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

78. Paper Prepared in the National Security Council¹

Washington, undated

AGENDA PAPER

The first PRC meeting on PRM/NSC–32, Civil Defense,² left two issues for further consideration. The purpose of this meeting is to decide them.

1. U.S. civil defense policy: a proposed policy statement is at Tab A.

2. Whether to improve the current continuity of government program: a statement of the choices is at Tab B and a paper setting forth the available program analysis on continuity of government is at Tab C.³

Tab A

Paper Prepared in the National Security Council⁴

Washington, undated

PROPOSED STATEMENT OF US CIVIL DEFENSE POLICY

Enhanced Survivability. The U.S. civil defense program will seek to enhance the survivability of the American people in the event that a major nuclear war occurs by providing some increase in numbers of surviving population and leadership, thereby improving the basis for eventual national recovery.

In addition, the U.S. civil defense program will contribute in part to the overall U.S.-Soviet strategic balance and reduce the possibility that the Soviets could coerce us in time of crisis. Perceptions of the overall balance should not be marked by major asymmetries in population of leadership fatalities.

“Enhanced survivability” as a policy does not require similar or equivalent programs. Survivability will depend on the nature of the society as well as the nature of the attack directed against it.

Public Declaratory Policy. In support of an expanded U.S. civil defense program, the U.S. public policy should be:

The U.S. civil defense policy, enhanced survivability, requires modest improvements in our civil defense posture which will provide insurance in the event of the failure of deterrence while contributing to some degree to the maintenance of the overall strategic balance and crisis management.

Tab B

Paper Prepared in the National Security Council⁵

Washington, undated

CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT

The FPA paper for the Policy Review Committee on civil defense provides several alternative approaches to enhancing the survival of continuity of government elements, but it does not make a comparative analysis on which to make a selection among the alternatives. It does, however, provide sufficient analysis to suggest that the current system needs significant improvements, probably including “mobility” in addition to, or in place of, fixed sites.

The choices for the Policy Review Committee, therefore, are:

a. Retain the current continuity of government program, or

b. Improve the present capability to make it more survivable but defer choice of alternatives for improvement pending further analysis.

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, General Odom File, Box 14, Civil Defense: Policy Review Committee: 8/14/78–9/78. Secret. Dodson distributed the paper to Vance, Brown, McIntyre, Warnke, Jones, Turner, and Mitchell under cover of an August 16 memorandum.
2. See Document 73.
3. Not found attached.
4. Secret.
5. Secret.