September 1985–November 1985
Personal Diplomacy: Reagan, Gorbachev, and the Geneva Summit


80. Paper Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency

Source: Reagan Library, Sven Kraemer Files, Geneva—SACG—September 20, 1985. Secret; [handling restriction not declassified]. A typed note at the bottom of the first page reads in part: “This paper was prepared by [names not declassified] the Office of Soviet Analysis.”


81. Memorandum From William Stearman of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane)

Source: Reagan Library, Crisis Management Center, NSC Records, 1981–1985, NSC Information Summary Memorandum to Poindexter. Confidential. Sent for information. Copies were sent to Matlock, Linhard, Lenczowski, Kraemer, Steiner, and Christopher Lehman. A stamped notation reads: “RCM has seen.” McFarlane wrote in the margin: “Thanks Bill.” Brackets are in the original.


82. Notes of a Meeting

Source: Department of State, Ambassador Nitze’s Personal Files 1953, 1972–1989, Lot 90D397, August–September 1985. Secret; Sensitive. Nitze wrote the meeting notes.


83. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Meetings with USSR Officials, Meetings—Shultz-Gromyko-Dobrynin Hartman-Gromyko 1985 (3). Secret; Sensitive. Another copy of this memorandum indicates it was drafted by Pascoe on September 10 and cleared by Parris and Palmer. (Department of State, Ambassador Nitze’s Personal Files 1953, 1972–1989, Lot 90D397, 1985)


84. Letter From Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev to President Reagan

Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Head of State File, U.S.S.R.: General Secretary Gorbachev (8591009). No classification marking. The Department of State Division of Language Services translated the text of the letter from Russian. A copy of the original letter in Russian is ibid. Shevardnadze summarized the letter for Shultz at their September 25 private meeting in New York and then handed the letter to Reagan during their September 27 meeting. See Documents 100 and 105. Under an October 7 covering memorandum, McFarlane sent Reagan a copy of the letter, noting that Shevardnadze had presented it to Reagan during their September 27 meeting in the Oval Office. McFarlane commented: “You will note that its content is virtually identical to Shevardnadze’s initial presentation to you. The one matter which was not mentioned in your meeting is the suggestion at the close of the letter that we consider ‘an appropriate joint document’ to be issued after your meeting with Gorbachev in Geneva. We are now giving thought to whether this is a good idea. If you can reach agreement on some items for a future agenda, a joint communique laying out the concepts might be useful. There are also potential risks, and we will want to weigh them carefully before proceeding.” Reagan wrote in the top right-hand margin: “Bud I’d like a copy of his letter to have for reference purposes. RR.” A notation in an unknown hand next to this reads: “Done 10/8.”


85. Memorandum From Jack Matlock of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane)

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron September 1985 (2/6). Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Not for System. Sent for action. Sent through Poindexter, who wrote in the right-hand margin: “Bud, this looks very promising.” McFarlane responded below: “I agree. Let’s share it with Shultz.”


86. Notes of a Meeting

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 88B00443R: Policy Files (1980–1986), Box 18, Folder 435: DCI Memo Chrono (1–30 Sep ‘85). Secret; Sensitive. Casey prepared the meeting notes. In a September 11 memorandum forwarding papers and preparatory materials to McFarlane, Linhard wrote: “Given the sensitivity of the meeting, we have not framed this as an NSC meeting, but rather a special meeting of selected Presidential advisors.” He continued: “The memorandum to the President recommends limiting attendance to the Vice President, Secretaries Shultz and Weinberger, Director Casey, General Vessey, Admiral Crowe if available, Ken Adelman, Mr. Regan and yourself.” (Reagan Library, Robert Linhard Files, Arms Control Chron, Presidential Meeting on Arms Control—09/13/1985; NLR–334–6–47–1–2) According to the President’s Daily Diary, the group met in the Situation Room from 11:03 a.m. until 12:04 p.m. on September 13. (Reagan Library, President’s Daily Diary)


87. Note From the Deputy Director for Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency (Gates) to the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Poindexter), the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Armacost) and the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (Ikle)

Source: Reagan Library, Sven Kraemer Files, Geneva—Pres/Shevardnadze September 1985. Secret; [handling restriction not declassified]. Poindexter wrote in the margin: “very interesting. J. The salutation is handwritten.


88. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan

Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, Secretary’s Meetings with the President (10/10/1985); NLR–775–18–85–1–8. Secret; Sensitive. Copies were sent to Regan and McFarlane.


89. Minutes of a Meeting

Source: Reagan Library, Tyrus Cobb Files, Country File, USSR (6); NLR–98–5–1–6–1. Secret; Sensitive. The meeting took place in the Vice President’s office. Under a covering note dated September 23, Cobb sent Gregg a draft of the minutes and wrote: “Attached are my draft minutes of the Vice President’s meeting with Arbatov. I understand that Willkinson has already sent over his notes, but I have not seen them. If you want, I can revise these by incorporating his, or other changes you may wish. Or, if this is sufficient, stand down. Let me know—we have it on the word processor.” Gregg responded: “I thank you. Excellent memo. One small change on pg 2.” An unknown hand struck through “State’s version attached, FYI” and wrote next to it “you have it.” “Pls send me back a corrected copy.”


90. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Meetings with USSR Leaders, 1983–1986, Meetings—Shultz-Gromyko-Dobrynin Hartman-Gromyko 1985 (3). Secret; Sensitive.


92. Memorandum From President Reagan to Secretary of State Shultz, Secretary of Defense Weinberger, Director of Central Intelligence Casey, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Vessey), and the Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (Adelman)

Source: Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/S, Top Secret/Secret Sensitive Memorandum, Lot 91D257, Eggplant II, September–December 1985 NP. Top Secret; Owl. Handle Via Owl Channels. A typed note at the top of the page reads: “(Placed in OWL after compartment established).” According to the paper produced as a response to this tasking, the Owl Channel was created “to handle this and related papers.” See Documents 97 and 91.


93. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron September 1985 (4/6). Secret; Sensitive. In a handwritten note on the attached routing slip, Poindexter wrote: “Route to: Jack Matlock. Ron Lehman (share with Bob Linhard) Hold close—don’t acknowledge that you have it. JP.”


94. Minutes of a National Security Council Meeting

Source: National Security Council, Institutional Files, NSC Meetings, Box SR 105, NSC Meeting 121. Secret. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room. Although no drafting information appears on the minutes, Cobb sent the minutes under a September 21 covering memorandum to McFarlane, with concurrence from Matlock, suggesting that Cobb drafted the minutes. (Reagan Library, Tyrus Cobb Files, Country File, USSR (1); NLR–98–5–1–4–3) In preparation for this meeting, Cobb wrote in an undated letter to Matlock: “Jack, This has been a hell of a week. Primary concern right now is the NSC meeting tomorrow on ‘Shevardnadze’. Below is the agenda/participants notification package that has undergone at least three modifications. The anodyne version you see here represents the lowest common denominator of agreement that could be reached regarding the purpose of the meeting. Also attached is a rough draft of the NSC paper to Bud and the McFarlane-Pres. The primary problem is that nobody seems to know why we are having this meeting. Hence, numerous versions of these packages. Originally, Weinberger asked for 20 minutes to discuss SDI; he, Casey and Keyworth had planned to make this the showdown session on arms control in general and SDI in particular. Bud reacted strongly against. Decided at first to make it more of a broad strategic overview session in which the President could talk broad philosophical principles on our policy toward the USSR. Then it was changed to a discussion of the other three issue areas, with no arms control to be discussed. I think that’s where we are now, but you need to look at these papers on an urgent basis to determine what you want to be the focus of this meeting. Then we can prepare Bud’s talking points. Ty.” (Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, US-USSR Summits, 1985–1986, Reagan-Shevardnadze Meeting 9/27/85 (4 of 7))


95. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, US-USSR Summits, 1985–1986, Reagan-Shevardnadze Meeting 09/27/85 (5 of 7). Secret; Sensitive. The memorandum is stamped “Eyes Only” in the top right-hand margin. Another copy of the memorandum indicates it was drafted by Parris on September 16 and cleared by Ridgway, Hawes, and Stafford. Ridgway sent this copy of the memorandum to Shultz under a September 17 action memorandum, recommending that he sign the memorandum to the President. (Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, 1985 Soviet Union September)


96. Memorandum From Jack Matlock of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane)

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron September 1985 (4/6). Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Not for System. Sent for action. Copies were sent to Poindexter and Fortier. McFarlane wrote in the top right-hand margin: “Terrific Jack. But you’d better bring Gates or Fritz plus Will Taft into this Group to assure Cap & Casey’s support. Bud.” On September 24, Matlock sent a memorandum to Taft discussing the five approaches. (Ibid.) No memorandum to Gates or the CIA was found.


97. Paper Prepared by the Arms Control Support Group

Source: Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/S, Top Secret/Secret Sensitive Memorandum, Lot 91D257, Eggplant II, September–December 1985 NP. Top Secret; Owl; Noforn. Handle via Owl Channels. McFarlane sent the paper to Shultz, Weinberger, Casey, Vessey, and Adelman under a September 27 covering memorandum, indicating that Reagan would like to receive observations on the paper. Weinberger forwarded the JCS response on September 30; see Document 104. Casey provided a response on October 2. (Reagan Library, Ronald Lehman Files, Summit—Geneva [3 of 3]) Nitze provided a response on October 3. (Ibid.) See also Document 91.


98. Memorandum From the Deputy Director for Operations, Central Intelligence Agency (George) to President Reagan, Vice President Bush, Secretary of State Shultz, Secretary of Defense Weinberger, and the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane)

Source: Reagan Library, Kenneth deGraffenreid Files, NSPG-Soviet SDI Briefing for the President—1985; NLR–139–18–56–2–5. Secret. A routing slip indicates Poindexter received the memorandum on September 26 and McFarlane on September 27. An attached note reads: “Meeting: NSPG—Soviet SDI Briefing for the President, Briefer: Larry Gershwin, Time/Date: 2:00 p.m., Monday, October 7, Location: Situation Room.” Reagan wrote in his diary on October 7: “We had an NSPG meeting to have a briefing on the Soviet Unions progress in defensive weapons against nuclear missiles. They are raising h—-l about our research & they’ve been at it for 20 yrs. & we’re just starting.” (Brinkley, ed., The Reagan Diaries, vol. I: January 1981–October 1985, p. 503) Preparatory documents and memoranda on the October 7 NSPG meeting are scheduled for publication in Foreign Relations, 1981–1988, vol. XLIV, Part 1, National Security Policy, 1985–1988. The briefing materials and PowerPoint presentation for the October 7 meeting are in Reagan Library, Kenneth deGraffenreid Files, NSPG Meeting/Minutes—10/07/ 1985 (Draft); NLR–139–18–57–1–5.


99. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Department of State, EUR/RUS Special Collections—Russia, Political Subject and Chronological Files, Lot 00D471, Shevardnadze Visit, New York 9/25/85, Washington 9/27/85. Secret; Sensitive. The meeting took place at the Soviet Mission to the United Nations in New York. No drafting information appears on the memorandum of conversation. Brackets are in the original.


100. Notes of a Private Meeting Between Secretary of State Shultz and Soviet Foreign Minister Shevardnadze

Source: Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/S Records, Memorandum of Conversations, 1981–1990, Lot 93D188, Shultz/Shevardnadze and Reagan/Shevardnadze at the UN and in Washington September 1985. No classification marking. No drafting information appears on the notes. Although undated, this tête-à-tête took place immediately following the formal September 25 meeting at the Soviet Mission; see Document 99.


101. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan

Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, 1985 Soviet Union September. Secret; Sensitive. The meeting took place at the Soviet Mission to the United Nations in New York.


102. Memorandum for Record by the Special Advisor to the President and Secretary of State on Arms Control Matters (Nitze)

Source: Department of State, Ambassador Nitze’s Personal Files 1953, 1972–1989, Lot 90D397, Aug–Sept 1985. Secret; Sensitive.


103. Briefing Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs (Ridgway) to Secretary of State Shultz

Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, Executive Secretariat Sensitive (09/27/1985); NLR–775–14–38–2–3. Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Tefft; cleared by Burton, Parris, and Palmer.


104. Memorandum From the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Vessey) to Secretary of Defense Weinberger

Source: Reagan Library, Ronald Lehman Files, Subject File, Summit—Geneva II (3 of 3). Top Secret; Sensitive; Owl. In a September 30 covering note to Reagan, Weinberger wrote: “Mr. President: Attached is the unanimous military advice of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to you, with respect to any agreements on nuclear arms with the Soviet Union. Very respectfully, Cap.” See Documents 92 and 97.


105. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron September 1985 (6/6). Secret; Sensitive. No drafting information appears on the memorandum of conversation. Brackets are in the original. Matlock sent the memorandum of conversation to McFarlane under a September 28 cover memorandum, requesting that McFarlane approve it. There is no indication McFarlane approved or disapproved the recommendation. On September 27, Reagan wrote in his personal diary: “into a jam session on the upcoming Shevardnadze meeting. He arrived at 10 A.M.—a 2 hr. meeting, then I had 10 min’s. alone with him & then lunch (St. Dining Room) until 1:30. He’s a personable fellow but we had our differences. My goal was to send him back to Gorbachev with a message that I really meant ‘arms reductions’ & I wasn’t interested in any détente nonsense. For the 1st time they talked of real verification procedures.” (Brinkley, ed., The Reagan Diaries, vol. I: January 1981–October 1985, p. 500)


106. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron September 1985 (5/6). Secret; Sensitive. The luncheon took place in the State Dining Room at the White House. No drafting information appears on the memorandum of conversation. Matlock sent it to McFarlane under a September 28 cover memorandum, requesting that McFarlane approve it. There is no indication McFarlane approved or disapproved the recommendation. In his book, Matlock recalled of this lunch: “Polemics ended during lunch, when conversation was relaxed. Reagan, Shevardnadze, and the others around the table conversed with one another as fellow human beings with much more in common than the political tension between their governments would imply. A year before, when Gromyko dined in the same room, there was an overall feeling that our countries were locked in a zero-sum game. This year, that mind-set was no longer so pronounced. We were still at odds on most key issues, but somehow these disputes seemed more tractable than they had appeared a year before.” (Matlock, Reagan and Gorbachev, p. 142)


107. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, Secretary’s Meetings with Shevardnadze (09/24/1987) (2); NLR–775–21–40–1–3. Secret; Sensitive. The dinner took place at Shultz’s residence. No drafting information appears on the memorandum of conversation.


108. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan

Source: Department of State, Ambassador Nitze’s Personal Files 1953, 1972–1989, Lot 90D397, 1985. Secret; Sensitive. A typed notation in the top left-hand margin reads: “Sent to WH 9/28 pm by SWO per BMCK.” No drafting information appears on the memorandum. According to a covering memorandum to Shultz from Ridgway, attached to a draft of Shultz’s memorandum, the memorandum was drafted by Pascoe and cleared by Parris and Palmer. On this draft, Shultz made extensive edits which were incorporated into this final text.


109. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane) to President Reagan

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron September 1985 (6/6). Secret. Sent for information. Drafted by Matlock. The memorandum is unsigned. A copy was sent to Bush. Matlock forwarded the draft memorandum and the attached papers to McFarlane on September 30.