Foundations of Foreign Policy, 1983
129. Memorandum From Robert Sims of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Clark)
Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Subject File, Public Affairs (January 1983). Secret. A stamped notation on the memorandum reads: “WPC HAS SEEN.” An attached NSC Correspondence Profile indicates that the memorandum was sent to Clark for action and that copies were sent to Bailey, Kraemer, Boverie, Myer, and Dobriansky for information.
131. Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations (Moore) and the Chairman of the Policy Planning Council (Bosworth) to Secretary of State Shultz
Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, Official Memoranda; NLR–775–27A–8–2–1. Limited Official Use. Sent through Dam. Drischler initialed for Moore. Drafted by Kaplan and Montgomery on January 10; cleared by Gompert. Kaplan initialed for Gompert. Shultz’s stamped initials appear in the top right-hand corner of the memorandum. Bremer initialed the top of the memorandum and wrote “1/11.”
132. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, Official Memoranda (01/14/1983); NLR–775–27A–14–3–3. Secret. The meeting took place at Blair House. Drafted by Wright on January 15; cleared by Newell, Feldman, and Hill. Newell did not initial the memorandum. A typed notation on the first page of the memorandum reads: “Distribution appv by S, 2/18/83.” A stamped notation indicates that it was received on February 20 at 2:26 p.m. In telegram 20600 to USUN and the Mission in Geneva, January 22, the Department reported on the meeting. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D830039–0832)
133. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, Official Memoranda (01/17/1983); NLR–775–27A–17–6–7. Limited Official Use. Drafted by Wisner; cleared by Klosson and Hill. The stamped date “FEB 14 1983” is in the top right-hand corner of the memorandum.
134. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Subject File, Memorandums of Conversation—President Reagan (12/27/1982–1/31/1983). Secret. The meeting took place in the Cabinet Room at the White House from 11:50 a.m. until 12:29 p.m. (Reagan Library, President’s Daily Diary) Sigur sent the memorandum to Clark under a January 28 covering memorandum in which he noted that Seligmann had drafted the memorandum of conversation, commenting: “Seligmann’s notes are quite complete and I have little to add.” Sigur also listed the attendees: the President, Nakasone, Bush, Shultz, Weinberger, Block, Baldrige, Brock, Clark, McFarlane, Mansfield, Wolfowitz, McNamar, Gregg, Sigur, Meese, Seligmann, Abe, Fujinami, Okawara, Nakajima, Murata, Kitamura, Hasegawa, and Karita. Also scheduled for publication in Foreign Relations, 1981–1988, vol. XXX, Japan; Korea, 1981–1984.
135. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan
Source: Reagan Library, European and Soviet Affairs Directorate, NSC Records, Subject File, Shultz, George P. Secretary of State (1 of 5). Secret; Sensitive. It is also printed in Foreign Relations, 1981–1988, vol. IV, Soviet Union, January 1983–March 1985 Document 1. Although no drafting information appears on the memorandum, Burt wrote to Shultz on January 18: “Per our conversation earlier today, I have recast the US-Soviet paper as a memo from you to the President.” (Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, 1982–83 US-Soviets Background Info) In his memoir, Shultz recalled the memorandum’s reception: “Shortly after my paper reached the White House, Bud McFarlane let me know that the NSC staff over there was ‘fly specking’ it. ‘There are so many ideologues around here that they are picking it to pieces,’ he said.” (Shultz, Turmoil and Triumph, p. 162)
136. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to Vice President Bush
Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, Official Memoranda, (01/25/1983); NLR–775–27A–31–6–1. Secret. Drafted by Caldwell on January 21; cleared by Burt, Dobbins, John Hawes (EUR/RPM), Olaf Grobel (PM/TMP), Elaine Morton (S/P), Darryl Johnson (P), and Casse. Printed from an uninitialed copy. Caldwell initialed for all clearing officials. Attached but not printed are an undated paper entitled “Vice President’s European Trip Itinerary,” and a paper entitled “Talking Points on the Vice President’s Trip to Europe,” drafted on January 25.
137. Memorandum From Paula Dobriansky of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Clark)
Source: Reagan Library, European and Soviet Affairs Directorate, NSC Records, Subject File, Shultz, George P., Secretary of State (1 of 5). Secret; Sensitive. Sent for action.
138. Memorandum From Dennis Blair of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Clark)
Source: Reagan Library, European and Soviet Affairs Directorate, NSC Records, Subject File, State of the Union Speech (3 of 4); NLR–170–13–32–7–6. No classification marking. Sent for action.
