62. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to the Director of the United States Information Agency (Reinhardt)1

SUBJECT

  • Higher Outlays for Information Programs

REFERENCE

  • Your Memorandum of 1 June 19772

You make some very good points about undercapitalization of VOA underspending on other aspects of our government information programs. These programs have all tended to mark time in recent years and now need new initiative.

I recommend you develop specific plans for full modernization of VOA, for expansion of exchange and leader programs, for exhibits in Communist countries and elsewhere and build them into the 1979 budget planning process as soon as possible. It will be easier to get approval for these expenditures in both the Executive Branch and from Congress if we put them in the framework of a new thrust in the field of public diplomacy which the President endorses.

Zbigniew Brzezinski
  1. Source: Carter Library, White House Central Files, Subject File, Finance, Executive, Box FI–19, FI 4/FG–266 1/20/77–1/20/81. No classification marking.
  2. See Document 59.