100. Memorandum From Secretary of Defense McNamara to the Director of Defense Research and Engineering, Department of Defense (Foster)1
Washington, October 22, 1965.
As we discussed during the last Nike-X briefing,2 I believe it is important that we include in the FY 67 Research and Development program sufficient funds to:
- (1)
- Assure the development of a “short leadtime” anti-ballistic missile defense directed against the Chinese threat,
- (2)
- An “optimum” anti-ballistic missile defense directed against the Chinese threat,
- (3)
- An “optimum” anti-ballistic missile defense against a Soviet attack on our offensive weapon system launchers.
Unless Mr. Vance or I specifically approve the additional expenditures in writing, do not include in the anti-ballistic missile Research and [Page 273] Development programs for FY 67 any funds to be expended on production engineering, procurement of components for deployment, or any other activities associated with deployment.
Robert S. McNamara
3
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 218, JCS Files, 3212 (29 Oct 65) IR 4878. Top Secret. A copy was sent to Secretary of the Army Stanley R. Resor. An attached November 4 covering note by R.C. Forbes and J.E. Mansfield of the Joint Secretariat to the JCS (JCS 2012/259–1) notes that McNamara’s memorandum was being circulated for information.↩
- Not further identified.↩
- Printed from a copy that indicates McNamara signed the original.↩