Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume I, Foundations of Foreign Policy

163. Memorandum From Robert Sims of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane)¹

Washington, June 30, 1983

SUBJECT

• RR Goals and Objectives Memo

As authorized by you and Judge Clark, I confirmed for Bob Toth of the Los Angeles Times the existence of the President’s memo to State and Defense, and said it was sent “in early June”.² I paraphrased paragraph one of the memo and gave Toth direct quotes on the six new policies that have been catalysts in changing perceptions abroad of the United States as a nation in decline:

— Firm commitment to the restoration of the military foundation of our national security policies.

— Establishing a new relationship with the Soviet Union based upon the principles of reciprocity and restraint.

— Restoring confidence and cohesion among our allies.

— Defining a comprehensive and responsible policy for the reduction of strategic and general purpose armaments.

— Establishing a new basis for the conduct of relations with developing countries.

— Maintaining a firm commitment to lead in efforts to bring peace to troubled regions (Middle East, Southern Africa, etc.)

I told Toth the remainder of the memo dealt with the President’s request for the thoughts of the Secretaries on goals that he could realistically hope to achieve “in the first term”. In response to Toth’s question, I said the memo was not politically motivated (he had been told it was a request for ideas about things to do to win the election). Rather, I said, the memo is realistic in setting the end of the term as a logical parameter for planning purposes—but the basic motivation for the memo relates to the President’s desire for a long-term bipartisan foreign policy of the kind this country once had.

I told Toth replies have been received and are being staffed by NSC prior to Presidential consideration. I gave Toth no information about the substantive part of the memo, or the common objectives section. He expects to write the story tomorrow for the weekend newspaper and may call you about it. I have alerted Mort Allin so that Larry Speakes can be prepared to confirm the items mentioned above after the story appears.

1. Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Subject File, Goals and Priorities (June 1983–July 1983). Confidential. A copy was sent to Allin. A stamped notation indicates that McFarlane saw it. See Robert C. Toth, “Reagan Solicits Advice on Goals in Foreign Policy,” Los Angeles Times, July 2, 1983, pp. 1–6.
2. Printed as Document 155.