Foundations of Foreign Policy, 1974–1980


151. Address by Secretary of State Muskie

Source: Department of State Bulletin, August 1980, pp. 28–29. Muskie delivered his address before the Foreign Policy Association.


152. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Subject Chron File, Box 127, Weekly National Security Report: 8–12/80. Secret. The President initialed the top right-hand corner of the memorandum.


153. Address by Secretary of State Muskie

Source: Department of State Bulletin, September 1980, pp. A–C. Muskie delivered his address before the United Steel Workers of America. The opening paragraphs of the speech are omitted in the original.


155. Statement by Secretary of State Muskie

Source: Department of State Bulletin, October 1980, pp. 76–78. All brackets are in the original. Muskie made the statement before the 11th Special Session of the UN General Assembly. The General Assembly met in special session from August 25 until September 15 in order to discuss progress made in the establishment of the New International Economic Order and actions related to economic cooperation (see footnote 3, Document 99).


156. Memorandum From William Odom of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office File, Outside the System File, Box 58, Chron: 9/1–9/80. Confidential. Sent for information. The President wrote “Very interesting. J” in the top right-hand corner of the memorandum.


157. Briefing Memorandum From the Director of the Policy Planning Staff (Lake) to Secretary of State Muskie

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Policy and Planning Staff—Office of the Director, Records of Anthony Lake, 1977–1981: Lot 82D298, Box 7, TL, 9/1–15/80. No classification marking. Drafted by C. Ries (S/P) on September 3 and cleared by Berger. Ries initialed for Berger. There is no indication that Muskie saw the memorandum.


158. Radio Address by President Carter to the Nation

Source: Public Papers: Carter, 1980–81, Book II, pp. 2337–2341. The President spoke at 12:10 p.m. from the Oval Office at the White House. His address was broadcast live on the Mutual Broadcasting System.


159. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 16, Debate Themes: Foreign Policy, 10/80. No classification marking. Printed from an uninitialed copy. There is no indication that the President saw the memorandum. A notation in an unknown hand indicates that the memorandum was part of a briefing book prepared in advance of the debate. The only Presidential debate of the 1980 campaign took place at the Cleveland, Ohio, Convention Center Musical Hall on October 28 at 9:30 p.m. and was broadcast live on radio and television. The League of Women Voters sponsored the debate, which was moderated by ABC News political commentator Howard K. Smith. Stone, Ellis, Hilliard, and Walters served as panelists. For the transcript of the debate, see Public Papers: Carter, 1980–81, Book III, pp. 2476–2502. In his diary entry for October 28, the President noted: “In the debate itself it was hard to judge the general demeanor that was projected to the viewers. Reagan was ‘Aw, shucks’ . . . this and that . . . ‘I’m a grandfather, and I would never get this nation in a war’ . . . and ‘I love peace . . .’ He has his memorized tapes. He pushes a button, and they come out. He apparently made a better impression on the TV audience than I did, but I made all our points to the constituency groups—which we believe will become preeminent in the public’s mind as they approach the point a week from now of actually going to the polls. Both sides felt good after the debate. We’ll see whose basic strategy is best when the returns come in next Tuesday.” (White House Diary, p. 476)


160. Remarks by President Carter

Source: Public Papers: Carter, 1980–81, Book III, pp. 2687–2688. The President spoke at 9:54 p.m. at the Sheraton Washington Hotel. His remarks were broadcast live on television.


161. Minutes of a Cabinet Meeting

Source: Carter Library, Vertical File, Cabinet Meeting Minutes, 12/21/78–12/13/80. No classification marking. The President wrote “ok. J” in the top right-hand corner of the first page of the minutes.


162. Paper Prepared in the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Policy and Planning Staff—Office of the Director, Records of Anthony Lake, 1977–1981: Lot 82D298, Box 7, TL, 12/1–15/80. No classification marking. No drafting information appears on the paper. There is no indication that the President saw the paper. Muskie transmitted the paper to the President under a December 11 cover memorandum, indicating that the summation “is truly impressive.” (Ibid.) In a November 17 memorandum for heads of departments and agencies, Watson had requested the preparation of summaries of major accomplishments for submission to the President by December 12. (Ibid.)


163. Farewell Address by President Carter to the Nation

Source: Public Papers: Carter, 1980–81, Book III, pp. 2890–2893. The President spoke at 9 p.m. from the Oval Office at the White House. His remarks were broadcast live on radio and television. In his diary entry for January 14, the President wrote: “I delivered the farewell address, and the response was good. I described the pressure of special interest groups, how they fragment the country. Primarily I emphasized, however, the threat of nuclear destruction, environmental issues, and consideration for human rights. These are the same themes I used in my acceptance speech in 1976, my inaugural address four years ago, and that I pursued when I was president.” (White House Diary, p. 507)