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

45. Memorandum by the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)¹

Washington, May 16, 1969.

MEMORANDUM FOR

• The Secretary of State
• The Secretary of Defense
• The Director of Central Intelligence

SUBJECT

• Washington Special Actions Group

The President has directed that the Interdepartmental Coordinating Committee on Korea be constituted on a permanent basis in the event of future similar crises worldwide. Henceforth, this committee will be referred to as the Washington Special Actions Group.²

The President visualizes that the Washington Special Actions Group will confine itself to consideration of the policies and plans affecting crises. Implementation of policy decisions and coordination of operations will be conducted through the interagency Crisis Task Forces prescribed by the Under Secretaries Committee under the authority of NSDM 8.³

Henry A. Kissinger

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–070, Washington Special Actions Group Meetings, May 1969–1971. Confidential.
2. In a June 20 memorandum from Kissinger to Rogers, Laird, and Helms, the President directed that WSAG “review existing military contingency plans for potential crises areas. Where existing plans appear to be inadequate, it is contemplated that the group will initiate action to have appropriate additional plans prepared.” (Ibid.)
3. Document 31. Minutes for most WSAG meetings starting with the first meeting on July 2, 1969, through the meeting on July 22, 1974, are at the National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Boxes H–114-H–117, WSAG Minutes, Originals, 1969 and 1970. Files on each meeting that include talking points, briefing memoranda, background papers, summaries of conclusions, and, for many meetings, minutes are also ibid., Boxes H–070-H–097.