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

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

Washington, March 10, 1987

MEETING WITH THE NATIONAL SECURITY PLANNING GROUP

I. PURPOSE

To discuss the possibility of an agreement with various members of Congress on SDI funding and the structure of the SDI program.

II. BACKGROUND

In a discussion in Geneva between our senior negotiator—Max Kampelman—and several visiting Senators, a suggestion was made for an agreement between you and Congress whereby Congress would agree to provide adequate funding for SDI and not legislate any restrictions on the program. In return, you would agree to adhere to the restrictive interpretation of the ABM Treaty for a fixed period of time. We have been examining this option; I am sending to you under separate cover an interagency paper on this subject.²

III. PARTICIPANTS

List at Tab B.³

IV. PRESS PLAN

None.

V. SEQUENCE OF EVENTS

After your opening remarks (talking points at Tab C), I will call on the participants for their views on the available options, and then close the discussion.

Tab C

Talking Points Prepared in the National Security Council⁴

Washington, undated

Meeting with the National Security Planning Group

— I would appreciate the thoughts each of you might have on ideas Max Kampelman has suggested for getting sufficient funding for the SDI program and avoiding Congressional action that would circumscribe my ability to structure the SDI program as is necessary to meet the program’s goals.

— I would like to work with the Congress to build a bipartisan consensus behind SDI, for now and the future.

— But I am not prepared to pay any price for that consensus. In particular, I do not believe it is in our interest to renegotiate with the Soviets what is permitted and prohibited under the ABM Treaty, especially given that the Soviets have consistently used this issue in their efforts to kill or severely constrain the SDI program.

— I understand that some feel Gorbachev may have shown some flexibility in this area, by referring only to restrictions on deployment in his recent speech on INF. If true, it is good; but we should wait him out.

— Frank, would you outline for us the available policy options?

1. Source: National Security Council, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box SR–111, NSPG 0148. Secret. Copies were sent to Bush and Howard Baker. Attached at Tab A but not printed is the meeting agenda. Powell initialed the memorandum on behalf of Carlucci. A stamped notation indicates Reagan saw the memorandum. The document indicates that the meeting was scheduled for March 11 from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. in the White House Situation Room.
2. See Tab A, Document 224.
3. Attached but not printed.
4. Secret.