Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume XLIV, Part 1, National Security Policy, 1985–1988

145. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Poindexter) to Secretary of Defense Weinberger¹

Washington, October 29, 1986

SUBJECT

• ICBM Modernization (U)

In August I proposed that we use two briefings to prepare the President for this fall’s decisions on Peacekeeper and the Small ICBM. (C)

We had hoped to have you brief the President by 10 October on the top four basing modes for Peacekeeper and the top three configurations for the Small ICBM. Don Hicks gave the staff an excellent briefing on both these programs in early October, but we have not had time to have you brief the President in similar detail. (S)

In looking at the President’s November schedule, it now appears that we might best meet our objectives by your and my meeting jointly with the President sometime in early November to informally discuss the alternatives and to set the stage for your final recommendations. (U)

If you concur, I will find an appropriate time on the President’s schedule in early November for a short, informal discussion of our ICBM alternatives.² (U)

As we both plan for our final decisions in December, I feel it is important that we have a more formal meeting with the President that would include Admiral Crowe and General Welch.³ Such a meeting would help to ensure that we all agree on the facts before we ask for the President’s decision. This could of course be followed by a private meeting in which you present your final recommendations.⁴ (C)

I look forward to discussing this sequence of events at your convenience. (U)

John M. Poindexter⁵

1. Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Weinberger Papers, Department of Defense Files, Box CL 857, Subject File, 1986 ICBM modernization #14–36 (2). Secret; Sensitive. Poindexter crossed out “Caspar” in the recipient line and wrote “Cap” above it. A stamped notation indicates Weinberger saw the memorandum on October 29. Weinberger initialed the bottom of the memorandum.
2. Weinberger wrote “OK” in the left-hand margin beside this paragraph.
3. Weinberger underlined “a more formal meeting” and “Admiral Crowe and General,” wrote “OK” in the left-hand margin beside this sentence, drew a line down to the bottom of the memorandum, and wrote: “We might do this as part of a regular meeting of the JCS with the President—I’d like to [illegible] the President over for lunch again. Please remind me to call John. [illegible].”
4. Weinberger underlined “course be followed by a private meeting in which you present your final recommendations.”
5. Poindexter signed the memorandum “John” above this typed signature. Weinberger responded to Poindexter in a memorandum of October 31: “Thank you for your October 29th memo on ICBM Modernization. I will of course be glad to brief the President on basing modes for MX and the Small ICBM anytime you wish. We could also have the somewhat more formal meeting you mentioned, to include Admiral Crowe and General Welch. As I mentioned to you on the telephone this morning, it might be possible to schedule this during the next meeting with the President and the Joint Chiefs—a meeting which has not yet been scheduled, but what I would very much like to have in the form of a luncheon here in the Pentagon, if the President’s schedule could accommodate that. Following that, I would of course be glad to have the private meeting you described to present the President with our formal recommendations. I would be glad to discuss this with you anytime that is convenient. Cap.” (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Weinberger Papers, Department of Defense Files, Box CL 857, Subject File, 1986 ICBM modernization #14–36 (2))