139. Address by President Reagan on the State of the Union Before a Joint Session of Congress
Source: Public Papers: Reagan, 1983, Book I, pp. 102–110. All brackets are in the original. The President spoke at 9:03 p.m. in the House Chamber of the Capitol. The address was broadcast live on nationwide radio and television networks. In his personal diary entry for January 25, the President wrote: “St. of the U. went well. Dems. followed it on networks with a film made weeks ago. They goofed—their supposed rebuttal turned out to be an advocacy of things I’d said we were going to do—interrupted here & there with charges that I was against such things. ABC did a before the speech & after-poll. I rose 15 points in approval by the end of the speech.” (Brinkley, ed., The Reagan Diaries, vol. I, January 1981–October 1985, p. 192)
140. Memorandum From Norman Bailey of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Clark)
Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Agency File, National Security Council (01/12/1983–12/08/1983). No classification marking. Sent for information. Wheeler initialed the top right-hand corner of the memorandum. A stamped notation on the memorandum reads: “WPC HAS SEEN.”
141. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Subject File, Memorandums of Conversation—President Reagan (02/08/1983–02/09/1983). Confidential. No drafting information appears on the memorandum. The meeting took place in the Oval Office. The memorandum of conversation is also scheduled for publication in Foreign Relations, 1981–1988, vol. XIX, Arab-Israeli Dispute.
144. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassies in all North Atlantic Treaty Organization Capitals, Japan, Australia, China, and New Zealand
Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D830162–0439. Unclassified; Immediate. Sent for information to the Department of Defense, the White House, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Sent for information Immediate to all diplomatic posts, CSA, CNO, CSAF, CMC, CINCAD Peterson AFB, CINCLANT Norfolk, UNCINCEUR Vailhingen, CINCMAC Scott AFB, CINCPAC Honolulu, USCINCCENT Macdill AFB, USCINCRED Macdill AFB, USCINCSO Quarry Heights, and CINCSAC Offutt AFB. Drafted by Kanter and Caldwell; cleared by Dobbins, McManaway, Howe, and in S/S–O, and in substance by McFarlane, Iklé, and Gorman (JCS); approved by Eagleburger.
145. Address by President Reagan to the Nation
Source: Public Papers: Reagan, 1983, Book I, pp. 437–443. The President spoke at 8:02 p.m. from the Oval Office. His address was broadcast live on nationwide radio and television networks. In his personal diary entry for March 23, the President wrote: “The big thing today was the 8 P.M. T.V. speech on all networks about the Nat. Security. We’ve been working on the speech for about 72 hrs. & right down to deadline. We had a group in for dinner at the W.H. I didn’t join them except before dinner a few words of welcome. Nancy & I then dined early upstairs. The group included several former Secs. of State, Nat. Security Advisors, distinguished Nuclear scientists, the Chiefs of staff etc. I did the speech from the Oval office at 8 & then joined the party for coffee. I guess it was O.K. they all praised it to the sky & seemed to think it would be a source of debate for some time to come. I did the bulk of the speech on why our arms build up was necessary & then finished with a call to the Science community to join me in research starting now to develop a defensive weapon that would render nuclear missiles obsolete. I made no optimistic forecasts—said it might take 20 yrs. or more but we had to do it. I felt good.” (Brinkley, ed., The Reagan Diaries, vol. I, January 1981–October 1985, p. 209) For Shultz’s assessment of the planning of the address, see Turmoil and Triumph, pp. 249–261. According to Shultz, “It was a stunning and dramatic speech. It expressed a deep vision: we had painted ourselves into a corner with the concept of Mutual Assured Destruction, and the president proposed a way out.” (Ibid., p. 258)
146. Remarks by President Reagan
Source: Public Papers: Reagan, 1983, Book I, pp. 479–484. All brackets are in the original. The President spoke at 12:55 p.m. in the International Ballroom at the Beverly Hilton Hotel at a luncheon hosted by the Los Angeles World Affairs Council. For the text of the question-and-answer session following the President’s remarks, see ibid., pp. 484–486.
147. Personal Note Prepared by the Deputy Secretary of State (Dam)
Source: Department of State, D Files, Deputy Secretary Dam’s Official Files: Lot 85D308, Personal Notes of Deputy Secretary—Kenneth W. Dam—Oct. 1982–Sept. 1983. Secret. Dictated on April 6.
148. Information Memorandum From the Chairman of the Policy Planning Council (Bosworth) to Secretary of State Shultz
Source: Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/P Files, Memoranda and Correspondence from the Director of the Policy Planning Staff to the Secretary and Other Seventh Floor Principals: Lot 89D149, S/P Chrons 4/1–15/83. Secret. Kaplan initialed for Bosworth. Copies were sent to Dam, Eagleburger, Wallis, William Schneider (T), Jerome Van Gorkom (M), Derwinski, and Richard Kennedy (S/NP).
