Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume VII, Arms Control and Disarmament

65. National Security Action Memorandum No. 87⁰

Washington, September 5, 1961.

TO

• The Secretary of Defense
• The Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission

SUBJECT

• Memorandum of Decision

At a meeting in his office on Tuesday, September 5,¹ the President ordered the resumption of underground weapons testing, and the following schedule was agreed:

On Friday, September 15, there will be tested a [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] weapon. [2 lines of source text not declassified]²

The President also requested the Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, to consider the problem of atmospheric testing, as opposed to underground testing, and to produce a report with appropriate recommendations within two weeks.

McGeorge Bundy

0. Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 65 A 3464, Atomic 400.112 8 Apr 61 (Jun-Nov 61). Top Secret; Restricted Data. A stamped notation on the source text reads: “Sec Def has seen.”
1. See Document 64.
2. A September 12 memorandum from Bundy to McNamara and Seaborg states [text not declassified] by Kennedy, at Seaborg’s recommendation, for October 10. (Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 65 A 3464, Atomic 400.112 8 Apr 61 (Jun-Nov 61))