Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XXXVII, Energy Crisis, 1974–1980

194. Memorandum From James Cochrane of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)¹

Washington, March 23, 1979.

SUBJECT

• Defense Energy Consumption and the Iranian Response Plan

During the Interagency Energy Group’s deliberations on reducing US oil consumption by five percent, an options paper on defense energy consumption was developed.² The options were

—no reduction in defense energy use

—a three percent reduction

—a five percent reduction

Last night, Stu Eizenstat was convinced of the merits of the no reduction case. The issue is now dead, an options paper on this subject will not be part of the energy package going to the President.³

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 29, Iran, 4–10/79. Confidential. Sent for information. A stamped notation reads: “ZB has seen.”
2. Neither a record of the meeting nor the paper has been found.
3. Presumably for the President’s speech; see Document 196.