“Bureaucratic Steamroller,” January 1969–November 1970
31. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 489, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin/Kissinger, 1970, Pt. I, Vol. I. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. The conversation took place in the White House Map Room. The full text of the memorandum of conversation is in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, volume XII, Soviet Union, January 1969–October 1970, Document 183.
32. Minutes of a Combined Senior Review Group and Verification Panel Meeting
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–111, SRG Minutes, Originals, 1970. Top Secret. Printed from a copy with handwritten corrections, which have been incorporated into the text printed here. The minutes are dated September 1, but according to Kissinger’s record of schedule, the meeting took place on August 31. (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 438, Miscellany, 1968–76) The full text of the minutes is scheduled for publication in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, volume XLI, Western Europe; NATO, 1969–1972.
34. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 467, President’s Trip Files, Presidential European Trip, MemCons, September 27–October 5, 1970. Secret; Nodis; Sensitive. In a backchannel message to Kissinger, September 19, Ellsworth wrote: “For more than a year now, the Alliance has been in the throes of trying to decide how to handle Warsaw Pact proposals for a CES. Throughout the debate we have taken an extremely reserved position, arguing that the proposals, if accepted, would strengthen the international position of the GDR and split the alliance.” Ellsworth noted he had prevented an “unseemly rush to an early and unstructured conference, but pressure from our more détente-minded allies (particularly the Scandinavians and Benelux) has pushed NATO ever closer to agreement to begin ‘exploring’ the possibilities of a CES with the East.” Ellsworth noted: “Brosio is personally opposed to a CES, and has done what he can to slow things down.” (Ibid., Box 466, President’s Trip Files, Presidential European Trip, Vol. I)
35. Paper Prepared by the National Security Council Staff
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, HAK Office Files, Box 71, Country Files, Europe, USSR, Gromyko 1970. Secret; Nodis; Sensitive. Kissinger sent the paper to the President as an attachment (Tab C) to an October 19 memorandum preparing the President for his upcoming meeting with Gromyko.
36. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 490, President’s Trip Files, Dobrynin/Kissinger 1970, Vol. 3. Top Secret; Sensitive. The conversation took place in the Oval Office. The full text of the memorandum is scheduled for publication in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, volume XIII, Soviet Union, October 1970–October 1971.
37. Minutes of a National Security Council Meeting
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–109, NSC Minutes, Originals 1970, 1 of 3. Top Secret. The meeting was held in the Cabinet Room. According to the President’s Daily Diary, the meeting lasted from 10:09 a.m. to 12:12 p.m. (Ibid., White House Central Files, President’s Daily Diary)
38. Memorandum From Helmut Sonnenfeldt of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–049, SRG Meeting, MBFR, 11–23–70. Confidential. Sent for information.
39. Minutes of a Senior Review Group Meeting
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–111, SRG Minutes, Originals 1970. Top Secret; Codeword. The meeting was held in the White House Situation Room. In a memorandum for the record, November 25, Nutter and Morse summarized the meeting. They concluded: “The meeting was relatively short and seemed designed primarily to convey the message that we should go very slow on MBFR, for the time being at least.” (Ford Library, Laird Papers, Box 16, NATO, Vol. VI)
40. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Johnson to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Executive Secretariat, Conference Files: Lot 70 D 387, Box 522, Volume II, NATO Ministerial, Dec. 2–4. Secret.