Office of the Historian

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

Washington, March 14, 1978

SUBJECT

  • Russian and East European Book Program—CIA Report

Admiral Turner has sent you a memo (TAB B)2 reporting that the SCC recommendations of last fall on expansion of Russian and East European book publishing are being implemented. A total of [dollar amount not declassified] is going to be allocated to increased book publication and distribution in 1978 (FY). State has approved the main lines of the Agency program and there seems, as of the moment, to be no difficulty in carrying out the CIA program.

This represents very effective performance by CIA at a time of stress and confusion in the DDO.3 I have drafted a little memo from [Page 65] you to the Admiral giving them a pat on the back. It also establishes a requirement for reporting to us on what has been accomplished as of 1 September so the program can again be reviewed this coming fall.

RECOMMENDATION:

That you sign the attached Memorandum (TAB A).4

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Horn/Special, Box 2, Chron File: 3/78. Secret; Sensitive.↩
  2. Dated March 13. Not attached.↩
  3. In a March 23 memorandum to Brzezinski, Henze described the “persistent” and “mistaken” philosophy of using covert action only as a last resort. “ Stan Turner,” Henze wrote, “gives the impression of greater covert capabilities than CIA actually possesses. This may be in part because he is reluctant to admit the damage his personnel policies have done to the DDO.” Scheduled for publication in Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, vol. XXVIII, Organization and Management of Foreign Policy.↩
  4. Attached but not printed. The draft memorandum reads: “I am pleased to note from your memorandum that this program has moved ahead successfully. It represents good fulfillment of the SCC recommendation of 26 October 1977, approved by the President on 1 November 1977. I would like to have a progress report on this program by 1 September 1978 so that we can review its scope for 1979.” There is no indication that Brzezinski signed the memorandum. An unidentified handwritten note at the bottom of the covering memorandum indicates that action was suspended.↩