Anti-Satellite (ASAT) Weapons and Talks


1. Memorandum From the Acting Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (Sloss) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Defense/Security, Utgoff, Box 156, Anti-Satellite Policy: 1–6/77. Secret.


3. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Department of State, Office of the Secretariat Staff, Special Adviser to the Secretary (S/MS) on Soviet Affairs Marshall Shulman—Jan 21, 77–Jan 19, 81, Lot 81D109, Box 8, Vance to Moscow, March 28–30, 1977. Secret; Nodis. The meeting took place at the Kremlin. Drafted by Krimer on April 2; reviewed by Hyland; and approved by Twaddell on April 12. The conversation is printed in full in Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, vol. VI, Soviet Union, Document 21.


4. Memorandum From the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Brown) to Secretary of Defense Brown

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Harold Brown Papers, Box 22, Anti-Satellite Program. Top Secret.


5. Summary of Significant Discussion and Conclusions of a Policy Review Committee Meeting

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 41, Folder 3, PRM–23 [3]. Top Secret; Talent Keyhole; Comint. The meeting took place in the Old Executive Office Building.


6. Issues Paper Prepared by the PRM–23 Interagency Group

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 41, Folder 3, PRM–23 [3]. Top Secret.


7. Memorandum From Secretary of Defense Brown to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 41, Folder 3, PRM–23 [3]. Top Secret; Talent Keyhole; Control System Only.


8. Letter From the Special Advisor to the President for Science and Technology (Press) to Secretary of Defense Brown

Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–80–0017, Box 56, 471.96 (Aug–10 Nov) 1977. Secret. A stamped notation at the top of the page reads: “SEC DEF HAS SEEN.” In the upper right-hand corner, Brown wrote “9/10. AF should also get a copy. HB.”


9. Memorandum from the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 41, Folder 3, PRM–23 [3]. Top Secret; Talent Keyhole; Comint.


10. Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Slocombe) to the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Aaron)

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Harold Brown Papers, Box 82, ASAT Arms Control. Top Secret. The salutation is handwritten.


12. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Department of State, Office of the Secretariat Staff, Special Adviser to the Secretary (S/MS) on Soviet Affairs Marshall Shulman—Jan 21, 77–Jan 19, 81, Lot 81D109, Box 3, Dobrynin-Vance, 10/17/77. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Shulman; and approved by David Anderson (S/S) on October 31. The meeting took place at the Department of State. The memorandum is printed in full in Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, vol. VI, Soviet Union, Document 53.


13. Memorandum From the Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (Warnke) to Secretary of State Vance

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P770184–0491. Secret.


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

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject Chron File, Box 124, Weapons Systems: 11–12/77. Secret.


16. Information Memorandum From the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Slocombe) to Secretary of Defense Brown

Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–80–0017, Box 56, 471.96 (11 Nov–Nov) 1977. Secret. Coordinated by Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Ross N. Williams. A stamped notation at the top of the memorandum reads: “SEC DEF HAS SEEN.” Under the date stamp, Brown wrote “12/17 Dep Sec should see. HB.”


17. Summary of Conclusions of a Special Coordination Committee Meeting

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Harold Brown Papers, Box 82, Brown Files—General #1, ASAT Arms Control. Top Secret. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room.


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

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 20, PD/NSC–33. Top Secret. Sent for action. In the upper right-hand corner, Carter wrote “Zbig—on something like this always get DOD & State comment. J. p.s. It’s probably o.k.” On February 25, Brzezinski forwarded the memorandum to Vance and Brzezinski and added “I believe the timing is such that we should modify the existing PD before the Secretary of State has his initial talks with the Soviets to assure that they have this message.” He also requested “your views on this approach by 1 March.” (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Harold Brown Papers, Box 82, Brown Files—General #1, ASAT Arms Control)


19. Memorandum From Secretary of Defense Brown to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 20, PD/NSC–33. Top Secret.


20. Informal Notes on a Meeting Between Secretary of State Vance and Soviet Ambassador Dobrynin

Source: Department of State, Office of the Secretariat Staff, Special Adviser to the Secretary (S/MS) on Soviet Affairs Marshall Shulman—Jan 21, 77–Jan 19, 81, Lot 81D109, Box 3, CV-Dobrynin 2/28/78. Secret. Drafted by Shulman on March 1. The informal notes are printed in full in Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, vol. VI, Soviet Union, Document 85.


21. Memorandum From Secretary of State Vance to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 20, PD/NSC–33. Top Secret.


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

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 20, PD/NSC–33. Top Secret. Sent for action. Carter initialed the memorandum.


23. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to Secretary of Defense Brown

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 20, PD/NSC–33. Top Secret.


24. Presidential Directive/NSC–33

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 4, Anti-Satellite System (ASAT): 7/77–10/80. Top Secret.


25. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to Secretary of State Vance

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Box 123, Subject Chron File, Vance, Miscellaneous Communication With: 3–5/78. Top Secret.


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

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 4, Anti-Satellite System (ASAT): 7/77–10/80. Top Secret. Carter initialed the upper right-hand corner of the memorandum.


27. Presidential Directive/NSC–37

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 20, Folder 1, PD/NSC–37. Top Secret.


28. Memorandum From the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Slocombe) to Secretary of Defense Brown

Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–81–0202, Box 46, 471.96 (Apr–June) 1978. Secret. A stamped notation reads: “SEC DEF HAS SEEN.” Under Slocombe’s signature, Brown wrote “5/24. Called Dave A. He will include. HB.”


29. Summary of Conclusions of a Special Coordination Committee Meeting

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 95, SCC 082, Space Policy, ASAT Hostile Acts and Tests, 6/1/78. Top Secret; Codeword. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room.


30. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Harold Brown Papers, Box 82, Brown Files—General #1, ASAT Arms Control. Secret; Exdis. The meeting took place at the Soviet Mission. Drafted by York on June 6.