Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XXIX, Eastern Europe; Eastern Mediterranean, 1969–1972

60. Memorandum From the Acting Secretary of State (Johnson) to President Nixon¹

Washington, May 6, 1972.

SUBJECT

• Study Commission for Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty

The passage of legislation (Tab A)² providing for grants by the Department of State to Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty through the end of the current fiscal year does not provide the permanent legal framework which we had originally sought nor the two-year authorization and Study Commission which the House of Representatives favored. It does, however, provide an authorization for which we propose to seek renewal, with a slight revision (Tab B)³ for fiscal year 1973, while further consideration is given to the sources and methods of future support for these valuable radio operations.

To provide for this further consideration and to avoid the possibility of prolonged House-Senate disagreement over the composition of a study group, I recommend that you appoint a Presidential Commission charged with responsibility for (1) examining the need for the radios and their value in the context of United States foreign policy and of international broadcasting in Europe, (2) considering the implications of the reports on the radios prepared at the request of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by the Congressional Research Service and by the General Accounting Office, and (3) making recommendations as to the future method and sources for their financial support. While the ideal time for announcement of the Commissionʼs appointment would have been when the bill at Tab B was introduced, time constraints make that impractical. Therefore, I believe the bill should be submitted immediately with the announcement of the appointment of the Commission to be made as soon thereafter as possible.

Appointment of such a Commission would serve several purposes: (1) Its report should provide the basis for a feasible legislative proposal for the radios for FY 1974; (2) The fact of the Commissionʼs existence would assist our friends on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to inhibit prior discussion of legislation for termination of the radios, which we believe Senator Fulbright may plan to introduce; (3) The suggestion that the Commission will be looking into sources of financial support for the radios would permit these friends to argue that Senator Fulbrightʼs idea of obtaining European support is being pursued and that the radios should not be terminated in the interim; (4) The prestige of the Commission would be committed to its findings; and (5) In order to maintain the radios in existence pending their findings, these prestigious Commission members would presumably also be willing to work for the interim FY 1973 authorization.

The Commission would have a limited life and its costs for operations would be about $75,000. It should be directed to submit its report to you for transmission to the Congress by February 28, 1973. It would consist of a Chairman and four members, to be appointed by you. The members would receive no pay but those resident outside Washington would receive per diem and travel expenses. The only paid employee would be the Executive Vice Chairman. By your direction, the working staff of the Commission would be drawn on loan from the various U.S. Government agencies which have been connected with the problems of the two radios (State Department, USIA, and, if desired, the CIA). Money for the operation of this Commission would be allotted from your discretionary funds.

A draft statement announcing the introduction of legislation and your intention to name such a Commission is at Tab C.⁴

A list of persons from among whom members of this Commission might be drawn is attached at Tab D.⁵

Recommendation

That you approve the submission of the draft legislation (Tab B) at the earliest possible time,⁶ approve the draft statement to be issued at the time the legislation is submitted, and approve the idea of selecting, and clearing for appointment as soon as possible, a suitably composed Presidential Commission.

U. Alexis Johnson

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 380, Subject Files, Radio Free Europe & Radio Liberty, Vol. II. Confidential. Tabs A–D are attached but not printed.
2. Regarding P.L.–92–264, passed on March 30, see Document 59.
3. Tab B is a draft bill, modeled after P.L.–92–264, which provided for the appropriation of $38,520,000 through the Secretary of State for funding of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty.
4. The White House released a slightly revised version of the draft statement at Tab C to the press on May 10 (see Document 61).
5. On June 12 Kissinger, based on the list at Tab D, recommended the four commission members whom Nixon eventually appointed (see Document 61).
6. An attached transmittal slip reads: “OBE: State decided to send up legislation itself and have White House issue a statement. A subsequent memo to Pres from State will follow.” See Document 61.