Stalemate: January 1, 1980–January 20, 1981


326. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassies in Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia and the Consulate General in Jerusalem

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P880145–0665. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Walker; cleared in NEA and by Calvin Konner (S/S–O); approved by Linowitz. Printed from a corrected copy.


328. Telegram From the Embassy in Saudi Arabia to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P900077–1440. Secret; Cherokee; Immediate; Nodis.


329. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to Secretary of State Vance and Secretary of Defense Brown

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East, Subject File, Box 12, Egypt: 1–4/80. Secret.


330. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Country Chron File, Box 11, Egypt: 1980. Secret. The meeting took place in the Cabinet Room. Sick forwarded the memorandum to Brzezinski under a January 18 covering memorandum. A stamped notation on Sick’s memorandum, dated January 18, reads: “ZB has seen.” (Ibid.)


332. Summary of Conclusions of a Special Coordination Committee Meeting

Source: Carter Library, Plains File, Subject File, Box 30, NSC/SCC Minutes, 1/16/80–2/29/80. Secret. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room. Carter initialed “C” in the right-hand margin of the summary, indicating that he saw the document.


333. Telegram From the Embassy in Egypt to the Department of State and the White House

Source: Carter Library, Plains File, President’s Personal Foreign Affairs File, Box 1, Egypt, 11/77–11/81. Secret; Niact Immediate; Nodis. Printed from a copy that indicates the original was received in the White House Situation Room. Carter initialed “C” in the upper right-hand corner, indicating that he saw the telegram.


334. Telegram From the Embassy in Egypt to the Department of State

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East, Subject File, Box 56, Jordan: 12/79–2/80. Secret; Cherokee; Immediate; Nodis. Linowitz’s meeting with Hussein took place in London. (Telegram 591 from Jidda, January 28; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800048–1008) Linowitz then traveled to Cairo as part of his January 24–February 2 Middle East trip, which included stops in Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco. (Telegram 19007 to multiple posts, January 23; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800039–0055)


335. Memorandum From Secretary of Defense Brown to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 19, Egypt: 2/1–15/80. Secret. The memorandum bears a stamped date of January 28. Copies of the memorandum were sent to Vance and McIntyre.


336. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office, Presidential Advisory Board, Box 84, Sensitive XX: 2/80. Secret; Sensitive. The meeting took place in the Foreign Ministry Building. The meeting was the third of three meetings with Saudi officials during Brzezinski’s and Christopher’s visit to Riyadh February 4–5. The memorandum of conversation was found attached to the memoranda of conversation for the first two meetings, as well as a February 20 covering memorandum from Sick to Brzezinski, submitting the memoranda for approval with a further recommendation to pass them to Christopher. On the covering memorandum, Brzezinski wrote: “They should be held v. v. tightly. Can they be at State? ZB.” A second note on the covering memorandum, written by Dodson, reads: “Dispatched to [Executive Secretary to the Deputy Secretary John H.] Trattner after talking to him 2/27. CD.”


337. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Country Chron File, Box 11, Egypt: 1980. Secret. Sent for action. In the upper right-hand corner of the memorandum, Carter wrote: “Zbig. J.” The memorandum was found attached to a February 9 memorandum from Brzezinski to Vance, Brown, and McIntyre summarizing Carter’s decision.


339. Summary of Conclusions of a Senior Level Meeting

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East, Subject File, Box 5, Autonomy Talks: Breakfast 2/12/80 Meeting: 2/80. Secret; Sensitive. Outside the System. The meeting took place in the Roosevelt Room. In the upper right-hand corner of the summary, Carter wrote: “Zbig. J.” The summary was found attached to a February 13 covering memorandum from Brzezinski to Mondale, Vance, Brown, and Linowitz, informing them of Carter’s handwritten comments and instructing them to “insure that this report is held closely.” A verbatim transcript of this meeting is in the Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office, Unfiled Files, Box 143, Middle East: 2/77–1/81.


340. Memorandum From Robert Hunter of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East, Subject File, Box 4, Autonomy Talks: 2/13–29/80. Secret; Sensitive; Outside the System. Sent for information. In the upper right-hand corner of the memorandum, Brzezinski wrote: “You are right—we need to answer your questions. How about a 3–4 pp. paper + discussion? ZB.”


