287. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to the Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget (White)1

SUBJECT

  • CIA’s Soviet/East European Book and Publications Program (S)

I have reviewed your memorandum2 on the chronology of OMB’s consideration of added funding for the Soviet/East European book program and am in sympathy with the points you raise. In considering all the factors, however, I believe that the importance to our national security interests of augmenting the program outweighs the potential risk in Congressional perceptions of the CIA Reserve for Contingencies. Therefore, I ask that you authorize the use of the Reserve for the remaining $550,000. Though, as you say in your memorandum, your accession is reluctant, I appreciate your support in this matter, which—as you know—I consider to be very urgently3 in the national interest.

Zbigniew Brzezinski
  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Subject Chron File, Box 81, Cabinet Members, Misc. Communications with: 1980–1981. Secret; Sensitive.
  2. See footnote 4, Document 284.
  3. An unknown hand underlined “very urgently.”