Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume II, Organization and Management of U.S. Foreign Policy, 1969–1972

141. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rogers to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)¹

Washington, February 10, 1971.

I have reviewed the cables referred to in your memorandum of February 5.²

The applicable part of the President’s two directives to which you refer is that governing official communications, which states: “All official communications with policy implications must be cleared with the White House. When in doubt, the rule is that messages will be so cleared….”³

Early in the Administration I established procedures within the Department concerning clearances with the White House. These procedures fully accord with the President’s memoranda of September 1, 1969⁴ and December 21, 1970.⁵ All of the cables mentioned in your memorandum were handled in accordance with these procedures. They do not in my view depart from policy established by the President, and I therefore do not consider that the question of policy implication arises.

William P. Rogers

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 148, State/WH Relationship, Vol. 5. Secret; Eyes Only.
2. Document 139.
3. Ellipsis in the source text.
4. Document 70.
5. A copy is in the National Security Council, Secretariat, Directives, 1970, Directive #154.