341. Letter From President Carter to Egyptian President Sadat

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, President’s Correspondence with Foreign Leaders File, Box 5, Egypt: President Anwar al-Sadat, 1–6/80. No classification marking. The letter was attached to a February 15 covering memorandum from Brzezinski to Carter, presenting the letter for his approval “[a]s agreed at the breakfast this morning.” At the bottom of the covering memorandum, Carter wrote: “Add sentence to last [paragraph] on p. 1. ‘If you desire, this commission will be authorized to meet directly with any Egyptian military leaders whom you designate.” Below this note, an unknown hand wrote: “(copy attached which includes the above).” Draper delivered the letter to Ghorbal on the evening of February 15. (Telegram 42471 to Cairo and Tel Aviv, February 16; Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 19, Egypt: 2/16–29/80)


342. Telegram From the Embassy in Saudi Arabia to the Department of State

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 68, Saudi Arabia: 2/80. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Sent for information Immediate to Cairo. Sent for information to Riyadh. Printed from a copy that indicates the original was received in the White House Situation Room. The telegram was found attached to a February 19 memorandum from Brzezinski to Vance, signed by Aaron, stating that Carter had read the telegram and had responded to West’s suggestion that Carter send a “personal plea” to Sadat to “stop further attacks” by commenting, “Let Atherton see Sadat.”


343. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files, FRC 330–81–0446, DEM Memcons/Reporting Cables. Secret. The meeting took place in the Ministry of Defense. Drafted by Colonel Edward C. Redican, USAF (OASD/ISA (NESA)) and approved by McGiffert.


344. Memorandum From Robert Hunter of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East, Subject File, Box 55, Israel: Settlements: 7/79–7/80. Confidential. Sent for action.


346. Telegram From the Embassy in Egypt to the Department of State and the White House

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P870047–2258. Secret; Niact Immediate; Nodis.


347. Memorandum From Robert Hunter of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East, Subject File, Box 51, Israel: 3–4/80. Secret; Outside the System. Sent for action. A stamped notation in the upper right-hand corner reads: “ZB has seen.”


348. Article in the National Intelligence Daily

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Support Services, Directorate of Intelligence, Job 82T00466R: Intelligence Publications Files (’80), Box 2, Folder 1, National Intelligence Daily—National Intelligence Daily Intelligence Sourced Copies—National Intelligence Daily Cable—FLS. Secret; [handling restriction not declassified].


350. Briefing Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Saunders) to Secretary of State Vance and the President’s Special Representative for Middle East Peace Negotiations (Linowitz)

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 51, Middle East: 1/80–1/81. Secret; Eyes Only; Super Sensitive. Drafted by Saunders. In the upper right-hand corner of the memorandum, Vance wrote: “Mr. President—I believe this paper is worth reading. Cy.”


351. Telegram From the Embassy in Egypt to the Department of State

Source: Carter Library, Plains File, President’s Personal Foreign Affairs File, Box 3, Mid-East, 4/79–12/80. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Sent for information Immediate to Tel Aviv and the White House. Printed from a copy that indicates the original was received in the White House Situation Room. Carter initialed “C” in the upper right-hand corner of the telegram, indicating that he saw it.


352. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 38, Memcons: President: 3–4/80. Secret; Sensitive. The meeting took place in the Oval Office. Another memorandum summarizing this conversation, written from Linowitz’s perspective for his files, is in the Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Linowitz Papers, Box CL1, Government Service, Middle East, Carter, Jimmy and White House Staff 1980.


353. Memorandum for the Files by the President’s Special Representative for Middle East Peace Negotiations (Linowitz)

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Linowitz Papers, Box CL1, Government Service, Middle East, Carter, Jimmy and White House Staff 1980. Secret.


354. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Carter Library, Brzezinski Donated Material, Subject File, Box 37, Serial Xs—(2/1/80–4/15/80). Secret; Sensitive. The meeting took place in the Cabinet Room. Carter’s handwritten notes related to this meeting are in the Carter Library, Plains File, President’s Personal Foreign Affairs File, Box 3, Mid East, 4/79–12/80.


355. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 38, Memcons: President, 3–4/80. Secret. The meeting took place in the Oval Office. In the upper right-hand corner of the memorandum, Carter wrote: “OK. J.” Brzezinski also initialed “ZB” in the upper right-hand corner.