Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Volume III, National Security Policy; Arms Control and Disarmament, Microfiche Supplement

532. Memorandum From Kistiakowsky to Eisenhower¹

February 18, 1960

SUBJECT

• Government Organization for the Development of Arms Limitation and Control Policies

Last fall, following an earlier request from you to your Science Advisory Committee, its Panel on Arms Limitation and Control, chaired by Dr. Killian, prepared a recommendation regarding the preferred organization for the development of an arms limitation policy, which was then endorsed by the full Committee.

In essence our recommendation is to create an office within the Executive Office, with a director responsible to you, to be charged with the development of arms control polices. At the same time the State Department should be strengthened in this area, since it alone should have negotiating responsibility.

Having learned that you had instructed Secretary of State Herter to make to you a proposal for the required organization. I forwarded to him the attached recommendation of your Committee, which describes in detail the proposed organization and its relation to the State Department.

Recently, Secretary Herter told me that he decided not to accept our suggestion and will instead propose an organization on the staff level in the State Department. This I reported to your Science Advisory Committee, and the latter now have instructed me to bring to your attention our recommendation.

I am aware that you look with disfavor upon adding new functions to the Executive Office. On the other hand, the following are among the reasons in favor of this proposal:

1. Development of policy transcends departmental responsibilities. Development of national policy in this area involves the complex interaction of military, political, and technical factors. These factors clearly involve the responsibilities and capabilities of several agencies of Government. Responsibility for arriving at a balanced judgment on these problems does not fit into the mission of any single agency of Government. Specifically, the State Department does not appear to be in a position to evaluate our present and future defense posture problems or to determine the technical requirements for adequate control of agreements.

2. Public relations. The formation of a special office next to the President will create a much stronger image of U.S. interest in disarmament in both world and domestic public opinion than the formation of a new staff activity in the State Department.

3. Quality of organization. Location in the Executive Office of the President would permit recruitment of much higher-level leadership and staff for the office than would be possible in a staff organization within the State Department. Problems involved are so complex that proper staffing is of utmost importance.

4. Interagency support. Location in the Executive Office of the President would greatly facilitate the process of obtaining coordinated support from the various agencies which must supply information relevant to the development of policy (e.g., Defense Department, State Department, AEC, and CIA).

5. Direct support for the President. The President could look to an office located within his Office for direct support in his decision-making process in this vital area of national policy.

6. Supporting studies by Government contractors. Development of policy will require some supporting studies best performed by Government contractors. This could be accomplished more easily and effectively by an office in the Executive Office than by an office in the State Department which has historically not used this approach and which might face Congressional opposition to such use of funds.

7. Coordination of research and development on monitoring techniques. It would be easier for an office located in the Executive Office, than for an office in the State Department, to coordinate the substantial research and development activities on monitoring techniques which will have to be carried out by various agencies, such as Department of Defense or the AEC.

G.B. Kistiakowsky

1. Source: Government organization for the development of arms limitation and control policies. Confidential. 2 pp. Eisenhower Library, White House Office Files, Additional Records of the Office of the Special Assistant for Science and Technology, Panel-Disarmament-Organization.