17. Editorial Note

On May 9, 1982, President Ronald Reagan delivered the commencement address at his alma mater, Eureka College. “Since the first days of my administration,” the president said, “we’ve been working on our approach to the crucial issue of strategic arms and the control and negotiations for control of those arms with the Soviet Union. The study and analysis required has been complex and difficult. It had to be undertaken deliberately, thoroughly, and correctly. We’ve laid a solid basis for these negotiations. We’re consulting with congressional leaders and with out allies, and we are now ready to proceed.” These negotiations would be the Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START). (Public Papers: Reagan, 1982, volume 2, page 584)

“At the first phase, or the end of the first phase of START,” President Reagan elaborated, “I expect ballistic missile warheads, the most serious threat we face, to be reduced to equal levels, equal ceiling, at least a third below the current levels. To enhance stability, I would ask that no more than half of those warheads be land-based. I hope that these warhead reductions, as well as significant reductions in missiles themselves, could be achieved as rapidly as possible. In a second phase, we’ll seek to achieve an equal ceiling on other elements of our strategic nuclear forces, including limits on the ballistic missile throw-weight at less than current American levels. In both phases, we shall insist on verification procedures to ensure compliance with the agreement.” (Public Papers: Reagan, 1982, volume 2, page 585)

“I have written to President Brezhnev and directed Secretary Haig to approach the Soviet Government concerning the initiation of formal negotiations on the reduction of strategic nuclear arms, START, at the earlier opportunity,” Reagan went on to say. “We hope negotiations will begin by the end of June.” (Ibid.)