The Olympic Attack and the Anti-Terrorism Initiatives, September−December 1972


90. Memorandum from Samuel M. Hoskinson of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Hoskinson reported on the Israeli hostage situation in Munich and commented that the Department of State was at a loss over how to apply pressure on the terrorists.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 368, 1976 Olympics. Secret. Sent for information.


91. Editorial Note

Excerpts of telephone conversations between President Nixon, the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs Haig, Secretary of State Rogers, and Attorney General Kleindiest on September 5 discussing how to respond to the death of athletes of the Israeli Olympic team.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 998, Haig Telcons, 1972. No classification marking. The transcripts were prepared in the White House.


92. Memorandum From Samuel Hoskinson of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Kissinger was informed that the Israeli Olympic athletes were killed during a rescue mission attempted by West German security forces. Hoskinson suggested that there was very little that could be done to prevent terrorism.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 368, 1976 Olympics. Secret. Sent for action. Kissinger wrote: “Thanks, Sam” on the first page. Attached but not published was a memorandum for the President to use at a meeting with Rogers and Kissinger.


93. Conversation Between President Nixon and the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Prior to meeting with Secretary of State Rogers and the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs Haig at 8:30 a.m., the President and Kissinger discussed how to respond to the Munich Olympic massacre.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Tapes, Oval Office, Conversation 771-2. No classification marking. The editors transcribed the portion of the conversation published here specifically for this volume. At 8:32 a.m., Rogers and Haig joined the President and Kissinger; see Document 94.


94. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig) for the President’s File,

The President, his Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger, Secretary of State Rogers, and Haig discussed how to respond to the deaths of 11 Israeli athletes in Munich.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 998, Haig Memcons, Jan-Dec, 1972. Secret. Drafted by Haig on September 11. Haig stated that the meeting began at 10 a.m., but according to the President’s Daily Diary it began at 8:30 a.m. (Ibid., White House Central Files)


95. Conversation Among President Nixon, the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), and White House Chief of Staff (Haldeman)

Discussion of how to respond to the Munich Olympic terrorist incidents.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Tapes, Oval Office, Conversation No. 771-5. No classification marking. The editors transcribed the portion of the conversation published here specifically for this volume.


96. Memorandum From Samuel M. Hoskinson and Fernando Rondon of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Hoskinson and Rondon recommended that action against international terrorism should not be pursued in the United Nations at this time.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 368, 1976 Olympics. Secret. Sent for action. A handwritten note on the memorandum reads: “OBE.” There is no indication that Kissinger agreed or disagreed with any of the recommendations.


97. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon

Rogers informed the President of the anti-terrorism initiatives he planned to take after the Municfh Olympics massacre.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, President’s Evening Reading: Lot 74 D 164. No classification marking.


98. Telegram 164170 From the Department of State to Embassy in Israel

Rogers and Israeli Ambassador Rabin discussed how to respond to the Munich incident.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 609, Country Files, Middle East, Israel, Sept 1971-Sept. 1972. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Stackhouse (NEA/IAI) on September 7 and approved by Atherton, Bremer, and Eliot. Repeated to Amman, Cairo, Beirut, Kuwait, Jidda, Bonn, London, Moscow, Paris, Tripoli, and USUN.


99. Circular Telegram 164986 From the Department of State of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom and Other Posts

In a personal message to ambassadors, Rogers said that Nixon had charged him with the responsibility to mobilize the international community to take action to combat terrorism and directed them to approach host governments in an attempt to persuade the Arabs to disassociate themselves from terrorists.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 23-8. Confidential. Drafted by G. Norman Anderson of (NEA/EGY). Copies were sent to 55 embassies. Cleared by Sisco, Fessenden, Ross, Phillip H. Stoddard (INR/DDR/RNA), Herz, Hummel, Davies, and Atherton; and approved by Rogers.


100. Telegram 167911 From the Department of State to the Mission at the United Nations

Ambassador Bush was directed to transmit a letter to Secretary-General Waldheim from Secretary Rogers expressing continued U.S. interest in the problem of terrorism.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 23-8. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by John Norton Moore (L) and cleared by Sisco and De Palma.


101. Telegram 169556 From the Department of State to the Mission at the United Nations

The Department discussed its strategy on handling terrorism issues at the UN General Assembly.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 23-8. Confidential; Routine. Repeated to 21 additional posts. Drafted by Armitage, and cleared by De Palma, Stevenson, Atherton, and Sisco.


102. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon

Rogers provided the President with an initial report on current measures to combat terrorism and proposals for the future.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 23-8. Confidential. Drafted by Atherton on September 14 and cleared by Donelan, Sisco, Armitage, Boyd, Wright, Fessenden, and Ross.


103. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon

Rogers informed the President of international measures taken to combat terrorism.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 23-8. Confidential. Drafted by Donelan on September 20.


104. Information Memorandum From Assistant Secretary of State, International Organization Affairs (De Palma) and Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Sisco) to Secretary of State Rogers

De Palma and Sisco briefed Rogers on the Department’s scenario for handling the terrorism item at the UN General Assembly.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 23-8. Confidential. Drafted by Armitage and cleared by Fessenden, L, Ross, EA, Atherton, and ARA. Tabs A and B are attached but not published.


105. Information Memorandum From the Legal Adviser of the Department of State (Stevenson) to Secretary of State Rogers

Stevenson described the new draft convention for prevention of terrorism to be circulated by the United States at the United Nations.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 23-8. No classification marking. Drafted by Moore. The draft convention was attached but not published.


106. Telegram 174121 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Ceylon

The Department of State instructed key posts to explain to host governments that a vote against inscription of the terrorism item on the UNGA agenda would be a vote against the Secretary-General and would weaken the United Nations.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 23-8. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by Herz and Armitage and approved by Atherton, Moore, and Daniel Goott (EUR). Sent to Kuala Lumpur, New Delhi, Valletta, Singapore, Vientiane, and USUN; repeated to Amman, Islamabad, and Kathmandu.


107. Telegram 3421 From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State

Ambassador Bush reported that inscription of Secretary-General Waldheim’s terrorism item would likely fail.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 23-8. Confidential; Priority.


108. Telegram 174571 From the Department of State to the Consulate in Montreal

Extracts from Secretary of State Rogers’ remarks before the UN General Assembly setting out steps to counter international terrorism.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, AV 12. Unclassified; Priority. Drafted by C. J. Grip (IO/TRC), and cleared in substance in IO/P and E/AVP.


109. Memorandum From President Nixon to Heads of Departments and Agencies

The President directed the establishment of a Cabinet Committee to Combat Terrorism to be chaired by Secretary of State Rogers.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 23-8. No classification marking. See Document 110 for text of Nixon’s message to Rogers.


110. Memorandum From President Nixon to Secretary of State Rogers

The President described the membership of the Cabinet Committee to Combat Terrorism and set the scope of its activities.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 23-8. No classification marking.


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

Kissinger answered the President’s query about attacks on U.S. businesses overseas in a 3-page memorandum that summarized a longer CIA memorandum on the topic.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 310, Cabinet Committee on Terrorism. Secret. Sent for information. A notation on the memorandum indicated that the President saw it. Tab B was attached but not published.


112. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Eliot) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

The Department reported on a setback to U.S.-supported terrorism items at the UN General Assembly.

Source: National Archives. RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 23-8. Confidential. Drafted by Armitage and cleared by De Palma, Bettauer, and Meyer. M.J. Habil signed for Eliot.


113. Memorandum From Fernando Rondon and Richard Kennedy of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

NSC staffers updated Kissinger on the status of the Terrorism Convention and the Convention on the Protection of Diplomats at the United Nations.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 310, Cabinet Committee on Terrorism. Confidential. Sent for information. Copies were sent to Saunders and Young. Tab A is published as Document 112.


114. Memorandum From Richard Kennedy of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Kennedy brought Kissinger up-to-date on all anti-terrorism action taken since the President’s directive of September 25th.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 310, Cabinet Committee on Terrorism. Secret. Sent for information. A notation on the first page of the memorandum reads: “OBE.”


115. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon

Rogers recounted for the President both domestic and international counterterrorism actions undertaken by the United States.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 23-8. Limited Official Use. Drafted by Armin Meyer with concurrence from Sisco.


116. Letter From Secretary of State Rogers to Attorney General Kleindienst

Rogers asked Kleindienst how the U.S. Government could prevent terrorist violence by Yugoslav imigri groups operating in the United States and asked Kleindienst to investigate these types of activities.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 23-8. No classification marking. Drafted by Director of Eastern European Affairs Richard G. Johnson and John R. Crook (L/EUR) on October 27 with concurrence by Russell, Brower, Baker, Armin Meyer, and Stoessel. An August 21, 1972, memorandum from the Yugoslavian Government was attached but not published.


117. Memorandum From Richard Kennedy of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

The memorandum summarized the CIA’s assessment of the terrorist threat to U.S. business enterprises overseas.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 310, Cabinet Committee on Terrorism. Secret. Sent for information. A notation on the memorandum reads: “OBE.”


118. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon

Rogers reported that the UN’s Legal Committee had voted to support a “disappointingly weak” resolution on terrorism.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, President’s Evening Reading: Lot 74 D 164.


119. Telegram 5526 From the Mission to the United Nations to the Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Text of the terrorism item as adopted by the UN General Assembly.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 23-8. Unclassified; Immediate. Repeated to the Department of State.