Office of the Historian

119. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Poindexter) to President Reagan1

Washington, June 30, 1986

MEETING WITH THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL

I. PURPOSE

To review the progress that has been made in the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) research program and to discuss other issues related to SDI.

II. BACKGROUND

With the difficult budget discussions continuing on SDI, it is essential that you and your senior advisors have a full understanding of the progress that is being made in this critical program. There also are some significant program milestones ahead that merit discussion, most importantly the Vector Sum experiment tentatively planned for September. The meeting agenda is at Tab A.2

III. PARTICIPANTS

List of participants is at Tab B.3

IV. PRESS PLAN

None.

V. SEQUENCE OF EVENTS

I will introduce the subject. General Abrahamson will give a program update, and I will then lead a discussion of arms control and other non-programmatic issues. No specific decisions are being requested, but we want to ensure that all pertinent Cabinet level officials are familiar with the progress we have made and are comfortable with the steps ahead. We recommend that following my summary, you close the meeting by emphasizing your commitment to the program and the importance of obtaining Congressional support for fullest possible SDI funding levels. Proposed remarks are at Tab C.4

  1. Source: National Security Council, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box SR–105, NSC 00132 07/01/1986. Top Secret. Copies were sent to Bush and Regan. Prepared by Neil. Reagan initialed the top right-hand corner of the memorandum. The document indicates that the meeting was scheduled for July 1 from 11 a.m. until noon in Room 208 of the Old Executive Office Building.↩
  2. Attached but not printed.↩
  3. Attached but not printed.↩
  4. Attached but not printed.↩