Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume II, Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs

112. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to Vice President Mondale ¹

Washington, February 7, 1978

SUBJECT

• Human Rights

Attached for your consideration are redrafted versions of both the human rights PD (Tab A), and the proposal for a Human Rights Foundation (Tab B).²

Since our meeting several weeks ago,³ Jessica Tuchman has consulted with a large number of outside experts in the human rights field, as we agreed at that time. These include: John Richardson of Freedom House, Bill Korey of B’nai Brith, Leo Cherne of the International Rescue Committee, Leonard Marks, former head of USIA, Jan Nowak, and representatives of the American Council of Voluntary Agencies for Foreign Service, the Church World Service, and others. All were unreservedly enthusiastic about the idea, and were vigorous in pleading the need for such an institution on many different grounds. I have incorporated many of their ideas into this new version of the proposal. Jody Powell has seen the proposal and after some initial questions now recommends that the President approve it. OMB has some objections which are, in my view, minor and bureaucratic rather than substantive.⁴ They are addressed in the addendum to the memorandum. In that addendum I have also tried to address the reservations you raised to the earlier draft.⁵

Nearly every day we get more indications of Congressional interest in this idea. Moynihan is apparently getting ready to introduce it on the Senate side, and there are also signs of movement from Zablocki, Fraser, Fascell and perhaps others in the House.⁶ My concern is that if this idea comes out as a Congressional initiative, it will be reported in the press as another example of the Administration’s negative and passive role on human rights, and the Congress’ active and imaginative stance. Given the number of contentious human rights issues we face in the coming session, this would be a particularly unfortunate outcome. I believe we must make a prompt decision on this, one way or the other, or face the risk of being pre-empted.

Regarding the PD, this draft has been refined with a particular view to the consequences of a possible leak. The language has been worked over and tightened, so that there should be no problem if the entire document were to leak, or if any sentence is taken out of context. I believe it is much improved.

Recommendation:

That you give your approval to both the PD and the Human Rights Foundation Proposal, and recommend same to the President.⁷

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Subject Chron File, Box 94, Human Rights: 1978. Confidential.
2. The two tabs are not attached. Brzezinski had originally sent the President a draft Presidential Directive under cover of his December 3 memorandum (see Document 96). Brzezinski had approved a separate memorandum to the President concerning the proposed Human Rights Foundation; a revised version of the memorandum is printed as Document 114. Presumably, Brzezinski sent to Mondale the same copies of the PD and Human Rights Foundation memorandum that he had sent to the President on February 10; see Document 113.
3. See Document 107.
4. See footnote 8, Document 107. In his January 26 memorandum, McIntyre had expressed concern that neither the Department of State nor Vance appeared to have been “adequately consulted” regarding the proposal. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Global Issues—Bloomfield Subject File, Box 17, Human Rights: Policy Initiatives: 1/77–10/78)
5. See Document 97.
6. In a February 1 memorandum to Brzezinski transmitting a response to Hutche-son’s January 27 memorandum (see footnote 8, Document 107), Huntington, Tuchman, and Putnam noted that the “idea of a Human Rights Foundation is gaining momentum in Congress and among the NGOs.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Global Issues—Bloomfield Subject File, Box 17, Human Rights: Policy Initiatives: 1/77–10/78)
7. Brzezinski added “and recommend same to the President” by hand. In a February 9 memorandum to Brzezinski, attached to a February 3 memorandum from Huntington, Tuchman, and Putnam to Brzezinski indicating that they had redrafted the January 24 memorandum regarding the Human Rights Foundation (see footnote 8, Document 107), Clift indicated that Mondale had concurred in the proposed human rights PD and continued to express reservations concerning the Human Rights Foundation. Clift suggested that Mondale’s continuing reservations be incorporated in any subsequent memorandum to Carter regarding the Foundation. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Global Issues—Bloomfield Subject File, Box 17, Human Rights: Policy Initiatives: 1/77–10/78) Mondale’s concerns are reflected in the undated memorandum Brzezinski sent to the President; see Document 114.