Office of the Historian

Sources

Sources for Foreign Relations, 1981–1988, Volume XLIV, Part 1, National Security Policy, 1985–1988

The White House Staff and Office Files at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library illuminate the Reagan administration’s high-level decision making involving national security policy. Therein are files of the National Security Council (NSC) Executive Secretariat, which include key collections such as the USSR Country File, the Head of State File, National Security Decision Directives (NSDDs), NSC Meeting Files, and the National Security Planning Group (NSPG) files. In some instances, the original version of NSDDs and minutes of NSC and NSPG meetings and their preparatory material remain at the National Security Council in Washington. Key collections of individuals include the files of National Security Advisors Robert “Bud” McFarlane, John Poindexter, Frank Carlucci, and Colin Powell, as well as those of NSC staff members William Cockell, Michael Donley, Sven Kraemer, and Robert Linhard. Also at the Reagan Library are a copy of the George Shultz papers housed at the Hoover Institution in Palo Alto, Fred Ikle and Frank Carlucci papers, and the PROFS System of White House electronic messages. The NSC’s W files—Reagan Library files located in Washington—also yielded valuable documentation for the volume.

The Central Foreign Policy File of the Department of State includes the cable traffic between Washington and the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. Key lot files for this volume include: Lot 90D397, Ambassador Nitze’s Personal Files 1953, 1972–1989; and Lot 01D127, 1969–1990 Subject Records of James P. Timbie. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) facility in College Park, Maryland, will eventually include records deemed worthy of preservation as part of Record Group 59 (RG 59).

In addition to the paper files cited below, a growing number of documents are available on the Internet. The Office of the Historian maintains a list of those Internet resources on its website and encourages readers to consult that site on a regular basis.

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Unpublished Sources

Department of State, Washington, D.C.

Central Foreign Policy File. These files have been transferred or will be transferred to the National Archives and Records Administration in College Park, Maryland.

  • P Reels
  • D Reels
  • N Reels

Lot Files. These files have been transferred or will be transferred to the National Archives and Records Administration in College Park, Mayland.

  • Lot 01D127: Bureau of Arms Control and Disarmament Records, 1969–1990 Subject Records of James P. Timbie
  • Lot 85D308: Executive Secretariat, S/S–I Records, Deputy Secretary Dam’s Official Files
  • Lot 89D056: S Records, Records of Counselor Max Kampelman
  • Lot 89D149: Executive Secretariat, S/P Records, Memoranda and Correspondence From the Director of the Policy Planning Staff to the Secretary and other Seventh Floor Principals
  • Lot 90D397: Ambassador Nitze’s Personal Files 1953, 1972–1989
  • Lot 91D257: S/S–IRM Special Caption Files, Top Secret/Secret Sensitive Memorandum
  • Lot 92D52: Executive Secretariat, S/S Files, Executive Secretariat Sensitive (ES) and Super Sensitive Documents, 1984–1989
  • Lot 92D630: Executive Secretariat, S/S–IRM Records, The Executive Secretariat’s Special Caption Documents
  • Lot 93D188: Executive Secretariat, S/S Records, Memoranda of Conversations Pertaining to United States and USSR Relations, 1981–1990
  • Lot 94D092: Executive Secretariat, S/S Records, 1985 Nodis and Exdis Secretariat Memorandums
  • Lot 94D093: Executive Secretariat, S/S Records, 1986 Nodis and Exdis Secretariat Memorandums
  • Lot 94D432: Executive Secretariat, S/S Records, 1987 NODIS and EXDIS MEMORANDUMS
  • Lot 94D433: Executive Secretariat, S/S Records, 1988 NODIS and EXDIS Memorandums

National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Maryland

  • PROFS System

Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Simi Valley, California

  • W Files
  • White House Staff and Office Files
    • Files of the Executive Secretariat, National Security Council
      • Head of State File
      • National Security Decision Directives (NSDD) File
      • National Security Planning Group (NSPG) File
      • System IV Intelligence Files
    • Frank Carlucci Files
    • Tyrus Cobb Files
    • William Cockell Files
    • Kenneth deGraffenreid Files
    • Michael Donley Files
    • Alton Keel Files
    • George Keyworth Files
    • Sven Kraemer Files
    • Ronald Lehman Files
    • Robert Linhard Files
    • Jack Matlock Files
    • National Security Affairs
      • Office of the Assistant to the President
    • John Poindexter Files
    • Colin Powell Files
    • Steven Steiner Files
    • William Tobey Files
  • Fred Ikle Papers
  • President’s Daily Diary
  • George Shultz Papers

George H.W. Bush Presidential Library, College Station, Texas

  • Vice Presidential Records
    • Donald Gregg Files
    • Sam Watson Files
  • Bush Presidential Records
    • National Security Council
      • National Security Council Institutional Files (H–Files) Material

Central Intelligence Agency

  • Office of the Director of Central Intelligence
    • Job 88B00443R: Policy Files (1980–1986)

Library of Congress, Washington D.C.

  • Manuscript Division
    • Papers of Caspar W. Weinberger

National Security Council, Washington D.C.

  • National Security Council Institutional Files (H–Files)

Washington National Records Center, Suitland, Maryland

  • OSD Files: FRC 330–87–0008, Official Records of the Secretary of Defense, 1985

Published Sources

  • Brinkley, Douglas, ed. The Reagan Diaries, Unabridged. Volume I: January 1981–October 1985. New York: Harper Collins, 2009.
  • Brinkley, Douglas, ed. The Reagan Diaries, Unabridged. Volume II: November 1985–January 1989. New York: Harper Collins, 2009.
  • George C. Marshall Institute. Report of the Technical Panel on Missile Defense in the 1990s. Washington: Marshall Institute, February 1987.
  • New York Times.
  • Shultz, George P. Turmoil and Triumph: My Years as Secretary of State. New York: Scribner’s, 1993.
  • Strategic Defense Initiative Organization. Report to the Congress on the Strategic Defense Initiative. Washington: Department of Defense, 1985.
  • U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. Documents on Disarmament, 1985. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1989.
  • U.S. Department of Defense. Soviet Military Power. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1981.
  • U.S. Department of State. American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1985. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1986.
  • U.S. Department of Defense and Department of State. Soviet Strategic Defense Programs. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1985.
  • U.S. Department of State. Bulletin, 1985, 1986, 1987. Washington: Government Printing Office.
  • U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Jimmy Carter, 1977–1981. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1977–1982.
  • _____. Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Ronald W. Reagan, 1981–1988. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1982–1991.
  • Washington Post.