308. Editorial Note

In early July 1980, the impending death of the Shah and whether the United States should have an official presence at his funeral, as well as the kind of statement the United States should issue on his death, became an issue of discussion between the Department of State and the National Security Council Staff.

Zbigniew Brzezinski, the President’s [Page 842] Assistant for National Security Affairs, wrote President Jimmy Carter a July 2 note advising that he should be aware of the draft telegram with instructions to U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Alfred (Roy) Atherton (see footnote 3, Document 303). Brzezinski suggested that the United States not send an official delegation to the funeral, but that Atherton attend the funeral. Carter approved these points, writing “ok” beside the first point, and “I agree” in the right margin beside the second. Carter also approved contingency draft letters of condolence. (Note from Brzezinski to Carter, July 2; Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 33, Iran Update 9/80)

The revised instructions were sent in telegram 175165 to Cairo, July 3, in which Atherton was instructed to attend an official funeral. He was also instructed to consult with influential members of the diplomatic corps in Cairo, especially EC–9 members. If only a few Chiefs of Mission planned to attend the Shah’s funeral, then Atherton was to request additional instructions from the Department and inform Egyptian President Anwar Sadat of U.S. concerns before Sadat made “definite and possibly elaborate arrangements for funeral and mourning.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P870047–2626) The draft of this telegram is described in footnote 3, Document 303.

Carter’s decisions were also conveyed to Henry Precht, Director of the Office of Iranian Affairs in the Bureau of Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs and member of the Iran Working Group, through Gary Sick of the National Security Council Staff. At Sick’s request, Precht prepared two letters of condolence and a press guidance to be used in the event of the Shah’s death. Sick approved the condolence letters, but informed Brzezinski that the press guidance specifically linked Atherton’s attendance at the funeral to a decision by the diplomatic corps in Cairo. Sick noted that his own understanding had been that “Atherton was instructed to attend at the invitation of President Sadat” without mentioning the diplomatic corps. Brzezinski agreed with Sick. (Memorandum from Sick to Brzezinski, July 5, condolence letters and Press Guidance attached; Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 31, Iran 6/80–7/80) On another copy of this same memorandum, David Aaron, the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs, wrote: “Tell Precht to do what the President ordered! DA 7/7/80.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office File, Box 65, Outside the System File, Iran Non-Meetings Hostage Crisis 4/80–11/80) In the July 11 Middle East/North Africa Cluster evening report to Brzezinski, the Cluster noted that Precht had been nominated as the new U.S. Ambassador to Mauritania. In the margin Brzezinski wrote: “good riddance.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East File, Box 42, Subject File, Iran Papers 5/80–7/80)

The NSC Staff and Department of State then prepared different statements to be issued by the Department on the event of the Shah’s death. The NSC’s undated draft statement referred to the Shah as a “strong leader of Iran and a good friend of the United States,” whose “place in history will not be determined by the impassioned judgment of his contemporaries,” but “for guiding Iran’s emergence as a modern state,” an Iran that was a “powerful, stabilizing, and progressive force in a vital region.” Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Newsom informed Muskie, July 13, that the Department had “serious problems” with this statement. Newsom thought the “tone of defense of the Shah” and “efforts to mention precise accomplishments of the former ruler” were unhelpful. Newsom’s undated alternative statement referred to the Shah as “the leader of Iran for 38 years” of “profound changes,” and “acknowledged” the “friendship and cooperation” between Iran and the United States during this period. After discussion with Sick, the final draft statement, which closely followed Newsom’s version, with the added statement that the Shah’s death “marks the end of an era in Iran, which all hope will be followed by peace and stability,” was approved. (All drafts in Department of State, Records of David D. Newsom, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Subject Files, 1978–1981, Files, Lot 81D154, Briefing Book: The Shah Panama Jan–March 180, Egypt Jan–July 1980, Vol. V) The final official statement, issued on July 27 after the Shah’s death that day, is in Department of State Bulletin, September 1980, page 55. See Document 326.