March 1985–July 1985
“Now we have to begin everything anew”: Gorbachev’s Debut


1. Letter From President Reagan to Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev

Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Head of State File, U.S.S.R.: General Secretary Gorbachev (8590272, 8590336). No classification marking. On March 11, Reagan wrote in his personal diary: “Awakened at 4 A.M. to be told Chernenko is dead. My mind turned to whether I should attend the funeral. My gut instinct said no. Got to the office at 9. George S. had some arguments that I should—he lost. I don’t think his heart was really in it. George B. is in Geneva—he’ll go & George S. will join him leaving tonight.” He continued: “Word has been received that Gorbachev has been named head man in the Soviet.” (Brinkley, ed., The Reagan Diaries, vol. I: January 1981–October 1985, p. 434) According to the President’s Daily Diary, Shultz and Reagan met in the Oval Office on March 11 from approximately 2 to 2:30 p.m. (Reagan Library, President’s Daily Diary) Presumably Shultz delivered this letter to Reagan during the meeting for his approval and signature. In a March 11 covering memorandum to Gregg and McFarlane, Platt transmitted a draft of the letter and explained that the letter should be “hand delivered by Vice President Bush to incoming General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev.” Bush traveled to Moscow as the official U.S. representative at Chernenko’s funeral, along with Shultz and Ambassador Hartman. They met with Gorbachev on March 13; see Document 5.


2. Talking Points for Secretary of State Shultz Prepared in the Department of State

Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, Secretary’s Meetings with the President (03/11/1985). No classification marking. These talking points were included in a larger packet for Shultz entitled: “Meeting with the President, Monday, March 11 2:00–2:30 pm,” in preparation for Shultz’s trip to Moscow. In his memoir, he wrote: “I went to the White House to see President Reagan to go over ideas for the meeting our delegation would have with Gorbachev. There wasn’t a thought in his mind about going to Moscow. I recommended that Vice President Bush deliver a letter to Gorbachev inviting him to the United States. The president agreed.” (Shultz, Turmoil and Triumph, p. 527)


3. Memorandum From John Lenczowski of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane)

Source: Reagan Library, John Lenczowski Files, NSC Files, Chron File March 1985; NLR–324–11–69–2–2. Confidential. Sent for action. An unknown hand crossed out the subject line with black marker. Poindexter wrote in the margin: “Everybody agrees with this analysis. JP.” According to another copy of the memorandum, the subject line reads: “Shultz-Weinberger-McFarlane Breakfast: Implications of the Gorbachev Election.” (Reagan Library, Tyrus Cobb Files, Country File, USSR (1); NLR–98–4–50–1–3)


4. Telegram From the Delegation at the Nuclear and Space Talks to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D850167–0381. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Sent for information to Moscow, NATO Collective, and USNMR SHAPE.


5. Telegram From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, [no N number]. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. In telegram Tosec 50092/77674 to Shultz’s aircraft, March 14, the Department repeated the text of telegram 3137. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, N850004–0009) Under a March 19 covering memorandum to Gregg, Platt attached a copy of telegram 3137 and wrote: “Attached for your review is a copy of the interpreter’s full verbatim notes of the Vice President’s March 13 meeting with General Secretary Gorbachev.” (Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, 1985 Soviet Union February) In his personal notes on March 15, Dam commented that it was Shultz’s first day back from Moscow and that Dam “joined in a meeting where he gave his impressions of the trip to Moscow and particularly his impressions of Gorbachev. He was favorably impressed with Gorbachev, who struck him as a self-confident and competent politician who was businesslike in manner. On the other hand, the Secretary does not feel that anything is likely to change very fast as a result of this change in personalities.” (Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/S–I Records, Deputy Secretary Dam’s Official Files: Lot 85D308, Personal Notes of Deputy Secretary—Kenneth W. Dam—Oct. 1984–June 1985)


6. Information Memorandum From the Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (Abramowitz) to Secretary of State Shultz

Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, Executive Secretariat Sensitive (03/14/1985–03/15/1985); NLR–775–13–29–9–7. Secret; Sensitive; Noforn; Nocontract; Orcon. Drafted by D.G. Simpson (INR/PMA/GPT) on March 14. A stamped notation reading “GPS” appears on the memorandum, indicating Shultz saw it.


7. Information Memorandum From the Chairman of the Policy Planning Council (Rodman) to Secretary of State Shultz

Source: Department of State, S/P, Memoranda/Correspondence from the Director of the Policy Planning Staff, Lot 89D149, S/P Chrons PW 3/1–31/85. Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Kaplan. Copies were sent to Chain, Wolfowitz, Burt, Murphy, Nitze, and Rowny. A stamped notation reading “GPS” appears on the memorandum, indicating Shultz saw it.


