Foreign Assistance Policy, 1969-1972
2. Memorandum From Secretary of the Treasury Kennedy to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 289, Treasury Volume I. Confidential. Forwarded to the President under cover of a February 20 memorandum from Kissinger reminding the President that Treasury Secretary Kennedy had already raised this issue with him and he had indicated his assent. Kissinger noted that both bills moved in the “desired direction of channeling our foreign aid through multilateral agencies” and warranted the President’s approval, although action on the ADB Special Fund could be delayed until after the NSC review (see Document 1). Kennedy’s memorandum was returned to Kissinger under cover of a March 3 memorandum from Kenneth Cole indicating the President had approved the IDA proposal and was not opposed to the ADB proposal but thought a firm commitment at that time would be premature. (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials Project, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 289, Treasury Volume I) Bergsten informed Secretary Kennedy’s office of the President’s decision on March 3. (Ibid.)
3. Memorandum From the Science Adviser to the President (DuBridge) to the Under Secretary of State (Richardson)
Source: National Archives, RG 59, S/S Files: Lot 80 D 212, NSSM 4. No classification marking.
4. Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (Greenwald) to Secretary of State Rogers
Source: National Archives, RG 59, S/S Files: Lot 80 D 212, NSSM 4. Confidential. Drafted by Thomas O. Enders (E/IMA) and cleared by Sisco (IO), Macomber (H), Barnett (EA), Dantzer (ARA, except for paragraph 6), Westerfield (AF), Clark (AID), and Poats (AID). The memorandum was also addressed to the Under Secretary.
5. Action Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Security Council, Secretariat, Schedule of NSC Meetings, Box 83, 3/26/69 NSC Meeting-Foreign Aid. Confidential. This memorandum is the lead item in the President’s briefing book for the March 26 NSC meeting.
6. Memorandum by the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Source: National Archives, RG 59, S/S Files: Lot 71 D 175, Box 129, 26 March NSC Meeting. Confidential; Eyes Only. On April 1 Kissinger sent the President a memorandum to which he attached the list of actions pursuant to the March 26 NSC meeting that had been “coordinated on an ÔEyes Only’ basis with the principals and has been agreed to by them.” Kissinger added that “your decisions to develop proposals for an outside study commission and continuation of our internal study of aid will be formalized by written follow-up Study Memoranda.” He concluded: “I do not believe an NSDM should be promulgated on these issues because the formal dissemination of such a memorandum could generate problems if it were leaked to legislators. Additionally, I believe you will wish to retain some flexibility on this issue as the FY 70 AID program crystallizes.” The President initialed his approval. (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 193, AID Volume I 1969)
7. National Security Decision Memorandum 10
Source: National Archives, RG 59, S/S Files: Lot 83 D 305, NSDM 10. Limited Official Use. On February 19 Kissinger had circulated to the same addressees an earlier draft of this NSDM for their comment by March 3. A copy is attached to an April 4 memorandum from Poats to Hannah suggesting that Hannah take up with Rogers the key role of the Secretary of State in moving forward the foreign assistance papers. (Washington National Records Center, Agency for International Development, AID Administrator Files: FRC 286 73 A 518, IPS 7-1 NSC FY 69 April 1-30, 1969) A copy of Kissinger’s February 19 memorandum and the earlier draft of NSDM 10 is also attached to a February 25 memorandum from Raymond J. Albright to Hirschtritt and Petty at Treasury requesting their action. Albright also attached a copy of NSDM 4, which requested, on the President’s direction, preparation of a series of program analyses for designated countries and regions (none designated) to be used by the NSC as the basis for discussion and decision on policy and program issues. (Ibid., Department of the Treasury, Files of Under Secretary Volcker: FRC 56 79 A 15, AID-Secret)
8. Memorandum From C. Fred Bergsten of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 193, AID Volume I 1969. Secret.
9. Memorandum From the President’s Counselor (Burns) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 194, AID Volume III 8/11/70-9/10/70. No classification marking. This memorandum is Tab E to Document 31. Another copy of the memorandum, without the President’s written decisions, is attached to an undated handwritten note from Haig to Kissinger informing Kissinger that “all has been taken care of.” (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 194, AID Volume I 1969)
10. Action Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 324, President’s Foreign Aid Program. Secret. A handwritten note, with a May 27 date, reads: “Pres has seen.” This memorandum is attached to a May 21 memorandum from Bergsten to Kissinger recommending that Kissinger “urgently” send the attached package to the President and that no specific reference to Latin America be added to the draft message to Congress. A note on Bergsten’s memorandum reads: “Retd from HAK 5/22.”
11. Action Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 193, AID, Volume I 1969. Confidential. On May 23 Haig sent Kissinger a memorandum in which this was the first item for Kissinger to discuss with the President that day. (Ibid., Subject Files, Items to Discuss with the President 2/5-7/14/69) Kissinger met with the President at 9:30 a.m. (Ibid., White House Central Files, President’s Daily Diary)
13. Memorandum From the Administrator of the Agency for International Development (Hannah) and Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 193, AID, Volume I 1969. No classification marking. Attached, together with an October 30 memorandum from Hannah to President Nixon, to a November 18 memorandum from Bergsten and Nachmanoff to Kissinger recommending direct Presidential intervention to avoid cuts beyond the $500 million already made in the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the foreign assistance bill. According to the Daily Diary, the President did not make any calls to the House Congressional leadership on November 18 or 19. (Ibid., White House Central Files)
14. Letter From the Administrator of the Agency for International Development (Hannah) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 193, AID, Volume I 1969. No classification marking.
