April 1986–August 1986
Arms Control in the Shadow of Chernobyl
250. Information Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs (Ridgway) to Secretary of State Shultz
Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, Executive Secretariat Sensitive (07/10/1986–07/13/1986); NLR–775–16–20–4–8. Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Parris; cleared by Simons.
251. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union
Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, N860007–0182. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Sell; cleared by Collins, Talcott, and McDaniel; approved by Parris. In a July 11 memorandum to Platt, McDaniel explained: “The attached oral statement has been cleared through the interagency process and represents the President’s full reply to General Secretary Gorbachev’s statement of June 1 on nuclear safety.” (Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Head of State File, USSR: General Secretary Gorbachev (8690433)) In a June 25 NSC covering note, Rodman wrote: “1. I think it should be an oral message, since the incoming was. 2. The language on testing, I think, is a bit abrupt in view of what we are thinking of saying in our proposed letter on arms control issues. Perhaps trim it way back here with a hint that we will have some thoughts to suggest in response to his letter of June 19.” Jack Matlock agreed. The issue of nuclear testing was addressed in Reagan’s July 25 letter to Gorbachev; see Document 254.
252. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Poindexter) to President Reagan
Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron July 1986 (3/4). Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. Prepared by Matlock. Reagan initialed the memorandum, indicating he saw it.
253. Memorandum From the National Intelligence Officer for USSR (Ermarth) to Director of Central Intelligence Casey and the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence (Gates)
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 88B00443R: Policy Files (1980–1986), Box 19, DCI Memo Chron (1–30 Jun ‘86). Secret; [handling restriction not declassified]. Sent through the Acting Chairman of the National Intelligence Council.
254. Letter From President Reagan to Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev
Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Head of State File, USSR: General Secretary Gorbachev (8690529). No classification marking. Under a July 18 covering memorandum to Reagan, Poindexter forwarded an NSDD that outlined the consultations regarding the response to Gorbachev. Poindexter noted the text of the letter, included in NSDD 233 and available on the Reagan Library website, was the text that had been “discussed and approved on Friday morning.” According to the President’s Daily Diary, Reagan met with Poindexter, Regan, and Linhard, who likely drafted the letter, from 11:01 to 11:35 a.m. (Reagan Library, President’s Daily Diary) On July 18, Reagan wrote in his diary: “Well we finally came up with a letter to Gorbachev that I can sign. In fact it’s a good one & should open the door to some real arms negotiations if he is really interested.” (Brinkley, ed., The Reagan Diaries, vol. II: November 1985–January 1989, p. 619)
255. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Department of State, Ambassador Nitze’s Personal Files 1953, 1972–1989, Lot 90D397, July–August 1986. Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Burton. The meeting took place in the EUR Conference Room at the Department of State. Brackets are in the original.
256. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Department of State, Ambassador Nitze’s Personal Files 1953, 1972–1989, Lot 90D397, July–August 1986. Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Burton. The meeting took place in the EUR Conference Room at the Department of State. Brackets are in the original.
257. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, 4D, 1986 Soviet Union July. Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Zarechnak; cleared by Davies and Pascoe. The meeting took place in Shultz’s office.
258. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Department of State, Ambassador Nitze’s Personal Files 1953, 1972–1989, Lot 90D397, July–August 1986. Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Burton. The meeting took place in the EUR Conference Room at the Department of State.
259. Memorandum From Jack Matlock of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Poindexter)
Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Meetings with USSR Officials, 1983–1986, Bessmertnykh Visit July 1986 (2/2). Secret. Sent for information. Copies were sent to Linhard and Rodman.
260. Information Memorandum From the Director of the Policy Planning Staff (Solomon) to Secretary of State Shultz
Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, 4D, 1986 Soviet Union July. Secret; Sensitive. In a July 29 handwritten covering note attached to another copy of this memorandum, Solomon wrote: “Nick Platt: This is the memo I mentioned at the morning staff meeting interpreting the Secretary’s meeting yesterday with Bessmertnykh. Given its subject, I assume you will want to restrict its circulation. I suggest that it go to Charlie Hill, Mike Armacost and John Whitehead—apart from whomever else you think should see it. Bernie Kalb and Mort Abramowitz also asked to see it. You decide. Thanks, Dick.” (Department of State, S/P Records, Memoranda/Correspondence from the Director of the Policy Planning Staff, Lot 89D149, 1986 July) No record of the morning staff meeting has been found.
261. Talking Points Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Deputy Director for Intelligence, Job 91B00874R: O/DDI Files (1980–1988), Box 1, Folder 24: HPSCI Current Intell Briefing 12 Aug 86. Secret; [handling restriction not declassified].
262. Information Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs (Ridgway) to Secretary of State Shultz
Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, 4D, 1986 Soviet Union, July–August. Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Simons on August 11. An unknown hand initialed for Ridgway.
263. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission to NATO, the Embassy in Japan, and the Embassy in Australia
Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, [no N number]. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Sent for information to SecDef, Moscow, all NATO capitals, Seoul, and Beijing. Drafted by Tulenko and Burton; cleared by Thomas, Nosenzo, Nitze, Hawes, Rowny, Deming, Kampelman, Smith, Lehman, Wheeler (JCS), Glitman, Michael (OSD/IS), Pascoe, Timbie, Linhard, and Pearson; approved by Ridgway.
264. National Security Decision Directive 232
Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC National Security Decision Directives, NSDD 232 [Preparations for the Next NST Negotiating Round]. Secret.
265. Note From Jack Matlock of the National Security Council Staff
Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron August 1986. No classification marking.
266. Memorandum From the Chief of the Arms Control Intelligence Staff, Central Intelligence Agency (George) to Director of Central Intelligence Casey
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Arms Control Intelligence Staff (DCI/ACIS), Job 91B00805R, Policy Files (1972–1986), Box 2, Folder 15: Douglas George: NSC/START Policies. Secret; [handling restriction not declassified]. [text not declassified].