Basic National Security Policy; Estimates of Threats to the National Security; Military Posture, Strategy, and Weapons Development; Missile Programs; Scientific and Technological Capabilities; Concern for Continental and Civil Defense; Status of Overseas Bases; Defense Budget; Coordination of Military, Economic, Political, Ideological, and Psychological Programs; Organization for National Security


33. Memorandum From the Director of the Policy Planning Staff (Bowie) to the Acting Secretary of State

Source: Department of State,PPS Files: Lot 66 D 70, Atomic Energy—Armaments. Top Secret.


34. Memorandum of Discussion at the 258th Meeting of the National Security Council, Washington, September 8, 1955

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records. Top Secret. Prepared by Gleason on September 15.


36. Paper Prepared in the Department of State

Source: Department of State, PPS Files: Lot 66 D 70, S/P Record Copies, Jan.–Dec. 1955. Top Secret. According to a typewritten note on the cover sheet, this paper was prepared by Robert Bowie and William Leonhart after they had received the Department of State’s comments on NSC 5501, Document 6. This paper was submitted to the Planning Board by Bowie, and was circulated at the Board’s October 3 meeting. Copies of the preliminary papers and the comments on NSC 5501 that were written by various PPS members are in Department of State,PPS Files: Lot 66 D 70.

The examination of key aspects of national security policy begun by the Planning Board in August ultimately led to the revision of portions of NSC 5501 and the issuance on March 15, 1956, of a new basic policy paper, NSC 5602/1, Document 66. The records of Department of State involvement in the various working groups assigned by the Planning Board to report on different aspects of national security policy (including those established pursuant to NSC Action No. 1430) and in the drafting of a revised text of the basic paper are in Department of State, PPS Files for 1955 (Lot 66 D 70) and 1956 (Lot 66 D 487). See especially the folders labeled Basic National Security Policy, NSC 5602/1 (Basic National Security Policy), the records of PPS meetings, and the various members’ chronological files.


38. Memorandum of Discussion at the 263d Meeting of the National Security Council, Washington, October 27, 1955

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records. Top Secret. Prepared by Gleason on October 28.


39. National Intelligence Estimate

Source: Department of State, INRNIE Files. Top Secret. According to a note on the cover sheet: “The following intelligence organizations participated in the preparation of this estimate: The Central Intelligence Agency and the intelligence organizations of the Departments of State, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and The Joint Staff. Concurred in by the Intelligence Advisory Committee on 1 November 1955.” The Assistant Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, abstained, because the subject was outside FBI jurisdiction.


40. Memorandum of Discussion at the 266th Meeting of the National Security Council, Washington, November 15, 1955

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records. Top Secret. Prepared by Gleason on November 16.


43. Memorandum Prepared in the Department of State

Source: Eisenhower Library, Sp. Asst. for Nat. Sec. Affairs Records, ICBM Programs. Top Secret. On November 30, Bowie forwarded a copy of this study to the Secretary and the Under Secretary of State with a covering memorandum stating that it was prepared by the Policy Planning Staff and cleared in draft with EUR and FE. Preliminary drafts, internal memoranda, and records of staff meetings reveal that its primary author was Henry D. Owen and that it was based in part on an Office of Intelligence Research study prepared at Owen’s request. (Department of State, PPS Files: Lot 66 D 70) The source text is not dated, but the Department of State record copy is dated November 29 and contains a handwritten marginal note that it was sent to Lay at the NSC on November 30 and used at the Council meeting on December 1. (Ibid.,S/P Record Copies, Jan.–Dec. 1955) Copies were sent to the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, the Special Assistant to the President on Disarmament, the Directors of the Bureau of the Budget and of Central Intelligence and the Chairmen of the Atomic Energy Commission and of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.


44. Report Prepared in the Department of Defense

Source: Eisenhower Library, Sp. Asst. for Nat. Sec. Affairs Records, ICBM Programs. Top Secret. The source text is not dated, but it was submitted under cover of a memorandum from Lay to the National Security Council on November 30. Copies were sent to the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, the Special Assistant to the President on Disarmament, the Directors of the Bureau of the Budget and of Central Intelligence and the Chairmen of the Atomic Energy Commission and of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.


45. Memorandum of Discussion at the 268th Meeting of the National Security Council, Camp David, Maryland, December 1, 1955

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records. Top Secret. Prepared by Gleason on December 2.


46. Memorandum of Discussion at the 270th Meeting of the National Security Council, Camp David, Maryland, December 8, 1955

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records. Top Secret. The memorandum of discussion on item 1 was prepared by Coyne on December 9.


48. Report by the ODM–Defense Working Group

Source: Department of State, PPS Files: Lot 66 D 70, Basic Natonal Security Policy. Secret. Attached to a memorandum from two members of the ODM–Defense working group, John F. Hilliard, Deputy Assistant Director, Manpower, ODM, and Brigadier General Charles H. Bonesteel, III, USA, Defense Member,NSC Planning Board, to the Executive Secretary, NSC, dated December 21. The report was transmitted to the NSC Planning Board, under cover of a memorandum by Lay, dated December 21, for use by the Board in connection with its review of basic national security policy.


49. Diary Entry by the President, January 11, 1956

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, DDE Diaries.


51. Memorandum of Discussion at the 272d Meeting of the National Security Council, Washington, January 12, 1956

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records. Top Secret. Prepared by Gleason on January 13.


52. Memorandum of Discussion at the 273d Meeting of the National Security Council, Washington, January 18, 1956, 9 a.m.

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records. Top Secret. Prepared by Gleason on January 19.


53. Diary Entry by the President, January 23, 1956

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, DDE Diaries. Top Secret.


54. Memorandum for the Record by the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Anderson)

Source: Eisenhower Library, Sp. Asst. for Nat. Sec. Affairs Records. Top Secret. A copy was distributed to Goodpaster.


57. Memorandum by the NSC Planning Board

Source: Department of State, S/SNSC Files: Lot 63 D 351, NSC 5602 Series. Top Secret. Transmitted under cover of a memorandum for the NSC from Gleason, dated February 13. Gleason noted that the Planning Board’s memorandum was being transmitted for the Council’s information, and for their consideration of the recommendations in paragraphs III–3, IV–1–b, –2–c, –3–b, and –4 thereof in connection with the Council’s consideration of NSC 5602, scheduled for February 27.


58. Supplementary Notes on the Legislative Leadership Meeting, White House, Washington, February 14, 1956, 9:30–11:21 a.m.

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Legislative Meetings. Confidential. Drafted by Minnich. Copies were sent to Ann Whitman. The meeting was attended by the President and Vice President Nixon, Senators Knowland and Bridges, Representatives Martin, Halleck, Leo Allen, and Arends, Attorney General Brownell, Deputy Secretary of Defense Robertson, Quarles, Sherman Adams, Persons, Hagerty, Harlow, Seaton, Goodpaster, Gerald Morgan, and I. Jack Martin, The time of the meeting and the list of participants is from the President’s Appointment Book. (Ibid.,Eisenhower Records)


59. Memorandum From the Secretary of Defense (Wilson) to the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council (Lay)

Source: Department of State, S/SNSC Files: Lot 63 D 351, NSC 5602 Series. Top Secret. Transmitted with the memorandum from the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defense Wilson, infra. to the National Security Council under cover of a memorandum from Gleason, dated February 24.


60. Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Secretary of Defense (Wilson)

Source: Department of State, S/SNSC Files: Lot 63 D 351, NSC 5602 Series. Top Secret.