Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XX, Eastern Europe

48. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter¹

Washington, undated

SUBJECT

• Appointment of New Chairman of Board for International Broadcasting

Appointment of a new Chairman of the Board of International Broadcasting (BIB—the RFE/RL sponsoring organization) should take place as soon as possible to forestall possible controversy over this organization. The outgoing Chairman, David Abshire, and certain other Board and Staff members are maneuvering to control new appointments and are drawing Senators Percy and McGovern into arguments with the Administration over who should serve on the Board and how it should operate.² This has resulted over the weekend in distorted stories (Tab A)³ in both the New York Times and Washington Post attacking Professor William Griffith of MIT, whom I have suggested be appointed a Board Member.⁴ The newspaper stories do not mention our choice⁵ as Chairman, John Gronouski, but advocate appointment of Frank Stanton as Chairman.

Stanton is the author of an extremely controversial set of proposals for changes in U.S. Government information programs.⁶ Making him Chairman of the BIB would be, in effect, to endorse his program. The ultimate effect of this program would be to take international broadcasting out of the control of the Administration.

To nip this controversy in the bud, I recommend that you announce as soon as possible the appointment of Gronouski.⁷ It will be difficult for anyone to make a case against him. He is a natural choice as a prominent Democrat and a man with previous experience (Ambassador to Poland, e.g.) which fits him for the BIB job. I am confident that he will work with the Administration to get the BIB restructured in an intelligent way. Once he has been appointed we can proceed to the two other vacancies for which I recommend Professor Griffith and former Congressman Peter Frelinghuysen of New Jersey.

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 9, Board for International Broadcasting (RFE, RL, VOA): 2–12/77. Confidential; Outside System. Sent for action. Carter wrote at the top of the document: “To Ham[Hamilton Jordan]—O.K. with me. Check w/ State first. JC.”
2. In a May 4 memorandum to Brzezinski, Henze reported that Percy had introduced an amendment to have VOA set up autonomously, as well as other changes to the USIA/CU reorganization which, Henze suggested, amounted to implementation of the Stanton report. Henze recommended that the White House make clear to key Senate and House members its opposition to the Stanton report. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Subject Chron File, Box 112, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Voice of America: 1977)
3. Attached but not printed
4. Brzezinski forwarded a memorandum to Jordan on June 17 that recommended the nominations of Rita Hauser and William Griffith to membership in the BIB Board. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Subject Chron File, Box 64, Board of International Broadcasting: 1977) Although Griffith was not nominated, Hauser’s nomination was announced on November 14. Frank Markoe, Jr., was nominated to replace Foy Kohler who had resigned earlier. (Public Papers: Carter, 1977, Book II, p. 2024)
5. An unidentified hand, possibly Jordan, circled the words “our choice” and wrote in the margin “whose?” Carter submitted Gronouski’s nomination to the Senate on June 8. (Public Papers: Carter, 1977, Book I, p. 1073)
6. In a March 18 memorandum to Carter, Brzezinski described the report as advocating the fragmentation of U.S. information policy by, among other things, abolishing USIA and setting up the Information and Cultural Affairs Agency under the Department of State, and establishing a separate Board to govern VOA activities. The Board would eventually be merged with the BIB, leading to the merger of VOA and RFE/RL. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 9, Board for International Broadcasting (RFE, RL, VOA): 2–12/77)
7. In a March 14 memorandum to Carter, Jordan reported his discussion with Vance regarding Gronouski’s nomination as BIB Chairman. Jordan indicated that, while Vance preferred Stanton, he had no objection to Gronouski. Jordan also stated that Senators McGovern and Percy continued to support Stanton, but would be hard pressed to oppose Gronouski’s nomination. Carter wrote at the top of the memo: “CC: Ham[ilton Jordan], Zbig. What are the key elements of the Stanton Report? J.” (Ibid.)