First Responses
31. Memorandum From the Chief, Near East and South Asia Division, Directorate of Operations, Central Intelligence Agency (Cogan) to Director of Central Intelligence Turner
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 81M00919R: Executive Registry Subject Files (1976–1979), Box 14, Folder 10: C–372. Secret; Sensitive. Sent through the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence and the Deputy Director for Operations.
32. Memorandum From the Inspector General, Central Intelligence Agency (Waller) to Director of Central Intelligence Turner
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 82M00501R: 1980 Subject Files, Box 13, Folder 1: Iran (Tab B, Iran Notebook). Secret. Copies were sent to DDCI, DDO, and Chief, Near East and South Asia Division.
33. Memorandum From the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Newsom) to Secretary of State Vance
Source: Department of State, Records of David D. Newsom, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Subject Files, 1978–1981, Lot 81D154, UN and Security Council. Secret.
34. Memorandum From Director of Central Intelligence Turner to President Carter
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 95M01183R: Policy Files (1977–1981), Box 1, Folder 5: DCI Turner—Eyes Only Files—Various Subjects. Top Secret; Sensitive.
35. Summary of Conclusions of a Special Coordination Committee Meeting
Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, NSC Institutional Files (H–Files), Box 106, SCC 204a Iran. Top Secret. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room.
36. Paper Prepared by the Joint Staff
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 30, Iran 11/17/79–11/20/79. Top Secret.
37. Memorandum From Gary Sick of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 30, Iran 11/17/79–11/20/79. Sensitive; Eyes Only. A stamped notation on the memorandum reads: “ZB has seen.”
38. Intelligence Memorandum Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 81M00919R: Executive Registry Subject Files (1976–1979), Box 14. Top Secret; [handling restriction not declassified]. A cover page and table of contents are not printed. Three annexes, titled “Iran: Import Patterns and Vulnerabilities,” “Major Developed Countries: Responses to US Economic Countermeasures Against Iran,” and “Iran’s Transportation Network: Capabilities and Vulnerabilities,” are attached but not printed. The CIA prepared a similar December 4 paper [document number not declassified] titled “The Iranian Crisis: International Economic Fallout,” which Turner sent to Carter, Mondale, Vance, Brzezinski, Brown, Miller, and Duncan under separate December 5 covering memoranda. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 30, Iran December 5–9, 1979)
40. Report Prepared by the Interagency Group
Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, NSC Institutional Files (H–Files), Box 106, SCC 206 Iran 11/20/79. Top Secret. Carter wrote at the top of the memorandum: “Zbig, J.” On a November 20 transmittal memorandum from Sick to Aaron attached to a draft, an unknown hand wrote: “DA [Aaron] briefed SCC on this—it was accepted, and DA prepared a single copy clean version for the President only.” (National Security Council, Carter Intelligence Files, Subject File, Box I026, Iran Finding 27 Dec 1979) The draft was summarized at the 9–10:10 a.m. November 20 SCC meeting. (Carter Library, National Security Council, NSC Institutional Files (H–Files), Box 106, SCC 206 Iran 11/20/79)
42. Paper Prepared in the Department of State
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 30, Iran 11/17/79–11/20/79. Top Secret; Sensitive; Nodis. A handwritten note at the top of the page reads, “Revised.” For the background to this paper, see Document 41. The paper was briefly discussed at the November 21 SCC meeting, and it was agreed that “it would be useful for the President to see it after key members of the SCC had had the opportunity to comment.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Donated Material, Geographic Files, Box 13) An unknown hand wrote on Brzezinski’s November 21 Iran activities log: “Odom to Camp David with operational plans.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 31, Iran 2/80) In his memoir, Brzezinski wrote that he had sent Odom to Camp David “with a sealed envelope containing a chart outlining additional military options developed by Defense and summarizing for the President their scale and likely impact.” (Brzezinski, Power and Principle, p. 483)
43. Memorandum From Ambassador Eilts to President Carter
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office File, Box 77, Presidential Advisory File, Sensitive X: 11–12/78. Top Secret; Eyes Only for the President. According to Carter’s personal notes, Eilts reported the contents of this memorandum to him on the evening of November 20. (Carter Library, Plains File, Box 1) Carter had returned to Camp David at 6:15 p.m. and he spoke to Eilts on the telephone from 9:29 to 9:51 p.m. (Carter Library, President’s Daily Diary)
44. Memorandum From Director of Central Intelligence Turner to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 30, Iran 11/17/79–11/20/79. Secret. Carter initialed “C” in the upper right corner.
