67. Editorial Note
On June 30, 1971, Peter Peterson sent CIEP Study Memorandum 7 to the Council’s members, to which he attached a draft of his 133-page briefing on “The United States In a Changing World Economy.” Peterson noted that, at the President’s request, the essence of the draft had already been used in briefings with Congress and business and labor groups, but that the paper had not yet been reviewed by the CIEP and at that stage was “a rather personal document.” Peterson indicated that it was slated for discussion during an intensive Review Group meeting at Camp David July 9-10 and asked the Council members for their views on further dissemination of the document. (Department of State, S/S Files: Lot 82 D 126, Box 5195, CIEP Study Memoranda)
Peterson had discussed his briefing with President Nixon on June 29, and under cover of a July 2 memorandum forwarded a copy of the [Page 162] report, as the President had requested, for his trip to San Clemente. (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 218, CIEP) On July 3 Haig sent Peterson a memorandum suggesting some revisions in his transmittal memorandum to the President, particularly on the issue of publishing the briefing. (Ibid.) Peterson resubmitted his memorandum on July 6. (Ibid.) The President flew to Kansas City and then continued on to San Clemente on July 6. Haig accompanied the President. (Ibid., White House Central Files, President’s Daily Diary)
In a July 8 memorandum to Haig (for wire), Ernest Johnston of the NSC Staff called attention to a number of deficiencies in the briefing paper scheduled to be discussed at Camp David. Johnston concluded that “during the meeting I shall discreetly argue that publication of the document would cause severe foreign policy problems and, even worse, would contribute to Congressional pressure for a nationalistic international economic policy. OMB, CEA and State expect to take the same line. Should Peterson suggest delayed submission of preference legislation or a revision of our preference scheme, I will argue, on foreign policy grounds, for prompt submission and no back down in our current proposal.” On the July 8 cover note from Kennedy to Haig, which suggests Johnston’s memorandum was sent telegraphically to Haig at the Western White House, Kennedy wrote: “AMH Comments: 1. Hold firm. 2. Peterson is amenable to no publication—we want none. Per tel con with John Howard 7/9/71.” (Ibid., NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 218, CIEP)