Office of the Historian

32. Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (Aaron) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)1

Washington, April 12, 1977

SUBJECT

  • Human Rights

I am increasingly concerned that we are all over the lot on this issue. Note the attached item from this morning’s intelligence summary.2 I believe the only answer is a Special Coordinating Committee Working Group on the human rights issues. It would handle both substantive activities relating to human rights and the coordination of our legislative effort. It should therefore consist of both a substantive officer from each agency and a legislative liaison person. I suggest we chair but an alternative would be to have State do it. My concern with State, as indicated in the attached, is that they don’t know what they are talking about half the time.

Recommendation

That we prepare a memo to the President seeking his approval for an SCC Working Group to coordinate human rights activities.3

  1. Source: Carter Library, Donated Historical Materials, Mondale Papers, David Aaron, Box 214, [Aaron, David]: Chron File, 7/1977 (Classified). Secret; Exdis. Aaron did not initial the memorandum.↩
  2. Not found attached.↩
  3. There is no indication as to whether Brzezinski approved or disapproved the recommendation.↩