8. Information Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs (Burt) and the Acting Director of the Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs (Hawes) to Secretary of State Shultz

Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, Executive Secretariat Sensitive (03/20/1985–03/21/1985). Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Dunkerley and Tefft; cleared by Palmer, Dobbins, Redman, Schwartz, Grobel, and Pifer. Patrick Moon, EUR/RPM, initialed for the drafting and clearing officials. Brackets are in the original. In a March 21 covering memorandum to McFarlane, Kraemer and Linhard sent a “background package for the President’s use during tonight’s press conference if the Soviets go public with this March 19 moratoria/freeze proposals.” (Reagan Library, Sven Kraemer Files, [Mar 1985] Chron File: [No. 82–No. 90])


9. Telegram From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Ambassador Arthur Hartman Files, Lot 2016F0003, Folder 17: 1984–1985 US-Soviet Relations. Secret; Immediate; Nodis.


10. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan

Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Head of State File, U.S.S.R.: General Secretary Gorbachev (8590272, 8590336). Secret; Sensitive. Eyes Only for the President and NSC Advisor McFarlane. A stamped notation on the memorandum indicates McFarlane saw it. An attached NSC correspondence sheet indicates that Reagan also saw it.


11. Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs (Burt) and the Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs (Abrams) to Secretary of State Shultz

Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, 1985 Sept. Mtg. w/ E. Shevardnadze. Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Schmidt on March 18; cleared by Pascoe, Simons, Palmer, and Matthews. Schmidt initialed for the clearing officials. Burt wrote at the top of the page: “I’m sure the Soviets will say no, but it’s still worth a try. RB.”


12. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassies in the Soviet Union and the Federal Republic of Germany and the Mission in West Berlin

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D850208–0948. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted by Pascoe; cleared by Niles, Strathearn, and Kornblum; approved by Burt.


13. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Meetings with USSR Officials, Meetings: Shultz-Gromyko-Dobrynin-Hartman-Gromyko 1985 (1). Secret; Sensitive. According to another copy, Simons drafted and Palmer and Kelly cleared the memorandum. (Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers,—1985 Soviet Union File)


14. Memorandum From Jack Matlock of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane)

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron April 1985 (1/6). Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Not for the System. Sent for information. Sent through Poindexter, who did not initial the memorandum.


15. Letter From President Reagan to Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev

Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Head of State File, U.S.S.R.: General Secretary Gorbachev (8590382, 8590419). No classification marking. Under an April 3 covering memorandum, Platt sent McFarlane a draft of the letter from Reagan to Gorbachev. On April 4, under a covering memorandum, Matlock sent McFarlane the draft letter and Platt’s memorandum. (Ibid.) McFarlane then sent the draft letter to Reagan on April 4 under a covering memorandum recommending the President sign the letter so it could be delivered by Speaker O’Neill’s congressional delegation. (Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Head of State Correspondence (US-USSR) April 1985 (1/3))


16. Briefing Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs (Burt) to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Armacost)

Source: Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/S, Executive Secretariat Special Caption Documents, 1979–1989, Lot 92D630, Not for the System Documents, April 1985 (44). Secret; Sensitive. Not for the System. Drafted in EUR/SOV; cleared by Senator Jesse Helms. Obviously the clearance line is meant to be tongue-in-cheek to go along with the humorous tone of the memorandum.


17. Memorandum From Jack Matlock of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane)

Source: Reagan Library, Robert McFarlane Files, Subject File, Soviet Union—Sensitive File—1985 (09/01/1985–10/02–1985); NLR–362–3–25–1–8. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Not for System. Sent for action. Sent through Poindexter, who did not initial the memorandum.


18. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron April 1985 (4/6). Secret; Sensitive.


19. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane) to President Reagan

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, US-USSR Summits, 1985–1986, Gorbachev Meeting (1/2). Secret. Sent for information. Prepared by Matlock. A copy was sent to Bush. A stamped notation indicates the President saw the memorandum on April 16. Although not mentioned in the text of the memorandum, McFarlane indicated that he attached as Tab A a copy of telegram 4621 from Moscow, April 10. The telegram was not attached to the copy of the memorandum printed here. Telegram 4621 transmitted a synopsis of the April 10 meeting between Gorbachev and O’Neill’s congressional delegation. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams N850005–0003) For information about the O’Neill congressional delegation to Moscow, see footnote 2, Document 15.


20. Memorandum From Jack Matlock of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane)

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Head of State Correspondence (US-USSR) April 1985 (1 of 3). Secret; Sensitive. Sent for action.


21. Memorandum From Jack Matlock of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane)

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron April 1985 (4/6). Secret; Sensitive. Sent for action.


22. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan

Source: Reagan Library, Robert McFarlane Files, Subject File, Soviet Union—Sensitive File—1985 (01/12/1985–06/15/1985). Secret; Sensitive. Reagan initialed the memorandum, indicating that he saw it.


23. Letter From President Reagan to Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev

Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Head of State File, U.S.S.R.: General Secretary Gorbachev (8590475). No classification marking. In an April 25 memorandum to McFarlane, Matlock explained that he “redrafted” the letter to “take account of the Soviet action Monday in disavowing an essential part of what we had understood to be the Otis-Zaitsev agreement.” He made substantial changes to an earlier version; see Document 20. (Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron April 1985 (2/6)) McFarlane then sent the letter to Reagan under an April 30 covering memorandum, indicating that “Shultz concurs in the text” and that he sent Weinberger a copy, who had yet to reply. McFarlane recommended the President sign the letter. (Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Head of State File, U.S.S.R.: General Secretary Gorbachev (8590475))


24. Memorandum From Jack Matlock of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane)

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron May 1985 (4/5). Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Sent for information. Sent through Poindexter, who did not initial the memorandum. In telegram Tosec 90363 to Shultz in Bonn, the delegation to GRID, and Moscow, May 9, Kelly noted: “Dobrynin and other senior Soviet Embassy people have given us new and specific details on the Soviet approach to the Vienna meeting, the summit and regional talks over the past two days. This material runs counter to the relatively tough line Gorbachev took in today’s speech, but is also authoritative. We understand Jack Matlock will be reporting some of this, based on his conversation with Dobrynin, through his own channels.” Kelly indicated that Mark Palmer and Thomas Simons met with Sokolov several times and also summarized these conversations. (Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/S Records, 1985 NODIS and EXDIS Secretariat Memorandums, Lot 94D92, NODIS May 1985)


25. Telegram From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D850324–0478. Limited Official Use. Sent for information to the Consulate in Leningrad and USIA.


26. Letter From President Reagan to Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, US-USSR Summits, E.1, President/Gorbachev Correspondence. No classification marking. In a May 10 covering memorandum to McFarlane, Matlock explained: “Commerce has requested a letter from the President to Gorbachev for Secretary Baldrige to deliver in case he is granted an appointment. I have made some changes in the Commerce/State draft to reflect elements of the previous correspondence. In particular, I have made the reference to emigration indirect (though unmistakable), since I believe that direct mention in a letter which will have wider distribution in the Soviet bureaucracy than the confidential correspondence would be counterproductive.” Poindexter initialed his approval that McFarlane forward a copy to the President. Matlock drafted and attached a May 10 covering memorandum from McFarlane to Reagan, forwarding the letter; Reagan initialed his approval and signed the letter. (Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron May 1985 (3/5)) Baldrige was traveling to Moscow for meetings of the Joint Commercial Commission, scheduled to begin May 20. See Documents 31 and 32.


27. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane) to President Reagan

Source: Reagan Library, Sven Kraemer Files, Geneva—ShultzGromyko 05/14/1985. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for action. Poindexter initialed for McFarlane. A copy was sent to the Vice President. In a May 13 covering note to the President, Poindexter wrote: “Bud would like some guidance on two issues that he will discuss tomorrow with George Shultz in Vienna in preparation for a meeting with Gromyko. Bud dictated the attached memo today from Vienna.” Reagan responded: “I feel very strongly that we should do no more to indicate we are begging for a meeting. We’ve invited them to a meeting in the U.S. (It’s our turn.) The ball is in their court. RR.”


28. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/S Records, Memorandum of Conversations, 1981–1990, Lot 93D188, Shultz/Gromyko at Soviet Embassy, Vienna May 14, 1985. Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Arensburger on May 15; cleared by Palmer on May 25 and Matlock on June 10. Palmer initialed for Matlock. The meeting took place at the Soviet Embassy.


29. Telegram From Secretary of State Shultz to the White House

Source: Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/S Records, Memorandum of Conversations, 1981–1990, Lot 93D188, Shultz/Gromyko at Soviet Embassy, Vienna May 14, 1985. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Simons; cleared by Palmer and McKinley; approved by Shultz. Sent from the Secretary’s delegation in Vienna. All brackets are in the original.


30. Talking Points for Secretary of State Shultz Prepared in the Department of State

Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, Secretary’s Meetings with the President (05/16/1985). Secret. These talking points were included in a larger packet for Shultz dated May 16 and entitled “Meeting with the President on Middle East Trip and Gromyko Meeting,” prepared in advance of Shultz’s May 17 meeting with Reagan. Shultz returned to Washington on May 17 and met with Reagan that afternoon from 1:36 p.m. until 2:32 p.m. (Reagan Library, President’s Daily Diary)