palmer is reportedly very enthusiastic.” Shakespeare concluded: “I appreciate your offer to check this out with Finch and hope that it is possible to do so promptly.” (Ibid.)
15. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 321, Subject Files, East/West Center [Feb 1969–Sept 1972]. Confidential. Sent for action. Eagleburger wrote “HAK called Bundy on Apr. 15, 1969” in the top right-hand corner of the memorandum. In the top left-hand corner of the memorandum, Eagleburger added: “Osgood to follow for NSC.” Eagleburger sent a copy of the memorandum to Osgood under an April 16 memorandum, noting that Nixon had approved “our going ahead” with the East-West Center project and that Kissinger “would like you to be the staff member to follow this project.” Eagleburger concluded: “In a previous incarnation I was somewhat involved in the Bundy proposal and would be happy to get together with you sometime this week to fill you in on what background I have.” (Ibid.)
16. Minutes of a USIA Executive Committee Meeting
Source: National Archives, RG 306, Director’s Subject Files, 1968–1972, Entry A1–42, Box 17, Director’s Office—Executive Comm. No classification marking. No drafting date appears on the minutes. An unknown hand wrote “IAS—Mr. Littell” in the top right-hand corner of the memorandum; another unknown hand crossed it out and wrote “I/S file” beneath it.
17. Memorandum From the Deputy Director for Policy and Research, United States Information Agency (Ryan) to the Director (Shakespeare)
Source: National Archives, RG 306, Office of Research, Special Reports, 1953–1997, Entry P–160, Box 26, S–16–69. Confidential.
18. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: National Archives, RG 306, Director’s Subject Files, 1968–1972, Entry A1–42, Box 1, INF–1–11 Department of State. No classification marking. Drafted by Wile on May 12. Copies were sent to Mace and Middleton. Loomis initialed the top right-hand corner of the memorandum twice. Notations in an unknown hand in the top right-hand corner of the memorandum read: “5–21–69” and “I—Mr. O’Brien.”
19. Memorandum From Richard Sneider of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 306, Agency Files, Voice of America. Confidential. Sent for information. An unknown hand initialed for Sneider. Kissinger wrote “Noted HK” in the top right-hand corner of the memorandum.
20. Minutes of an Inter-Agency Youth Committee Meeting
Source: National Archives, RG 306, Office of Policy and Plans, IOP/C Cultural and Youth Subject Files, 1955–1971, Entry UD–90, Box 4, CUL 3 Interdepartmental Committee on Children and Youth. Confidential. No drafting information appears on the minutes; presumably drafted by Geraldine Sheehan (C/Y). An unknown hand wrote “1. Youth Panel” and “2. file IAYC” in the top right-hand corner of the minutes. Below this, an unknown hand wrote “Dec 19 ‛69” and the names: “WHW [Weathersby]” “WK Bunce” “GS [Groff-Smith]” “[Peter] Cecere” “[unintelligible]” “Loomis” “Art Bardos” “John Reinhardt” “A[lbert] Hemsing” “DPOlek [Daniel Oleksiw]” “R[obert] Amerson” “A[lan] Carter” and “[Kempton] Jenkins.”
21. Potomac Cable
Source: National Archives, RG 306, Director’s Subject Files, 1969–1972, Entry A1–42, Box 1, Pres. Nixon’s Speech—May 14, 1969. No classification marking. Prepared in the Office of Policy and Research.
23. Memorandum From the Acting Director of the United States Information Agency (Loomis) to the President’s Counsel (Ehrlichman), the President’s Assistant (Haldeman), the President’s Assistant (Harlow), and the President’s Special Assistant (Keogh)
Source: National Archives, RG 306, Director’s Subject Files, 1968–1972, Entry A1–42, Box 1, INF 13 Foreign Media Reactions. No classification marking. Copies were sent to Shakespeare and Ryan.
