51. Letter From President Carter to Egyptian President Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Begin1
Camp David, September 15, 1978
To Pres. Sadat & P.M.
Begin:
We are approaching the final stage of our negotiations. With your approval, I propose that today we receive your most constructive recommendations, that tomorrow (Saturday) be devoted to drafting efforts, and that we conclude the meeting at Camp David at some time during the following day. We will, at that time, issue a common statement to the press, drafted together. Additionally, we should agree not to make any further public statements prior to noon on Monday. Please let me know if you object to any of these proposals.
J.C.
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 53, Middle East: Camp David President’s Working Papers, 9/10–27/78. No classification marking. The handwritten letter was found attached to a September 15 note by Clough indicating that original copies of the letter were hand delivered to Sadat and Begin by Mondale. (Ibid.) In his personal diary, Carter wrote that the text of the letter was agreed at a meeting of the U.S. delegation in Aspen Lodge on the morning of September 15 and that both Sadat and Begin accepted the message. (White House Diary, p. 236) According to the President’s Daily Diary, this meeting, involving Carter, Mondale, Vance, Brzezinski, Jordan, Brown, and Powell, took place from 7:51 a.m. to 9:55 a.m. (Carter Library, Presidential Materials) Mondale delivered the letter to Sadat and Begin on the afternoon of September 15. (See footnotes 66 and 68, Document 28)↩