160. Report Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency

Source: Reagan Library, John Lenczowski Files, NSC Files, Chron File November 1985 (2); NLR–324–12–39–2–4. Secret; [handling restriction not declassified]. Prepared in the Directorate of Intelligence. In a November 21 covering note to Lenczowski, [text not declassified] wrote: “John: We worked this up on the basis of the Gorbachev press conference including his q and a’s. I don’t believe that anyone in the Presidential party would be aware of some of the things discussed in this spot commentary, since they would have been on planes between Geneva and Brussels or Brussels and here. The White House sit room has a copy but this copy is for you to decide on whether McFarlane or Matlock should see this tonight.” Lenczowski forwarded the report to McFarlane on November 21.

161. Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs (Palmer) to Secretary of State Shultz

Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, 1985 Nov. 22, Mtg. w/ the Pres. Secret; Sensitive. A typed notation in the top right-hand corner reads: “Prepared 21 November on board back-up aircraft for meeting, 2:00 p.m., 22 November.” Throughout the memorandum, there is underlining by an unknown hand. In his diary on November 22, Reagan wrote: “George Shultz came in after the Cabinet meeting. The meeting was for both of us to report on the Geneva trip.” (Brinkley, ed., The Reagan Diaries, vol. II: November 1985–January 1989, p. 543) No substantive record of the meeting was found.

162. Memorandum From the Special Advisor to the President and Secretary of State on Arms Control Matters (Nitze) to Secretary of State Shultz

Source: Department of State, Ambassador Nitze’s Personal Files 1953, 1972–1989, Lot 90D397, November–December 1985. Secret; Sensitive. “Treat as original” is stamped at the top of the memorandum. A stamped notation reading “GPS” appears on the memorandum, indicating Shultz saw it. An unknown hand wrote “See GPS comment p. 3” next to Shultz’s stamped initials.

163. Handwritten Letter From President Reagan to Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev

Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Head of State File, U.S.S.R.: General Secretary Gorbachev (8591143, 8591239). No classification marking. The editor transcribed the text from Reagan’s handwritten letter. An image of the letter is Appendix B. In his book, Matlock recalled: “After the meetings in Geneva, Reagan flew out to his ranch near Santa Barbara for Thanksgiving. He was still there when I was asked to draft a letter to Gorbachev following up on the discussions in Geneva. Eager to avoid the delays of interagency consideration and bickering between Shultz and Weinberger, Reagan intended to copy my draft in his own handwriting. He felt that his cabinet officers were less likely to pick it apart if he presented it that way. I sat down at my word processor and had a text ready in a few hours. Poindexter read it, approved it, and sent it to McFarlane, who was with the president in Santa Barbara. The president liked it, copied it out in his own handwriting, and sent it back to Washington to show to Shultz and Weinberger. They read it hurriedly and made no objections. On November 28, just a week after we returned from Geneva, the letter went out to Ambassador Hartman for delivery in Moscow. If we had followed normal procedures, with a draft by the State Department, clearance by an interagency group, then checking and revision at the NSC, the process would have taken weeks if not months, Reagan would have rejected the cautious, prolix product, and I would have ended up drafting the same letter before he would have agreed to send it.” (Matlock, Reagan and Gorbachev, pp. 169–170) Matlock’s typed draft, including Reagan’s initials in the margin and some minor handwritten changes, is in the Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Head of State File, U.S.S.R.: General Secretary Gorbachev (8591143, 8591239)

In a November 29 covering note to Shultz and Weinberger, McFarlane explained: “On Thanksgiving Day at the Ranch the President wrote the attached private letter to Gorbachev. He wanted you to see it before it is pouched to Moscow. We think it should be delivered by Ambassador Hartman in a sealed envelope with a courtesy Russian translation so that he will know what it says before giving it to anybody else. Jack Matlock will have the senior Russian translator from State come to his office on Saturday to do the translation.” (Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, 1985 Soviet Union Nov) In telegram 17607 from Moscow, December 9, the Embassy confirmed that Reagan’s letter was “hand-delivered in sealed envelope to the MFA morning of December 9.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, [no N number])

164. Information Memorandum From the Director of the Policy Planning Staff (Rodman) to Secretary of State Shultz

Source: Department of State, Ambassador Nitze’s Personal Files 1953, 1972–1989, Lot 90D397, November–December 1985. Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Bohlen.

