SDI and Strategic Modernization
151. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Poindexter) to President Reagan
Source: National Security Council, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box SR–094, NSDD 250. Top Secret. Sent for action. Copies were sent to Bush and Regan. Prepared by Linhard. Poindexter sent the memorandum to Reagan, who was at Rancho del Cielo, California, under cover of a November 1 note: “Mr. President: Sorry to intrude on your Sunday with this, but we need to get this out early Monday morning since there is a great deal of work that must be done by December 1. If you could read it Sunday evening, then I can discuss with you on Monday morning any questions you have. I believe this is a landmark document which will help bring us to a safer, more stable world. John” (Ibid.) References are to Sunday, November 2, and Monday, November 3.
152. National Security Decision Directive 250
Source: National Security Council, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box SR–094, NSDD 250. Top Secret. Poindexter distributed the NSDD to Bush, Shultz, Weinberger, Herrington, Casey, Crowe, and Adelman under a covering memorandum of November 3: “The President has approved the attached National Security Decision Directive providing guidance for the development of a detailed plan for the transition to a world free of offensive ballistic missiles. Access to this NSDD and the related products called for by this document should be limited only to those who need to know or assist in the development of these specific products.” (Ibid.)
153. Memorandum From John Douglass of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Poindexter)
Source: Reagan Library, Alton Keel Files, Subject File, ICBM Modernization. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for action. Printed from an uninitialed copy.
154. Talking Points Prepared in the Office of the Secretary of Defense
Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Weinberger Papers, Department of Defense Files, Box CL 857, Subject File, 1986 ICBM modernization #14–36 (2). Secret. The document notes that the meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, November 7, from 11 a.m. until noon in the Oval Office. Ikle sent the talking points to Weinberger under cover of a November 6 memorandum: “Attached are OSD suggested talking points for your meeting with the President on ICBM Modernization tomorrow. Dick Godwin reviewed the attached, and he will join the meeting scheduled tomorrow at 0830. Dick Godwin’s feeling is that you may not want to get into the last tick on page 3 of the talking points or the discussion of the ‘Congressional climate’ in the penultimate tick. Since it is a restricted meeting at the Oval Office, I feel these political aspects could well have a place. Fred” (Ibid.)
155. Notes of a Meeting
Source: Reagan Library, Alton Keel Files, Subject File, Ballistic Missile Defense. No classification marking. Drafted by Keel, who hand wrote the notes. The editor transcribed the portion of the text here specifically for this volume. An image of the notes is Appendix A. According to the President’s Daily Diary, Reagan met with Bush, Weinberger, Crowe, Regan, Poindexter, and Keel in the Oval Office from 11 until 11:58 a.m. (Reagan Library, President’s Daily Diary) No formal memorandum of conversation was found.
156. Electronic Message From William Cockell of the National Security Council Staff to Steven Steiner of the National Security Council Staff
Source: National Archives, PROFS system, Reagan Administration, ID 47323. Secret. Copies were sent to Rodman, Kraemer, McDaniel, Thompson, Pearson, Poindexter, Keel, and Brooks. No minutes of the breakfast meeting were found. A repeat of an electronic message from Cockell to Linhard, November 12 at 10:50 a.m.
157. Electronic Message From William Cockell of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Poindexter)
Source: National Archives, PROFS system, Reagan Administration, ID 49822. Secret. Copies were sent to Rodman, McDaniel, Thompson, Pearson, Brooks, Mahley, Matlock, Sommer, and Keel. No minutes of the breakfast meeting were found.
158. Memorandum From the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (Ikle) to Secretary of Defense Weinberger
Source: Reagan Library, Fred Ikle Files, Arms Control (President Gorbachev)—1986–1988. Secret.
159. Memorandum From Linton Brooks and Sven Kraemer of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Poindexter)
Source: National Security Council, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box SR–111, NSPG 0140, 11/25/1986. Secret. Sent for action.
160. Memorandum From the Vice President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Gregg) and the Vice President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Watson) to Vice President Bush
Source: George H.W. Bush Library, Bush Vice Presidential Records, Office of National Security Affairs, Sam Watson Files, Country File, OA/ID 19865–017, Arms Control—Other. No classification marking. Printed from an uninitialed copy. Gregg wrote in the upper right-hand corner of the memorandum: “MR VICE PRESIDENT A very good, & tough-minded paper from Sam. DG.” Bush wrote below Gregg’s note: “Good. somehow we must challenge all to think anew. Because it’s gone one way since ’40 does not mean we have to keep on with MAD for the next 40. GB”
161. Memorandum From Linton Brooks and Robert Linhard of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Poindexter)
Source: National Security Council, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box SR–111, NSPG 0140, 11/25/1986. Secret. Sent for action. A copy was sent to Cockell.
162. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Poindexter) to President Reagan
Source: National Security Council, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box SR–111, NSPG 0140, 11/25/1986. Secret. Prepared by Brooks and Kraemer. Copies were sent to Regan and Bush. Attached at Tab A but not printed is the meeting agenda. A stamped notation indicates Reagan saw the memorandum on November 25.
163. Electronic Message From William Cockell of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Poindexter)
Source: National Security Council, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box SR–111, NSPG 0140, 11/25/1986. No classification marking. Copies were sent to McDaniel, Linhard, and Keel.
