Office of the Historian

208. White House Press Release1 2

Washington, September 7, 1971.

MEMORANDUM FOR:

  • Honorable William P. Rogers Secretary of State

SUBJECT:

  • Cabinet Committee on International Narcotics Control

Drug abuse, particularly narcotics addiction, has grown to crisis proportions in the last several years in the United States. It is imperative that the illicit flow of narcotics and dangerous drugs into this country be stopped as soon as possible. In order most effectively to coordinate this effort, which encompasses diplomatic, intelligence, and law enforcement functions, I am hereby establishing a Cabinet Committee on International Narcotics Control.

The Cabinet Committee will be chaired by the Secretary of State and include:

Secretary Rogers

Attorney General Mitchell

Secretary Laird

Secretary Connally

Ambassador Bush

Director Helms

and such others as become necessary in the opinion of the Chairman.

The Cabinet Committee will be supported by a Working Group to be composed of personnel from each of the concerned agencies. The Executive Director of the Cabinet Committee and Chairman of the Working Group will be EGIL KROGH, Jr.

The Cabinet Committee shall be responsible for the formulation and coordination of all policies of the Federal Government relating to the goal of curtailing and eventually eliminating the flow of illegal narcotics and dangerous drugs into the United States from abroad. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Federal officers and Federal departments and agencies shall cooperate with the Cabinet Committee in carrying out its functions under this directive and shall comply with the policies, guidelines, standards, and procedures prescribed by the Cabinet Committee.

[Page 2]

More specifically, the Cabinet Committee shall-

(1)
develop comprehensive plans and programs for the implementation of these policies;
(2)
assure that all diplomatic, intelligence, and Federal law enforcement programs and activities of international scope are properly coordinated;
(3)
evaluate all such programs and activities and their implementation;
(4)
make recommendations to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget concerning proposed funding of such programs; and
(5)
report to the President, from time to time, concerning the foregoing.

Richard Nixon
  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 359, Subject Files, Narcotics V. No classification marking. Printed from a copy that indicates Nixon signed the original.↩
  2. The press release contained a memorandum from President Nixon to Secretary of State Rogers that named the members of the Cabinet Committee on International Narcotics Control.↩