165. Telegram From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, [no N number]. Secret; Immediate; Nodis.

166. 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 (8591245). No classification marking. Printed from an unofficial translation. The text of the letter, translated from Russian was provided by the Soviet Embassy. Reagan initialed the top right-hand corner of the letter, indicating he saw it. Platt sent McFarlane the letter under a December 5 covering memorandum, writing: “Soviet Ambassador today delivered to the Secretary a letter to the President from Gorbachev with a proposal on nuclear testing. The letter, which is attached, reiterates the Soviet moratorium proposal but adds some new twists; the moratorium would extend to peaceful nuclear explosions; and both sides would agree to allow visits by observers to sites of ambiguous activities. We will provide separately our views on a response.” In a handwritten covering note on December 9 to the President, Poindexter informed him: “We will review this with the arms control community and have a proposed response for you.”

167. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Meetings with USSR Officials, Meetings: Shultz-Dobrynin 1986. Secret; Sensitive.

168. Letter From President Reagan to Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev

Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Head of State File, U.S.S.R.: General Secretary Gorbachev (8591241, 8591243). No classification marking. In a December 6 covering memorandum to Reagan, Poindexter recommended that he sign the letter: “You have said you want to follow up your exchange with Gorbachev in Geneva to emphasize the possibilities that would open up in areas of interest to the Soviets, if we see progress. The attached letter makes this point and sets out some of the specific cases where progress is needed. These cases (involving divided spouses and families, and dual citizenship) are important, although a real change in our approach to East-West trade requires Soviet resolution of the major human rights cases and a major increase in emigration. So that Gorbachev will know what you’re looking for, the letter also makes this clear.” An undated memorandum from Shultz to Reagan, along with a draft letter to Gorbachev, is ibid., indicating the letter was drafted in the Department of State. Minimal changes were made in the final text of the letter.

169. Telegram From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, [no N number]. Secret; Niact Immediate; Nodis. In his diary on December 23, Reagan wrote: “Mac Baldrige came by with his report on the meeting with Gorbachev. It was somewhat similar to mine. G. on human rights gave him the same pitch I got that basic human right was everyones right to a job & in the Soviet U. everyone is given a job. Of course he doesn’t also add that they cant choose a job—they take the one the govt. tells them to.” (Brinkley, ed., The Reagan Diaries, vol. II: November 1985–January 1989, p. 555)

170. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission to NATO

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, [no N number]. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Sent for information to Shultz’s delegation in Brussels where he was attending the NATO Ministerial December 11–13. Drafted by Timbie; cleared by Bova and in S/S–O; approved by Timbie.

171. National Security Decision Directive 203

Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC National Security Decision Directives (NSDD), NSDD 203 [Nuclear Testing Limitation: Responding to the Soviet Proposal of December 5]. Secret.

172. Letter From Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev to President Reagan

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Head of State Correspondence (US-USSR) December 1985 (2/3). Secret; Sensitive. Brackets are in the original translation. In an undated memorandum to Poindexter summarizing the letter, Platt explained that Gorbachev “sent a lengthy, handwritten response to the letter sent by the President after the Geneva summit. The fact that the President wrote his letter in longhand obviously made an impression. Gorbachev not only answered in kind, but with an unusual lack of formality.” (Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Head of State File, U.S.S.R.: General Secretary Gorbachev (8591293)) Gorbachev’s handwritten letter, in addition to a typed copy noting “Final translation done by WH translators,” is ibid.

173. Letter From President Reagan to Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev

Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Head of State File, U.S.S.R.: General Secretary Gorbachev (8591241, 8591243). No classification marking. This letter is in response to Gorbachev’s December 5 letter, not the handwritten letter of December 24. In a December 18 covering memorandum to McFarlane, Matlock explained: “A letter from the President to Gorbachev on regional issues is at Tab A. It would follow up, in greater detail and on a more formal basis, some of the suggestions he made in his handwritten letter.” A December 13 covering memorandum from Platt to McFarlane indicates the letter was drafted and revised in the Department of State then sent to the White House. Gorbachev’s December 5 letter is Document 166.

174. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, US-USSR Summits, 1985–1986, Summit 1986 (1/2). Secret; Sensitive.

175. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan

Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Head of State File, U.S.S.R.: General Secretary Gorbachev (8690024, 8690124). Secret; Sensitive. Reagan initialed at the top right-hand corner of the memorandum, indicating he saw it.

176. National Security Decision Directive 206

Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC National Security Decision Directives, NSDD 206 [Instructions for the Fourth Round of the US/Soviet Negotiations in Geneva]. Secret. In a January 13 memorandum to Reagan, Poindexter explained: “Our negotiators will be returning to Geneva this weekend to begin Round IV of the talks on January 16 covering START, INF and Defense and Space. Recall that just before your summit and at the end of Round III, the U.S. provided a detailed counter-proposal involving the principle of 50 percent reductions. The Soviet delegation has not had the chance to really address our proposals yet. Our task during this upcoming round will be to focus on the areas where we have the most common ground (START and INF reductions) and press the Soviets for an early, constructive response to our new proposals.” (Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC National Security Decision Directives, NSDD 206 [Instructions for the Fourth Round of the US/Soviet Negotiations in Geneva]; NLR–751–9–40–2–2)

177. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan

Source: Department of State, Ambassador Nitze’s Personal Files 1953, 1972–1989, Lot 90D397, January 1986. Secret; Sensitive. Printed from an uninitialed copy. A typed notation in the top margin reads: “Original memo given directly to the President by the Secretary 1/15.”