149. Information Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Burt) to Secretary of State Shultz
Source: Department of State, E Files, Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs W. Allen Wallis, Chrons; Memo to the Secretary/Staff and Departmental/Other Agencies; Memos to the Files; White House Correspondence, 1981–1987: Lot 89D378, Memoranda to the Secretary from Wallis January–July 1983. Secret. Sent through Wallis and Eagleburger, who did not initial the memorandum. Drafted by Holmes on April 18; cleared by Seligmann, Hawes, and Niles. Holmes initialed for Seligmann and Hawes. A notation in an unknown hand next to Wallis’ name on the “Through” line reads: “See attached memo.” The memorandum is not attached. Also scheduled for publication in Foreign Relations, 1981–1988, vol. VII, Western Europe, 1981–1984.
150. Address by the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Burt)
Source: Department of State Bulletin, August 1983, pp. 50–54. All brackets are in the original. Burt addressed the TIME conference on the Atlantic Alliance.
152. Address by President Reagan Before a Joint Session of Congress
Source: Public Papers: Reagan, 1983, Book I, pp. 601–607. All brackets are in the original. The President spoke at 8:04 p.m. in the House Chamber of the Capitol. His address was broadcast live on nationwide radio and television. In telegram 116818 to all American Republic and European diplomatic posts, April 28, the Department sent “highlights of the President’s address,” noting that “full text as delivered, as well as Spanish and French translations, are on Wireless Files.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D830237–0725) Additional documentation regarding the address is in the Reagan Library, WHORM: Subject File, Speeches, SP 283–22 Central America (In Person) [Address Before a Joint Session of Congress] 04/27/1983, and Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Subject File, Speech File, Presidential—Presidential Speeches (November 1981–March 1982). In his personal diary entry for April 27, the President wrote: “8 P.M. —addressed Joint Session of Cong. & gave speech we’ve all been working on. Got 3 standing ovations with some Demos. on 2, & all of them on the 3rd. That was on the line that we had no intention of sending troops to Central America. I think we scored well with the T.V. audience.” (Brinkley, ed., The Reagan Diaries, vol. I, January 1981–October 1985, p. 220)
153. Memorandum From the Chairman of the Policy Planning Council (Bosworth) to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Eagleburger)
Source: Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/P Files, Memoranda and Correspondence from the Director of the Policy Planning Staff to the Secretary and Other Seventh Floor Principals: Lot 89D149, S/P Chrons 5/16–31/83. Secret. Drafted by Kaplan. A stamped notation indicates that Eagleburger saw the memorandum on May 27. Eagleburger wrote in the top right-hand corner of the memorandum: “Steve: let’s talk (with some of your people if you wish). LSE.”
154. Letter From President Reagan to Richard Nixon
Source: Reagan Library, Paula Dobriansky Files, Country File, Presidents, Former; NLR–145–5–18–5–1. No classification marking. An unknown hand wrote “Lenczowski” in the top-right hand corner of the letter and circled the name.
155. Memorandum From President Reagan to Secretary of State Shultz and Secretary of Defense Weinberger
Source: Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/P Files, Memoranda and Correspondence from the Director of the Policy Planning Staff to the Secretary and Other Seventh Floor Principals: Lot 89D149, S/P Chrons 6/16–30/83. Confidential. Copies were sent to Casey and Regan. Under a June 13 memorandum, Shultz sent Bosworth a copy of the President’s memorandum, writing: “I look to you to organize a discussion of this important subject sometime within the next 10 days.” (Ibid.) Under a June 13 covering memorandum, Paul Boeker (S/P) sent Crocker, Enders, Wolfowitz, McCormack, Burt, Moore, Newell, Veliotes, Hughes, and Howe a copy of the President’s memorandum, noting that Shultz had asked S/P to respond “by preparing a paper with an overall strategic agenda for the remainder of the Administration. We want to work closely with you in responding to the President’s request for recommendations on the demands we may face and opportunities we could exploit in the foreign policy area. This will involve both substantive initiatives and damage limitation.” (Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/P Files, Memoranda and Correspondence from the Director of the Policy Planning Staff to the Secretary and Other Seventh Floor Principals: Lot 89D149, S/P Chrons 6/1–15/83) Under a June 16 covering memorandum, McNamar sent Regan a copy of the June 7 memorandum, writing: “I believe that Treasury should provide input to that process, since many of the most important problems and opportunities in the international arena are economic ones—e.g. achieving worldwide sustainable non-inflationary growth, the LDC debt problem, transfers of critical technology, etc.” McNamar recommended that Regan task Leland with preparing “a short memorandum on Treasury’s goals and priorities in the international arena.” (Washington National Records Center, RG 56, Department of the Treasury Records, Executive Secretariat, Official Files, 1983, 56–82–2, Memo to the Secretary June 83) Although Regan approved the recommendation on June 17, no record of such a memorandum has been found.
157. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Clark) to President Reagan
Source: Reagan Library, William Clark Files, US-Soviet Relations Papers Working File: Contains Originals. Confidential; Eyes Only. Clark did not initial the memorandum. The President initialed the top right-hand corner of the memorandum. Another copy is in the Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Subject File, Goals and Priorities (June 1983–July 1983).