37. Presidential Review Memorandum/NSC–321
TO
- The Vice President
- The Secretary of State
- The Secretary of Defense
ALSO
- The Director, Office of Management and Budget
- The Director, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
- The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
- The Director of Central Intelligence
- The Administrator, General Services Administration
SUBJECT
- Civil Defense
The President has directed that the Policy Review Committee undertake a review of issues related to civil defense in the United States and the Soviet Union. The purpose of this study is to analyze the strategic implications of civil defense programs in the United States and the Soviet Union, and to determine what changes, if any, should be made in current U.S. policies related to civil defense questions. For the purpose of this study, the term “civil defense” will be assumed to include all activities related to the protection from attack of population, industry, and political leadership below the level of the national command authority.
The study, to be prepared for the Policy Review Committee, chaired by DOD, is to be conducted by a working group chaired by the NSC staff (with Sam Huntington designated as chairman). This study should be completed for PRC review by February 15, 1978.
This review should include an analysis of the following issues:
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- The nature and capabilities of current U.S. and Soviet civil defense programs.
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- Doctrines, policies and objectives of U.S. and Soviet civil defense programs.
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- The strategic usefulness of current and potential U.S. and Soviet civil defense programs.
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- Alternative U.S. policy responses to Soviet civil defense and alternative policies for U.S. civil defense.
Attached are more detailed Terms of Reference for this study.2