34. Editorial Note
A May 22, 1985, Central Intelligence Agency memorandum addressed to Director of Central Intelligence William Casey, the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Robert McFarlane, and the Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research of the Department of State Morton Abramowitz reported comments of Soviet Politburo member Nikolai Ryzhkov on a potential summit between President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. Jack Matlock, Soviet specialist on the National Security Council Staff, received a copy of this memorandum on May 23. The memorandum explained that Ryzhkov reportedly [text not declassified] that “some Soviet officials are advising the Soviet leader to recommend a full length summit meeting which would allow sufficient time for the two leaders to engage in social amenities, as well as discuss issues.” The memorandum noted that Ryzhkov “cautioned that Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrey Gromyko may not be aware that the idea of a full summit meeting is being discussed.” (Reagan Library, System IV Intelligence Files, 1985, 400537)
Forwarding the memorandum to McFarlane, Matlock stated in a handwritten covering note: “To me, the most intriguing paragraph is No 4—Ryzhkov’s reported statement that Gromyko may not be fully informed of Gorbachev’s intentions. Since Ryzhkov is a close Gorbachev associate, he may in fact be more privy to Gorbachev’s thinking than Gromyko. One can also speculate that Gromyko’s statement to Shultz that a meeting in Washington is ‘out of the question’ may have reflected Gromyko’s view and not Gorbachev’s. (Gromyko prefaced his comments on summitry with the curious statement that he was expressing his ‘informal personal opinion.’ Until I saw this report I was puzzled by this, but it could be a signal that he was not necessarily conveying Gorbachev’s view completely.) This report strengthens my view that the President should reply to Gromyko’s probe by inviting Gorbachev to the States in November and suggesting that, if Gorbachev wishes, a return visit by the President to Moscow could be announced simultaneously for sometime in 1986. Jack.” (Ibid.)
On May 29, Abramowitz sent Secretary of State George Shultz a copy of a similar CIA memorandum, dated May 29 and addressed to Casey, McFarlane, and Abramowitz. In a covering note to Shultz, Abramowitz wrote: “Mr. Secretary: I think you should read the attached. [1½ lines not declassified]. Interestingly Art told me in Moscow that he thought Gromyko was on the way out, but he provided little basis for this judgment. I find it hard to believe Gorbachev would move on Gromyko before the Party Congress in February next year. I am not distributing this report unless you want me to.” The memoran [Page 129] dum explained that Ryzhkov, [text not declassified] stated that “Soviet Foreign Minister Andrey Gromyko is being excluded from all planning and preparations for a summit meeting between Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and the U.S. President because Gorbachev considers Gromyko ‘too combative’ on the subject.” The memorandum also noted that “Ryzhkov stated that Gromyko will soon be replaced as foreign minister, but he did not identify any possible successors. Gromyko will almost certainly refuse the title of president if it were offered, according to Ryzhkov, but may accept the post of chairman of the USSR Council of Ministers when the current chairman Nikolay Tikhonov retires.” (Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/S, Executive Secretariat Special Caption Documents, 1979–1989, Lot 92D630, Not for the System Documents, May 1985)