24. Memorandum From the Assistant Director, East Asia and Pacific, United States Information Agency (Oleksiw) to the Deputy Director (Loomis)
Source: National Archives, RG 306, Director’s Subject Files, 1968–1972, Entry A1–42, Box 3, PSY—Psychological Operations. Confidential. Loomis initialed the top right-hand corner of the memorandum.
25. Memorandum From the Office of Policy and Plans, Apollo 11 Operations Center, United States Information Agency to the Director (Shakespeare)
Source: National Archives, RG 306, Office of Research and Evaluation, Office of the Associate Director, Program Files, 1969–1978, Entry P–119, INF Apollo Project 1969. No classification marking. Bardos initialed the “from” line of the memorandum. Ryan sent a copy of the memorandum to all USIA agency heads and USIS posts under a June 6 covering memorandum, indicating that the memorandum was the “first in a series of special weekly reports” concerning USIA’s Apollo 11 coverage. Ryan also noted that USIA had established an Apollo 11 Operations Center to coordinate the USIA effort. Earlier, in a June 2 memorandum to all elements, Loomis stated that Shakespeare had “assigned the highest priority to the Agency’s coverage and support of the Apollo-11 moon landing project” and accordingly, both the Operations Center and an intra-agency Apollo 11 task force had been established effective June 2. (Ibid.)
26. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 306, Agency Files, Voice of America. Confidential. Sent for information. A stamped notation on the memorandum indicates that the President saw it. An unknown hand wrote “ret 7/2” below the stamped notation. Another unknown hand wrote “AH—NOTE PAGE 3” at the top of the memorandum. Haig sent a copy of the memorandum to Sonnenfeldt under a July 3 memorandum, which read: “Attached is a copy of the memorandum you prepared for the President dealing with Soviet jamming activities. Please destroy this as I am sure Henry would be upset if he thought it had been sent out of the office. Unfortunately we have a monkey which we must be prepared to deal with. Please analyze the President’s instruction and see if we can develop an appropriate plan which would be responsive to it, if only in part, and prepare a memorandum for the President for approval. As you know, this is a Pandora’s box which could work to our disadvantage. On the other hand, if we were to convey the President’s decision directly to State it would probably leak with serious damage to the President. Please scratch your noggin on this one and give me your ideas.” (Ibid.)
27. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 306, Agency Files, Voice of America. Confidential; Nodis. Sent for information. A stamped notation on the memorandum indicates that the President saw it. An unknown hand wrote “ret 7/16” below the stamped notation. Sonnenfeldt sent a copy of the memorandum to Kissinger under a July 10 memorandum requesting that Kissinger sign the memorandum to the President. (Ibid.)
28. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 293, Agency Files, USIA—Vol. I [Apr 69–25 Feb 70]. Confidential. Sent for information. All brackets are in the original. A stamped notation indicates that the President saw it. An unknown hand wrote “ret 7/17” below the stamped notation. Sonnenfeldt sent the memorandum to Kissinger under a July 16 covering memorandum, recommending that Kissinger signed the attached memorandum. Sonnenfeldt added: “(I would be interested in sitting in on this one, if it were feasible.)”
29. Memorandum From the Director of the United States Information Agency (Shakespeare) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, RG 306, Director’s Subject Files, 1968–1972, Entry A1–42, Box 1, INF–13 Foreign Media Reaction. No classification marking. An unknown hand wrote “7/22/69” in the top right-hand corner of the memorandum. Loomis also initialed the top right-hand corner of the memorandum.
30. Circular Message From the United States Information Agency to the Embassy in Thailand
Source: National Archives, RG 306, Office of Policy and Plans, 1963–1969, General Subject Files, 1949–1970, Entry UD–264, Box 313, Master Copies 1969. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by Gabor; cleared by Shirley, Hamilton, Hitchkok, and Bennett (at 3 p.m.); approved in substance by White. Bennett initialed for both Hitchkok and White. Repeated to Djkarta, Lahore, London, Manila, New Delhi, and Saigon. Sent via telegram.