September 1985–November 1985
Personal Diplomacy: Reagan, Gorbachev, and the Geneva Summit
110. Information Memorandum From the Acting Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (McNeil) to Acting Secretary of State Whitehead
Source: Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/S Records, 1985 NODIS and EXDIS Secretariat Memorandums, Lot 94D92, Exdis September 1985. Confidential. Drafted by J.T. Danylyk (INR/EC/CER); cleared by I.N. Belousovitch (INR/SEE). A stamped notation indicates Whitehead saw the memorandum on October 1.
111. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane) to President Reagan
Source: Reagan Library, Robert McFarlane Files, Chronological File, Sensitive Chron 1985 (1); NLR–362–7–39–6–4. Secret; Eyes Only.
112. Memorandum From the Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Courtney) to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Armacost)
Source: Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/S Records, 1985 NODIS and EXDIS Secretariat Memorandums, Lot 94D92, NODIS September 1985. Secret; Sensitive. In an October 2 covering note to Shultz, Armacost wrote: “Attached is a memo written by Bill Courtney giving his personal thoughts on the new Soviet arms control proposal. Bill is quite knowledgeable about arm control issues and has served in our Embassy in Moscow. I thought you might be interested in reading it.” In telegram 303840 to USUN for Armacost, October 2, Courtney noted: “I met with CIA analysts at Langley this morning to discuss the Soviet proposal. Their views are broadly consistent with those I sent you on Monday evening.” (Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/S, Top Secret/Secret Sensitive Memorandum, Lot 91D257, Eggplant II, September–December 1985 NP)
113. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan
Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, US-USSR Summits, 1985–1986, Geneva Meeting: Arms Control Negotiations 11/19/1985–11/20/1985 (1/2). Secret; Sensitive. Not for the System.
114. 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 October 1985 (5/12). Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Not for the System. All brackets are in the original. Poindexter wrote in the top right-hand margin: “Very interesting! JP.” McFarlane sent the memorandum to Reagan under a handwritten October 14 covering note: “Attached is a report of a long (4-hr) conversation between Ambassador Jack Matlock—my Soviet expert—and a leading Soviet party official. It provides a fascinating insight into current Kremlin (party) thinking which I take to be very plausible. Some of the hints on arms control are not far from some concepts I have developed on a close-hold basis. Due to its sensitivity perhaps you could return it to me directly on Tuesday. No other copies exist. V/R—Bud.” (Reagan Library, Robert McFarlane Files, Subject File, Soviet Union—Sensitive File—1985 (10/3/1985–11/18/1985)) Tuesday was October 15.
115. Letter From Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev to President Reagan
Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Head of State File, U.S.S.R.: General Secretary Gorbachev (8591143, 8591239). Strictly Confidential. Printed from an unofficial translation. The text of the letter, translated from Russian, was provided by the Soviet Embassy.
116. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union
Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, N850011–0134. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Robinson; cleared by Ridgway, Wick, McKinley, Matlock, Palmer, Parris, Van Heuven, and L.D. Sell (EUR/SOV); approved by Shultz. On another copy of the telegram, Shultz wrote in the margin: “President signed off @ meeting on 10/16.” A stamped notation reading “GPS” appears on that copy of the telegram. (Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, Secretary’s Meetings with the President (10/16/1985); NLR–775–18–87–1–6)
117. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane) to President Reagan
Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron October 1985 (6/12). Secret. Sent for information. Drafted by Matlock. The memorandum is unsigned. Matlock forwarded the draft memorandum and the attached papers to McFarlane on October 18. On another copy of the covering memorandum from Matlock, McFarlane wrote: “Forward on 10/25 for Camp David reading. Pls provide cy for me. M.” Matlock recommended that McFarlane also approve copies to Shultz and Regan; McFarlane initialed his approval and added in a handwritten note “and VP.” (Reagan Library, Matlock Files, Geneva Meeting: Background Materials for the President (5/6)) In his book, Matlock explained that “Reagan read these papers with care, often jotting notes in the margins. Sometimes, at his morning staff meeting, he would pass one around and recommend that everyone read it. We organized meetings for him with some of the authors so that he could discuss the questions raised in whatever detail he desired. We also arranged for him to meet specialists from outside the government and to read some of their writings. Nina Tumarkin of the Russian Research Center at Harvard University did a paper on the image of Lenin, and Suzanne Massie, author of Land of the Firebird, a cultural history of Russia, had several meetings to discuss the Russian character. Reagan found their advice helpful as he considered ways to approach Gorbachev personally. He also enjoyed Massie’s book, which he was still reading in Geneva as he prepared for his meeting with Gorbachev.” (Matlock, Reagan and Gorbachev, p. 134)
118. Telegram From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D850747–0686. Confidential; Immediate. Sent for information to the Moscow Political Collective.