164. Minutes of a National Security Planning Group Meeting
Source: National Security Council, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box SR–111, NSPG 0140, 11/25/1986. Secret. Prepared by Brooks. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room. All brackets, except those indicating added material, are in the original text.
165. Memorandum From Linton Brooks and Robert Linhard of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Poindexter)
Source: National Security Council, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box SR–111, NSPG 0140, 11/25/1986. Secret. Sent for action. A copy was sent to Cockell.
166. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Poindexter) to President Reagan
Source: National Security Council, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box SR–111, NSPG 0140, 11/25/1986. Secret. Sent for action. Prepared by Brooks. Copies were sent to Bush and Regan. Prepared by Brooks. Keel crossed out “John M. Poindexter” in the sender line and wrote “Al Keel.”
167. Memorandum From the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Crowe) to Secretary of Defense Weinberger
Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Weinberger Papers, Department of Defense Files, Box CL 857, Subject File, 1986, ICBM modernization #37–45 (3). Secret. A stamped notation indicates Weinberger saw the memorandum on December 12.
168. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Weinberger Papers, Appt. and Daily File, Box 10, Notes Set B, 1986, 3, #34–48. Secret. Drafted on December 19. The President’s Daily Diary indicates that Reagan met with Weinberger and Keel in the Oval Office on December 15 from 1:59 until 2:35 p.m. (Reagan Library, President’s Daily Diary) In a personal diary entry for that day, Reagan wrote: “Met with Cap W. on plan for having 50 MX missiles on railroad cars. He & I agree we’d like to cancel the ‘Midget’ missile Cong. forced on us as a requirement for getting the MX.” (Brinkley, ed., The Reagan Diaries, vol. II: November 1985–January 1989, p. 668)
169. Memorandum From Robert Linhard and Steven Steiner of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Acting Assistant for National Security Affairs (Keel)
Source: Reagan Library, Sven Kraemer Files, December 1986 Chron File. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for action.
170. Memorandum From John Douglass of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Acting Assistant for National Security Affairs (Keel)
Source: National Security Council, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box SR–094, NSDD 252. Secret. Sent for action. A stamped notation indicates Keel saw the memorandum.
171. Memorandum From the President’s Acting Assistant for National Security Affairs (Keel) to President Reagan
Source: National Security Council, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box SR–094, NSDD 252. Secret. Prepared by Douglass. Copies were sent to Bush and Regan. Pearson initialed the memorandum on Keel’s behalf. The document notes that the meeting was scheduled for December 16 from 9:45 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. in the Cabinet Room. Attached at Tab B but not printed is the meeting agenda. A stamped notation indicates Reagan saw the memorandum on December 16. Reagan wrote his initials in the top right-hand corner of the memorandum.
172. Minutes of a National Security Council Meeting
Source: National Security Council, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box SR–094, NSDD 252. Secret. The meeting took place in the Cabinet Room. No drafting information appears on the minutes.
173. Memorandum From Robert Einhorn of the Policy Planning Staff to 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, November–December 1986. Secret.
174. Memorandum From Linton Brooks and Robert Linhard of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Acting Assistant for National Security Affairs (Keel)
Source: Reagan Library, Michael Donley Files, Subject File, [Joint Chiefs of Staff] JCS Meeting with the President 12/19/86. Top Secret. Sent for action. A stamped notation at the top of the memorandum reads: “Signed.”
175. Memorandum From the President’s Acting Assistant for National Security Affairs (Keel) to President Reagan
Source: Reagan Library, Sven Kraemer Files, December 1986 Chron File. Secret; Sensitive. Copies were sent to Bush and Regan. A stamped notation at the top right-hand corner of the memorandum indicates Reagan saw it on December 17. Reagan wrote his initials in the top right-corner of the memorandum. The document notes that the briefing was scheduled for December 17 at 11 a.m. in the Situation Room.
176. Memorandum From Robert Linhard and Steven Steiner of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Acting Assistant for National Security Affairs (Keel)
Source: Reagan Library, Sven Kraemer Files, December 1986 Chron File. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for action. An unknown hand wrote “Dec 16?” in the upper right-hand corner of the memorandum. Steiner initialed for Cockell’s concurrence.
177. Memorandum From the President’s Acting Assistant for National Security Affairs (Keel) to President Reagan
Source: Reagan Library, Sven Kraemer Files, December 1986 Chron File. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. Printed from an uninitialed copy.
178. Talking Points Prepared in the National Security Council
Source: Reagan Library, Sven Kraemer Files, December 1986 Chron File. Secret; Sensitive.
179. Memorandum From the President’s Acting Assistant for National Security Affairs (Keel) to President Reagan
Source: National Security Council, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box SR–094, NSDD 252. Top Secret. Sent for action. Prepared by Douglass. Printed from an uninitialed copy.
180. Minutes of a Presidential Briefing
Source: Reagan Library, William Cockell Files, Subject File, SDI (5). Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Steiner. The meeting took place in the Situation Room. In a personal diary entry for December 17, Reagan wrote: “Cap W. came by for a meeting in the situation room. It was an update on S.D.I. and a proposal that we deploy partially about 1993—not the finished system but 2 stages that will give us a partial defense but more important valuable information for completing the system. There are some problems but I’m inclined to go forward with it.” (Brinkley, ed., The Reagan Diaries, vol. II, November 1985–January 1989, p. 669)