178. Memorandum for the 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, January 1986. Secret; Sensitive.

179. Memorandum From the Special Advisor to the President and Secretary of State on Arms Control Matters (Rowny) to Secretary of State Shultz

Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, Executive Secretariat Sensitive (01/16/1986–01/17/1986); NLR–775–15–7–4–4. Secret; Sensitive.

180. Memorandum From the Director of the Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs (Holmes) to Secretary of State Shultz

Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, Executive Secretariat Sensitive (01/16/1986–01/17/1986); NLR–775–15–7–5–3. Secret; Sensitive.

181. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan

Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Head of State File, U.S.S.R.: General Secretary Gorbachev (8960024, 8690124). Secret; Sensitive. Reagan initialed the memorandum, indicating he saw it.

182. Information Memorandum From the Director of the Policy Planning Staff (Rodman) to Secretary of State Shultz

Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, Executive Secretariat Sensitive (01/18/1986–01/21/1986). Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Bohlen and Ledsky. Ledsky initialed the memorandum for Rodman.

183. Information 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 (01/18/1986–01/21/1986); NLR–775–15–8–10–6. Secret; Sensitive. Sent through Armacost, who did not initial the memorandum. Drafted by Fried and Schoettle on January 17; cleared by Parris, Palmer, Burton, Caldwell, and Thielmann. Fried initialed for all the clearing officials.

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

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Meetings with USSR Officials, Meetings Shultz-Dobrynin 1986. Secret. Sent for action. The memorandum was erroneously dated 1985.

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

Source: Reagan Library, Donald Fortier Files, Subject File, Gorbachev/Soviet Policy/etc. 01/25/1986–01/31/1986; NLR–195–5–2–1–7. Top Secret; Sensitive; Owl. Sent for information. Prepared by Wright and Linhard.

186. Information Memorandum From the Director of the Policy Planning Staff (Rodman) to Secretary of State Shultz

Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, 1986 Arms Control Meeting. Secret; Sensitive; Summit II. Drafted by Bohlen, Khalilzad, Kontos, Hewitt, and Paal; cleared by Ledsky.

187. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan

Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, 1986 Soviet Union Jan. Secret; Sensitive. In a covering memorandum to Shultz, drafted by Teftt, Burton, Dunkerley, and Stafford on January 29, Ridgway wrote: “At Tuesday’s [January 28] SACG meeting John Poindexter asked each agency to provide by COB Wednesday a brief memorandum recommending the appropriate response to Gorbachev’s January 15 arms control initiative. The memoranda will serve to brief the President in advance of an NSC or NSPG meeting scheduled for Friday, January 31.” The NSPG took place on February 3; see Document 188. Ridgway continued: “We have prepared with Paul Nitze’s staff the attached memorandum from you to the President explaining the rationale for the State Department proposal (option 3). We have written the memo to take into account the arguments made against option 3 by Fred Ikle, Richard Perle and others at yesterday’s SACG. Paul Nitze, Allen Holmes and Jim Timbie all approve of the memo.” Ridgway recommended that Shultz sign the memorandum. A typed notation at the top of the covering memorandum indicates that it was sent to the White House by special courier at 4:30 p.m. on January 29.

188. Minutes of a National Security Planning Group Meeting

Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC NSPG Meeting File, NSPG 0127, 02/03/1986, [Arms Control—Responding to Gorbachev]. Top Secret. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room. Presumably drafted by Linhard, as his handwritten notes from the meeting are in the Reagan Library, Robert Linhard Files, Arms Control Chron, NSPG Meeting—02/03/1986. In his diary on February 3, Reagan wrote: “Then it was N.S.P.G. time in the situation room re Gorbachev’s proposal to eliminate nuclear arms. Some wanted to tag it a publicity stunt. I said no. Let’s say we share their overall goals & now want to work out the details. If it is a publicity stunt this will be revealed by them. I also propose that we announce we are going forward with SDI but if research reveals a defense against missiles is possible we’ll work out how it can be used to protect the whole world not just us.” (Brinkley, ed., The Reagan Diaries, vol. II: November 1985–January 1989, p. 568)

189. Memorandum From William Wright and Robert Linhard of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Poindexter)

Source: Reagan Library, Sven Kraemer Files, Geneva—Gorbachev Response & All Coms. (NSDD) February 1986. Top Secret; Sensitive. Sent for action.