Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XXXIV, National Security Policy, 1969–1972

134. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon¹

Washington, undated.

• SUBJECT
  • NSC Meeting on All-Volunteer Army and Draft Reforms

A NSC meeting on the all-volunteer army and draft reform proposals is scheduled for Tuesday, March 24, 1970 at 4:00 p.m.

The NSC Meeting

The basic problem for discussion is how best to meet our future military manpower needs. There are two basic issues:

• —the desirability of establishing an all-volunteer force and the strategy for achieving it. Secretary Laird is prepared to present the issues and alternatives for discussion.
• —the desirability of reforming our draft system while it remains in operation. Curtis Tarr, your new Director of the Selective Service, is prepared to discuss this issue.

Prior to initiating these presentations, your talking points² focus the discussion on the fundamental issues involved in meeting our future military manpower needs.

[Omitted here is a list of the contents of Nixon’s preparatory materials for the meeting.]

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–27, NSC Meeting, March 24, 1970. No classification marking. Printed from an uninitialed copy.
2. Nixon’s talking points are attached but not printed.