Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume IV, National Security Policy

207. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter¹

Washington, July 24, 1980

SUBJECT

• Nuclear Targeting Policy

Today you are meeting with Harold Brown, the Vice President, and me to respond to the request you made at Tab I, page 2,² for a briefing on the proposed Presidential Directive on Nuclear Weapons Employment Policy. You asked to know:

— what is changed in targeting, etc.;

— how we propose to brief the allies;

— what public statements are to be made? (TS)

Harold will answer these questions for you. (U)

With the new directive, you will make rather significant and important innovations in improving control and management of our nuclear forces. At the same time, it is not a totally new departure. The basic direction toward more flexibility was set by the Schlesinger effort in 1974 which led to NSDM–242.³ That directive, however, only initiated the process, and it was not very specific about the need for a better staffing capability. Nor did it tie theater forces and other military operations into planning effectively. I have added the emphasis on exercises in the new PD as a result of your own involvement in IVORY ITEM exercises in 1978. They had an enormous educational impact and helped my staff and Harold’s design parts of the new PD. That learning process must continue if this new PD is to have its best effect and you are to guide the evolution of the policy. (TS)

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, General Odom File, Box 36, PD–1 through PD–63: 1/77–1/81. Top Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. Printed from an uninitialed copy.
2. Printed as Document 185. Carter met with Mondale and Brown from 1:30 to 2 p.m. in the Oval Office. (Carter Library, Presidential Materials, President’s Daily Diary)
3. See footnote 2, Document 29.