15. Action Memorandum From C. Fred Bergsten of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 193, AID, Volume I 1969. Confidential.
16. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to the President’s Assistant (Harlow)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 193, AID, Volume I 1969. Confidential; Eyes Only. Drafted by Kissinger and Haig on December 8.
17. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of the Treasury Walker to President Nixon
Source: Washington National Records Center, Department of the Treasury, Secretary’s Memos/Correspondence: FRC 56 74 A 7, Memo to the President 9-12/69. Limited Official Use. Drafted by Petty on December 9. In a December 9 memorandum to Walker, Petty recommended he sign the memorandum and indicated that Kennedy and Volcker asked that the President be informed of the pending replenishment. (Ibid.)
18. Briefing Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Monetary Affairs (Weintraub) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (Trezise)
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, FN 10 IMF. No classification marking. Drafted by Weintraub and Frank Vaznaugh (E/OMA/FOD).
19. Memorandum From Secretary of Defense Laird to the President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 223, Department of Defense, Volume V 12/1/69-1/31/70. Secret.
20. Memorandum From the Director of the Bureau of the Budget (Mayo) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 206, Bureau of the Budget, Volume I. Confidential. Attached to a January 5, 1970, memorandum from John Campbell to Tod Hullin indicating that the President had seen the memorandum during a discussion with Mayo. President Nixon met with Mayo and Ehrlichman at the White House on December 30, and with Mayo, Ehrlichman, and Kissinger in San Clemente on January 3, 1970. Mayo’s memorandum presumably was reviewed by the President at one of these meetings. (Ibid., White House Central Files, President’s Daily Diary) The Washington Post reported on January 4 that, in a brief meeting with the press immediately following the January 3 meeting, the President said all the major decisions for the forthcoming budget had been made.
21. Memorandum From Secretary of Defense Laird to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 223, Department of Defense, Volume V 12/1/69-1/31/70. Secret.
23. Memorandum From Secretary of the Treasury Kennedy to President Nixon
Source: Washington National Records Center, Department of the Treasury, Files of Under Secretary Volcker: FRC 56 79 A 15, IDA. Confidential. Attached to a March 4 memorandum from Kennedy to the President that deals with the level of funding if the President preferred something other than a $1 billion U.S. contribution over 3 years.
24. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of the Treasury Volcker to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 289, Treasury, Volume I. Confidential. Another copy of this memorandum is attached to a March 17 memorandum from Petty to Secretary Kennedy recommending it to be sent to the President to alert him to the need to generate high-level political support in France and Germany for a large IDA replenishment. Petty specifically wanted the President to take it up with Chancellor Brandt in early April. (Washington National Records Center, Department of the Treasury, Secretary’s Memos/Correspondence: FRC 56 74 A 7, Memo to the President—Jan-April 1970)
26. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 195, AID 10/7/70-12/31/70. No classification marking.
28. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Johnson to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 193, AID, Volume II 1/70-8/10/70. Secret. Copies were sent to Laird and Harlow. Attached is the typescript of a July 3 memorandum from Kennedy, Lehman, and Saunders to Haig and Kissinger alerting them to the dangers the Cooper-Church amendment posed for the Foreign Military Sales bill, and the difficulty the President would have in meeting commitments to Iran, Israel, and others if the bill died. They noted that the FMS program went hand in hand with the Nixon Doctrine and was designed to help allies defend themselves by providing credits as well as equipment to ease the financial strain of modern defense establishments. The Cooper-Church Amendment, which went through a number of iterations, aimed at restricting U.S. involvement in Cambodia. Several memoranda from May 1970 regarding its politics and potential impact are ibid., NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 318, Cooper-Church Amendment.
29. Memorandum From C. Fred Bergsten of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 194, AID, Volume IV 9/11/70-10/6/70. Secret. Cleared by Lynn, Holdridge, Kennedy, Saunders, and Vaky. Attached to a July 7 note from Bergsten to Haig identifying it as a memorandum Haig had requested for Kissinger summarizing the problems faced by the Military Assistance Program. Bergsten noted that Kennedy thought Kissinger would want to read it before the July 8 WSAG meeting on Cambodia (postponed to July 17) since “Cambodia MAP will be discussed at that time and the memo flags the real problems involved with any new burden on the program.”
30. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, AID (US) 1. Confidential. According to an August 3 memorandum from Spiers to the Secretary, the memorandum was prepared at the Secretary’s request. The original memorandum with Secretary Rogers’ signature is ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 193, AID, Volume II 1/70-8/10/70, attached to an August 5 memorandum from Bergsten to Kissinger that reads: “Since your memorandum on the issue is already with the President, and since on balance you support Secretary Rogers’ position, I send this to you only for information. Nevertheless, if the President has not yet made his decision on the issue, you may wish to mention it to him or have it included in his package.” Kissinger’s memorandum on the issue is Document 135.