159. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)1
- SUBJECT
- National Energy Office Organization
This proposal causes me great concern.2 It seems clear that its implementation would result in a new NSC-like structure cutting across and competing with NSC, CIEP and Domestic Council business. It is difficult for me to imagine that we need another empire to further complicate the bureaucratic pulling and hauling already extant.
Without knowing what discussions have already taken place, I would think that Charles DiBona could perhaps better serve as a sort of Executive Secretary to the Special Energy Committee. His job would be that of coordination among NSC, CIEP and the Domestic Council. Tasks would be given to whichever of those organizations had the predominant interest in the issue, with representation, if necessary, from the others. In this manner, we might be able to avoid the development of a new bureaucracy which, I fear, would be constantly trodding on our—and everybody else’s—toes.3
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 250, Agency Files, National Energy Office, Vol. I, March 1972–February 1973. No classification marking.↩
- See Document 156.↩
- A handwritten notation by Kissinger at the bottom of the page reads: “I agree completely. Make clear Ehrlichman understands.” Kissinger subsequently phoned Ehrlichman on February 7 at 8:45 a.m. to inform him that he was “violently opposed to setting up another inter-agency committee called an Energy Committee.” He preferred that DiBona act through the NSC. Once Ehrlichman said that this was “no problem,” Kissinger implied he was ready to work on an NSC study on the international aspects of the energy problem. (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Telephone Conversation Transcripts, Box 18, Chronological Files)↩