45. Telegram From the Consulate in Frankfurt to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Official Files of [P] David D. Newsom, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Lot 82D85, Release of Hostages—Under Secretary Newsom. Secret; Immediate; Stadis. Sent via SY Channel. A stamped notation on the top of the first page reads: “Mr. Newsom has seen, Dec 2 1979.” Two other telegrams from Frankfurt provided details of the hostages’ experiences. (Telegram 11217 from Frankfurt, November 21; Department of State, Official Files of [P] David D. Newsom, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Lot 82D85, Hostages Released—Escaped; telegram 11261 from Frankfurt, November 22; Department of State, Official Files of [P] David D. Newsom, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Lot 82D85, Release of Hostages—Under Secretary Newsom)
46. Message From the Chargé d’Affaires in Iran (Laingen) to Secretary of State Vance
Source: Carter Library, Office of the Chief of Staff, Jordan’s Confidential Files, Box 1, Folder 17. Confidential. Sent from the British Embassy in Tehran via the British Embassy in Washington to the Department of State for the Iran Task Force, then forwarded from the White House Situation Room to Camp David on November 23, 5:04 p.m., with instructions to deliver to Hamilton Jordan in a sealed envelope.
47. Summary of Conclusions of a Special Coordination Committee Meeting
Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, NSC Institutional Files (H–Files), Box 106. Top Secret. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room. Carter initialed “C” in the right-hand margin of the page.
48. Memorandum From the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury (Carswell) to the Special Coordination Committee and the National Security Council
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East File, Box 97, Meetings File, 11/23/79 NSC and SCC re Iran. Confidential.
49. Memorandum From Director of Central Intelligence Turner
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 81M00919R: Executive Registry Subject Files (1976–1979), Box 14, Folder 11: C–372 Iran. Secret.
50. Paper Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 81M00919R: Executive Registry Subject Files (1976–1979), Box 14, Folder 11: C–372 Iran. Secret. Drafted by Richard Lehman. Sent under a November 22 covering memorandum from Turner to Carter, Mondale, Vance, Brown, and Brzezinski, and distributed at the November 22 SCC meeting (see Document 47). In a November 23 memorandum, Brzezinski recommended that Carter scan this paper and an attached companion paper prepared by Waller. Brzezinski suggested “we should take advantage of the first opportunity to begin organizing a series of actions which make it less likely that the less attractive alternatives” Lehman outlined would come to pass. He suggested that Carter raise the issue at the next NSC meeting “especially because I have encountered real reluctance (notably from State) to reach any specific recommendations regarding covert activity within the SCC.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brezezinski Material, Country File, Box 30, Iran 11/21/79–11/27/79)
51. Minutes of a National Security Council Meeting
Source: Carter Library, Plains File, Box 7, NSC/SCC Minutes, 11/15/79–12/12/79. Top Secret; Sensitive. The meeting took place at Camp David.
52. Message From the U.S. Government to the Iranian Government
Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, NSC Institutional Files (H–Files), Box 106. Top Secret; Sensitive. Transmitted through the Swiss Embassy. According to a June 4, 1980, Memorandum for the File by Precht, the message was transmitted to Bern at 1800 EST on November 23, reached Tehran the next morning, and was given to Bani-Sadr by Lang at 0705 EST, November 24. Precht wrote that “Bani-Sadr read the message and said he would transmit its contents at once to the Revolutionary Council.” (Department of State, Records of David D. Newsom, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Subject Files, 1978–1981, Lot81D154, Swiss Channel) Sick recalled that the United States received assurance within 48 hours that the message had been received and understood. (Sick, All Fall Down, p. 276) In telegram 304399 to Paris, November 23, the Department transmitted instructions that Giscard receive the content of this message through oral communication only for his sole information and that any tapes of the message should be destroyed after delivery. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 23, France 1/79–12/79)
53. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office File, Box 17, SCC Meeting #209 held 11/23/79. Secret. Carter initialed “C” in the upper right corner.
54. Summary of Conclusions of a Special Coordination Committee (Intelligence) Meeting
Source: National Security Council, Carter Intelligence Files, Box I020, SCC Meetings, Minutes—SCC 1979. Top Secret. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room.
55. Memorandum Prepared by the Iran Task Force, Central Intelligence Agency
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 81M00919R: Executive Registry Subject Files (1976–1979), Box 14, Folder 11: C–372 Iran. Secret; [handling restriction not declassified].
56. Memorandum From the White House Chief of Staff (Jordan) to President Carter
Source: Carter Library, Office of the Chief of Staff, Jordan’s Confidential Files, Box 34, Iran 11/79. Eyes Only.
57. Memorandum From the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Newsom) to Secretary of State Vance
Source: Department of State, Records of David D. Newsom, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Subject Files, 1978–1981, Lot 81D154, Misc: on Shah. Secret.
58. Memorandum from the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Tarnoff) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East File, Box 35, Subject File, Iran Cables & Memos 11–12/79. Secret; Sensitive. A handwritten note by Carter reads: “Zbig, Prepare to explain as best we can. C.”
59. Summary of Conclusions of a Special Coordination Committee Meeting
Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, NSC Institutional Files (H–Files), Box 106, SCC 210 Iran 11/26/79. Top Secret. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room. Carter wrote “Zbig, J” in the upper right corner.
60. Memorandum From Secretary of State Vance to President Carter
Source: Carter Library, Plains File, Box 14. Secret. Carter initialed “C” in the upper right corner.