Office of the Historian

280. Memorandum From Paul Henze of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)1

Washington, June 2, 1980

SUBJECT

  • CIA’s Book & Publication Programs

CIA’s comptroller called me this afternoon to say that they had reached the end of the line in their efforts to persuade OMB to provide adequate funds to keep the book and publication program going in FY1981—OMB had simply turned them down and Turner concluded he must appeal to you for further support. So they are sending a draft letter from you to McIntyre. I will review it and send it to you as soon as it arrives.2

It is appalling—as we all know—that these excellent programs should have fallen into such jeopardy at a time like this. You probably noticed the piece in the NYT last week on Chojecki.3 These programs relate to his activity in many ways—and what he is doing in Poland is an example of what others like him may eventually be able to do in other places, including the USSR, if we keep these activities going. . . Chojecki, by the way, republished Jan Nowak’s memoirs in Poland.

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Country Chron File, Box 55, USSR: 7/80. Secret; Sensitive.↩
  2. Brzezinski highlighted the last two sentences and wrote at the bottom of the memorandum: “I will back it strongly. Make a compelling case, factually and budget wise. ZB.”↩
  3. Reference is to John Darnton’s article on Miroslaw Chojecki, a Polish chemist who published censored works. See “Polish Underground Publisher Flouts Censor and Thrives,” The New York Times, May 28, 1980, p. 2.↩