Germany and Berlin, 1969–1972
62. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 753, Presidential Correspondence File, Germany, Chancellor Brandt (1969–Apr 70). Secret; Exdis. Sent for information. No drafting information appears on the memorandum. Sonnenfeldt forwarded a draft for Kissinger’s signature on February 27. (Memorandum from Sonnenfeldt to Kissinger, February 27; ibid.)
63. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 683, Country Files, Europe, Germany, Vol. IV. Secret; Nodis. Sent for information. Nixon wrote the following comment on the memorandum: “K—It looks like Brandt is over his head. He has very little to offer—and they have a great deal.” Kissinger initialed, indicating that he had seen Nixon’s comments. According to another copy, Hyland drafted the memorandum on March 4. (Ibid.)
64. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 753, Presidential Correspondence File, Germany, Chancellor Brandt (1969–Apr 70). Secret. Sent for action. No drafting information appears on the memorandum. Sonnenfeldt forwarded a draft to Kissinger on March 6 suggesting that the President delete any specific reference in the letter to a starting date. Kissinger, however, overruled the suggestion with the handwritten comment: “This is not something on which I care to argue with Rogers. It is pure tactics.” (Memorandum from Sonnenfeldt to Kissinger, March 6; ibid.)
65. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 690, Country Files, Europe, Germany (Berlin), Vol. II. Secret. Sent for action. No drafting information appears on the memorandum. Sonnenfeldt forwarded a draft to Kissinger on March 5 and Kissinger revised the memorandum on March 9, eliminating a recommendation that the President approve his memorandum to Rogers. “I’ll worry about memo,” Kissinger wrote. “Pres. doesn’t have to approve my memos to Rogers.” (Memorandum from Sonnenfeldt to Kissinger, March 5; ibid., and Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 4, Chronological File, 1969–75, 23 Jan.–30 Mar. 1970)
67. Telegram From the Embassy in Germany to the Department of State
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 38–6. Secret; Limdis. Repeated to Paris, London, Moscow, and Berlin.
68. Telegram From the Embassy in Germany to the Department of State
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL GER W–USSR. Secret; Limdis. Repeated to Paris, London, Moscow, and Berlin.
69. Telegram From the Embassy in Germany to the Department of State
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 12–6 GER W. Secret; Limdis. Repeated to Berlin, London, Paris, and Moscow. According to another copy, the telegram was drafted by Dean, cleared by Fessenden, and approved by Rush. (Department of State, EUR/CE Files: Lot 85 D 330, JD Telegrams and Airgrams 1970) Sonnenfeldt summarized the telegram in a memorandum to Kissinger on March 26. After noting similar concerns raised by the French, Sonnenfeldt commented: “These crosscurrents underscore the need for precision and frankness during the Brandt visit in framing the nature of US support for Ostpolitik, and for distinguishing between goals and approach on the one hand, and pace and tactics on the other.” (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 683, Country Files, Europe, Germany, Vol. IV)
70. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Germany
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 28 GER B. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Skoug and Thompson on March 24; cleared by Sutterlin, Sonnenfeldt, and Watts; and approved by Hillenbrand. Repeated to London, Moscow, Paris, Berlin, and USNATO.
71. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 683, Country Files, Europe, Germany, Vol. IV. Secret. Sent for information. A notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it on April 2. Sonnenfeldt originally raised the subject of recognition of the GDR on February 20 in a memorandum to Kissinger, forwarding the study on legal consequences prepared by the Department of State (see footnote 4 below). On March 16 Kissinger issued the following handwritten instruction: “Send memo to Pres with cover re trends of German policy making this important topic.” (Ibid.) According to another copy, Downey drafted the memorandum on March 25. (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, CL 289, Memoranda to the President, 1969–74, Mar.–Apr. 1970)
72. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Hillenbrand) to Secretary of State Rogers
Source: Department of State, Bonn Post Files: Lot 72 F 81, POL–FRG/US Relations. Secret. Drafted by Sutterlin. Fessenden wrote on the memorandum: “Important statement of EUR’s position, which you may have seen in Wash. Russ.”
73. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 690, Country Files, Europe, Germany (Berlin), Vol. II. Secret. Sent for information. No drafting information appears on the memorandum. Sonnenfeldt forwarded the memorandum to Kissinger on March 25. (Ibid).
74. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 683, Country Files, Europe, Germany, Vol. IV. Secret. Sent for information. According to another copy, Hyland drafted the memorandum on April 3. (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 289, Memoranda to the President, 1969–74, Mar.–Apr. 1970) In an April 3 memorandum to Kissinger, Sonnenfeldt explained that he had prepared another “status report” for the President on Ostpolitik (see Document 63), covering the recent negotiations in Moscow and Warsaw as well as the meeting in Erfurt. Sonnenfeldt added: “In substance, however, not much has changed.” (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 683, Country Files, Europe, Germany, Vol. IV)
75. Memorandum From Helmut Sonnenfeldt of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 683, Country Files, Europe, Germany, Vol. IV. Secret; Nodis. Sent for information. Copies were sent to Haig and Lord. A stamped notation indicates that Kissinger saw the memorandum.
76. Memorandum for the Record
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 683, Country Files, Europe, Germany, Vol. IV. Secret; Nodis. Sent for information. Drafted by Sonnenfeldt. Copies were sent to Haig and Lord. Kissinger initialed the memorandum, indicating that he approved it.
77. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to Secretary of State Rogers
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL GER E–GER W. Secret. No drafting information appears on the memorandum. Sonnenfeldt forwarded a draft to Kissinger on April 7 and Kissinger made several minor revisions before signing it. (Memorandum from Sonnenfeldt to Kissinger, April 7; ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 683, Country Files, Europe, Germany, Vol. IV) In an April 3 memorandum to Kissinger, Sonnenfeldt explained the need for guidance on handling of Ostpolitik during the Brandt visit: “I want to be sure that you focus on the problem I have alluded to several times in my memoranda on Germany: the difference between the White House and the State Department on how to talk about Ostpolitik. There can be little doubt that State prefers (indeed has several times given) strong endorsement of the whole German approach, with only the caveat that no Allied interests be compromised and there be timely consultation. To avoid the Germans getting an impression of differences, and perhaps manipulating them, I believe it is essential that a general line be laid down before the Brandt visit.” (Ibid., Box 917, VIP Visits, Chancellor Brandt Visit, April 10–11, 1970 [1 of 3]) According to Sutterlin, the memorandum from Kissinger to Rogers “reflected White House thinking that the United States should not become too associated with the SPD.” (Sutterlin and Klein, Berlin, p. 101)
78. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 917, VIP Visits, Chancellor Brandt Visit, April 10–11, 1970 [1 of 3]. Secret; Sensitive; Nodis. Sent for information. No drafting information appears on the memorandum.
79. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 7 GER W. Secret. Drafted by Nelson and approved in S on April 21. The meeting was held in the Cabinet Room at the White House. The memorandum is part I of VI. Parts II, III, IV, V, and VI, memoranda of conversation on the SALT Talks, MBFR and Conference on European Security, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and FRG/Soviet Air Negotiations, are ibid. For a German record of the entire conversation, see Akten zur Auswärtigen Politik der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, 1970, Vol. 1, pp. 584–588. Many of the participants met Brandt for a discussion of additional issues at Blair House that afternoon. Memoranda of conversation on Technological Cooperation, US Economic Relations with the EC, Spanish Link to NATO, and Development Aid are in the National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 7 GER W. According to the President’s Daily Diary, Nixon also met Brandt privately from 10:27 a.m. to 12:17 p.m. (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Central Files) Although no U.S. record has been found, Brandt prepared a memorandum of this private discussion; see Akten zur Auswärtigen Politik der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, 1970, Vol. 1, pp. 591–595. See also Brandt, People and Politics, pp. 284–288, and My Life in Politics, p. 176, in which he writes: “In our conversation of 10 April 1970 Richard Nixon said pointblank that he had confidence in our policy, and knew we had no intention of risking tried and true friendships.”
80. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 7 GER W. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Newlin, cleared by Hillenbrand and Sutterlin, and approved in S on April 23. The meeting was held in the Cabinet Room at the White House. The memorandum is part I of III. Parts II and III, memoranda of conversation on Cooperation in Science and Technology, and IDA Replenishment, are ibid. For a German record of the entire conversation, see Akten zur Auswärtigen Politik der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, 1970, Vol. 1, pp. 601–604.
81. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 917, VIP Visits, Chancellor Brandt Visit, April 10–11, 1970 [1 of 3]. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Newlin. The meeting was held in the Cabinet Room at the White House. The memorandum was forwarded to the White House on April 17 and approved without change by Sonnenfeldt on April 20. Another copy of the memorandum is ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 7 GER W. For a German record of the conversation, see Akten zur Auswärtigen Politik der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, 1970, Vol. 1, pp. 601–604.
82. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Department of State, EUR/CE Files: Lot 85 D 330, JDean—Memos of Conversation 1970. Secret. Drafted by Dean on April 24. Copies were sent to Rush, Hillenbrand, Sutterlin, Packman, Morris, Bremen, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, and Stuttgart. The luncheon meeting was held at the Ambassador’s Residence.
83. Memorandum From Helmut Sonnenfeldt of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 683, Country Files, Europe, Germany, Vol. V. Secret. Sent for information. According to another copy, Downey drafted the memorandum. (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 5, Chronological File, 1969–75, 1 Apr. 31–May 1970) On June 2 Kissinger wrote the following instruction for Sonnenfeldt on the memorandum: “Hal—Could you do a brief summary where all the FRG neg[otiation]s now stand. HK.” A handwritten note indicates that this instruction was overtaken by events. (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 683, Country Files, Europe, Germany, Vol. V) Sonnenfeldt, however, did draft a status report summarizing the negotiations (see Document 88).
84. Telegram From Secretary of State Rogers to the Department of State
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 38–6. Secret; Priority. Repeated to Bonn, London, Paris, Moscow, USNATO, and Berlin. Rogers was in Rome May 24–28 for the NATO Ministerial meeting.
85. Memorandum From Helmut Sonnenfeldt of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 683, Country Files, Europe, Germany, Vol. V. Top Secret. Sent for action. According to another copy, Hyland drafted the memorandum. (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Top Secret Chronological File 1969–1975, Box TS 2)
86. Telegram From the Embassy in Germany to the Department of State
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 12 GER W. Secret; Priority; Exdis.
87. Intelligence Information Cable
Source: National Archives, RG 59, EUR/CE Files: Lot 91 D 341, POL 39.1, 1970 Four Power Talks, June Preparations for Meetings. Secret; No Foreign Dissem; Controlled Dissem; No Dissem Abroad; Background Use Only; Routine. Prepared in the CIA.
88. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 683, Country Files, Europe, Germany, Vol. V. Confidential; Nodis. Sent for information. A stamped note on the memorandum indicates the President saw it. Kissinger had requested a “brief summary” of recent developments in Ostpolitik on June 2 (see footnote 1, Document 83). The same day, Sonnenfeldt forwarded a “brief memo” to the President as well as a “longer analysis” for Kissinger. In the latter document, Sonnenfeldt commented on the lack of progress in the quadripartite negotiations. “The Soviet position is becoming harder, while the Allied position is confused and carries increasing potential for serious intra-Allied friction. Our own position and goals are less than clear. State has not provided the White House with any assessment or comment since the President approved the basic US position in early March. Perhaps State is waiting for the end of the fourth session—after which each of the four Ambassadors will have been in the chair— to take stock and offer an assessment.” (Ibid.) According to another copy, Downey drafted the June 2 memorandum to the President. (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 290, Memoranda to the President, 1969–74, May–June 1970)
89. Memorandum for the Record
Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 314, National Security Council, 1969–77, Meetings, Staff, 1969–71. Secret; Limdis. Drafted by Davis on June 16.
90. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 683, Country Files, Europe, Germany, Vol. V. Confidential. Sent for information. In a June 15 memorandum to Kissinger, Sonnenfeldt explained that he had done a report on the state elections “in the form of a memorandum for the President, should you care to forward it.” (Ibid.) A stamped note on the memorandum indicates that the President saw it. According to another copy, Hyland drafted the memorandum on June 15. (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 290, Memoranda to the President, 1969–74, May–June 1970)