329. Memorandum From A. Denis Clift of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)1 2
SUBJECT:
- Publicity and Other Arrangements for CEQ Chairman Train’s Visit to the Soviet Union
CEQ Chairman Russell Train is preparing to go to Moscow for the first meeting of the US-USSR Joint Committee on Cooperation in the Field of Environmental Protection, scheduled to begin on September 18. You should be aware of the steps Train is taking and contemplating with a view to giving his trip maximum impact and publicity. You may wish to give him guidance on points raised in the following paragraphs.
- 1.
-
Proposed Meeting with President and Dobrynin. In the schedule proposal from John Whitaker at Tab B (sent to you from Chapin’s office for your advice and recommendations) it is recommended that the President agree to meet with Train and Dobrynin during the period September 11-13. Whitaker says that he and Chuck Colson recommend Dobrynin’s participation to maximize the favorable domestic story. He adds: “Henry Kissinger will probably feel too high visibility for a relatively unimportant agreement.”
It makes sense to have Train meet with the President before he goes to Moscow—the President and Podgorny signed the environmental agreement during the Summit. However, I do not think it would be appropriate for Dobrynin to be involved. The substantive purpose of Train’s meeting with the President would be to receive the President’s guidance on the forthcoming environmental talks with the Soviets. The point is that it would be incorrect for the Soviet Ambassador to be present. If you agree, the memorandum for General Haig’s signature to David Parker at Tab A would advise him that Dobrynin should not be included in the meeting.
- 2.
-
Train is assembling a high-level delegation that will include Chris Herter, Jr., the Under Secretaries of HEW, HUD and Transportation, the Administrators of EPA and NOAA, Interior, the National Science [Page 2] Foundation, Shirley Temple Black, the Executive Director of the National Wildlife Foundation and several members of his own staff.
He is requesting a special mission aircraft from General Scowcroft. He has informed Embassy Moscow that he is interested in the possibility of making an official gift of several rare Przewlasky horses to the Soviet Government in connection with his trip (see telegram at Tab C). We have asked his staff to check with us on the timing of any press announcement with regard to the trip and the make-up of the US Delegation—if the schedule proposal is approved, it would be logical for this announcement to be made following his meeting with the President. We have also asked its staff to check with us before anything further is done with regard to the horses. I personally question the decorum of the horses gift idea. Coming as it would close behind the Summits’ exchanges of Pandas, Musk Oxon, Cadillac and Hydrofoil, it seems too ostentatious for the purposes of the environmental meeting (an embossed, leatherbound set of CEQ publications would, in fact, be more appropriate).
If you agree, I recommend that either you or General Haig give Train a call, and gently rein him in on the horses idea.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- 1.
-
That you approve the memorandum for General Haig’s signature to Parker at Tab A.
Approve
Disapprove
- 2.
-
That you approve General Haig’s calling Train to advise that the proposed gift of several Przewalsky horses would be inappropriate.
Approve
Disapprove
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 217, CEQ I. Administratively Confidential. Sent for action. Tabs A-C were attached but not published. Next to the first sentence of the second paragraph of section 1, Kissinger wrote in the margin: “I favor it.” Kissinger wrote next to the sentence in the second to last paragraph opposing a gift of horses: “I agree, it is crazy.” Kissinger initialed his approval of both recommendations.↩
- Clift suggested guidance for Train prior to his trip to Moscow. He questioned Train’s inclination to present the Soviets with several rare horses.↩