28. National Security Study Memorandum 571
- TO
- The Secretary of State
- The Secretary of Defense
- The Secretary of Health, Education & Welfare
- The Secretary of Housing & Urban Development
- The Director of Central Intelligence
- The Director, Bureau of the Budget
- The Director, Office of Emergency Preparedness
- The Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission
- SUBJECT
- Review of U.S. Civil Defense Policies
The President has directed that a review be undertaken of U.S. civil defense policies, with specific attention to the shelter program.2 [Page 92] This review should examine the civil defense options available to the Administration and their costs and probable consequences. It should take account of the decision to deploy a “Safeguard” ABM system, and of decisions to be reached on strategies and budget levels for U.S. military forces as a result of NSSM 3.2
The study should be prepared by an NSC Ad Hoc Group under the chairmanship of the Director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness, with representatives of the following: Departments of State, Defense, HEW, and HUD; the Central Intelligence Agency, Bureau of the Budget, the Atomic Energy Commission, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Other departments and agencies may be invited to participate at the discretion of the chairman.
The study should be forwarded to the National Security Council Review Group by November 1, 1969.
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 365, Subject Files, NSSMs, Nos. 43–103. Confidential. Copies were sent to Secretary of Transportation John A. Volpe, DuBridge, Gerard Smith, and Wheeler.↩
- Nixon was asked about the “shelter program” during his press conference of March 14, when he announced the Safeguard program. The President responded that he had already directed George Lincoln to conduct a review of U.S. civil defenses. (Public Papers: Nixon, 1969, p. 215)↩
- Document 2.↩