119. Information Memorandum From the Director of the Policy Planning Staff (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 10/1–31/85. Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by VanOudenaren on October 11. Shultz initialed the memorandum and wrote in the top margin: “PR/R2, I need some strong talking pts for the Moscow trip.” With this note, Shultz was tasking Peter Rodman and Rozanne Ridgway.
120. 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 (8591090, 8591097). No classification marking. In an October 22 covering memorandum to Reagan, McFarlane explained that this letter was in response to Gorbachev’s September 12 letter, and it “gives Gorbachev advance notice of the regional initiative you will be proposing in your speech to the UN General Assembly on Thursday.” For Gorbachev’s letter, see Document 84.
121. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron November 1985 (8/10). Secret; Sensitive. There is no drafting information on the memorandum of conversation. The meeting took place in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. The President was in New York for the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the United Nations. Matlock sent the memorandum to McFarlane under a November 15 covering memorandum.
122. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, US-USSR Summits, 1985–1986, Shultz/Shevardnadze Meeting in New York, 10/25/1985. Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Palmer. All brackets are in the original. The meeting took place at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.
123. National Security Decision Directive 194
Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC National Security Decision Directives, NSDD 194 [Meeting with Soviet Leader in Geneva: Themes and Perceptions]. Secret. Reagan’s signature does not appear on the NSDD. Matlock sent McFarlane a draft of the NSDD under an October 18 covering memorandum, along with a draft memorandum to Reagan which reads: “You recently reviewed and approved a package offering our current thinking on how best to approach the November meetings with Gorbachev. We believe it will be useful to distribute the themes and perceptions portions of that package as guidelines for use in the public discussion of the Geneva meetings.” (Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron October 1985 (6))
124. National Security Decision Directive 195
Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC National Security Decision Directives, NSDD 195 [U.S. Position: Nuclear and Space Talks]. Top Secret.
125. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane) to President Reagan
Source: Reagan Library, System II Intelligence Files, H401, Folder #2, 8490035–8890278. Secret. Not for System. Sent for information. Drafted by Matlock. Reagan initialed at the top right-hand corner of the memorandum, indicating he saw it.
126. 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, Subject File, U.S.-Soviet Union (20); NLR–324–10–20–13–4. Confidential. Sent for information. A stamped notation reads “RCM has seen.”
127. 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 (8591135). No classification marking. On October 31, McFarlane forwarded Reagan revised text of the letter for his signature, which included a revision that Reagan asked for in a handwritten note on a draft of the letter. His note asked that “This be amended to state our proposal—now being tabled at Geneva.” McFarlane’s covering memorandum, drafted by Matlock, stated: “Gorbachev’s letter notified you that the Soviets would be making new proposals at the Geneva negotiations. Now that we are prepared to reply to that offer, it would be appropriate for you to respond to Gorbachev’s letter by notifying of our new proposals. This letter also serves to give your personal endorsement to George Shultz’s mission to Moscow next week.” (Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, 1985 Correspondence, Related Material (5/5))
128. 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 (8591143, 8591239). No classification marking. McKinley, signing for Platt, sent a draft of the letter to McFarlane under an October 31 covering memorandum, explaining: “The Soviets have responded to our suggestion of a special channel of communications between the President and General Secretary Gorbachev by nominating Ambassador Dobrynin. Gorbachev’s letter of October 12 is attached at Tab 2. The Department believes that we should respond symmetrically by nominating Ambassador Hartman as our Moscow point of contact. The draft Presidential response at Tab 1 makes the point that Secretary Shultz and Foreign Minister Shevardnadze should be part of the process.” McFarlane wrote in the right-hand margin: “I put a draft on PROFs which is a pro-forma assertion that since they don’t want a private channel we will deal in normal channels.” An NSC routing slip indicates Reagan signed the letter on November 1. For Gorbachev’s letter, see Document 115.
129. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane) to President Reagan
Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron November 1985 (1/10). Confidential. Sent for information. Drafted by Matlock. The memorandum is unsigned. Matlock forwarded the draft memorandum and the attached papers to McFarlane on November 1.
130. Note From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane) to President Reagan
Source: Reagan Library, Robert McFarlane Files, Chronological File, Sensitive Chron 1985; NLR–362–7–40–10–7. Secret.
131. Information Memorandum From the Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (Abramowitz) to Secretary of State Shultz
Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, 1985 Soviet Union November. Secret; Noforn; Exdis. Drafted by V. Van Diepen (INR/SFA/SF) and K. Puschel (INR/SEE); cleared by M.M. Lowenthal (INR/SFA) and R. Baraz (INR/SEE); approved by J. Kahan (INR/FAR). Abramowitz wrote “Mort A.” next to his name in the “From” line.
132. Information Memorandum From the Director of the Policy Planning Staff (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 11/1–30/85; NLR–775–14–63–9–8. Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Rodman and VanOudenaren.
133. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane) to President Reagan
Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Geneva Meeting: Background Materials For the President (5/6). Top Secret. Sent for information. Drafted by Matlock. A copy was sent to Bush. Reagan initialed the memorandum in the top right-hand margin, indicating he saw it. A stamp in the top right-hand corner reads: “The President has seen.”
134. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Files, Memoranda of Conversations (09/1985–11/1985); NLR–775–23–5–1–0. No classification marking. No drafting information appears on the memorandum of conversation. A typed notation in the upper right-hand corner reads: “Day 1, Part 1.” Another draft copy of this memorandum of conversation is in Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/S Records, Memorandum of Conversations, 1981–1990, Lot 93D188, Shultz/Shevardnadze/Gorbachev in Moscow November 4 and 5, 1985. Minor editorial corrections that have been incorporated in the text printed here suggest that this is a draft. No final text was found.
135. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/S Records, Memorandum of Conversations 1981–1990, Lot 93D188, Shultz/Shevardnadze/Gorbachev in Moscow November 4 and 5, 1985. Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Parris. The meeting took place in the Foreign Ministry.
136. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Department of State, EUR/RUS Special Collections—Russia, Political Subject and Chronological Files, Lot 00D471, Shultz-Shevardnadze 11/4–5/1985. Secret; Sensitive. The meeting took place in the Soviet Foreign Ministry Mansion. Another copy of the memorandum of conversation indicates it was drafted by Zarechnak on November 5. (Reagan Library, George Shultz Files, Memoranda of Conversations (09/1985–11/1985) (11/05/1985); NLR–775–23–9–2–5)
137. Telegram From Secretary of State Shultz to the White House
Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, N850012–0024. Secret; Niact Immediate; Nodis.
138. Telegram From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State
Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, Memoranda of Conversations 1985. Secret; Immediate; Nodis; Adam. Special Encryption.
139. Personal Notes of Secretary of State Shultz
Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, Official Personal Notes of Secretary Shultz (10/01/1985–10/23/1985); NLR–775–23–61–1–8. No classification marking. These notes were transcribed by an unknown person in the Department of State from Shultz’s handwritten notes of his November 5 meeting with Gorbachev. Shultz’s handwritten notes are ibid.