Terrorism
203. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon
In this memorandum, Rogers noted that the United States was making progress against the recent upsurge of international terrorism and that all agencies on the Cabinet Committee were cooperating appropriately.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 310, Subject Files, Cabinet Committee on Terrorism, September 72–July 73, 1 of 1. Confidential.
204. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) and the Assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs (Ehrlichman) to President Nixon
The memorandum summarized and attached an update from Rogers to Nixon about domestic and international activities to combat terrorism.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 310, Subject Files, Cabinet Committee on Terrorism, September 72–July 73, 1 of 1. Confidential. Sent for information. The attached NSC correspondence profile indicates that Nixon noted the memorandum on January 24.
205. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Administration (Donelan) to the Office of Management and Budget International Programs Division Chief (Frey)
The memorandum recounted problems associated with efforts to protect foreign diplomats and missions in New York City and outlined alternatives for resolution.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, M/CT Files: Lot 77 D 30, Protection of Foreign Officials and Installations, 1971–1973. No classification marking. Drafted by Gentile. Copies were sent to Donelan and DePalma.
206. Chronology of the Khartoum Incident
[14 pages not declassified in time for publication.]
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, Box 2045, POL 13–10 Arab, 3–1–73. Secret.
207. Memorandum for the President’s Files by his Assistant to the President and Press Secretary (Ziegler)
Nixon discussed the Sudan incident and other issues related to terrorism policy with Department of State officials.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Special Files, President’s Office Files, Memoranda for the President, Box 91, Beginning March 4 (1973). No classification marking.
208. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon
Rogers provided an update on efforts to combat terrorism after the March 2 assassinations in Khartoum, Sudan.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 286, Agency Files, Department of State, Vol. XVIII, January 1973–May 1973. Confidential. The attached NSC correspondence profile indicates that Nixon noted the memorandum on March 14. Nixon’s March 6 address at a Department of State ceremony honoring Noel and Moore is published in Public Papers: Nixon, 1973, pp. 169–171.
209. National Security Decision Memorandum 207
The memorandum confirmed that in the event of a terrorist incident, all federal agencies should coordinate response efforts through the Department of State.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–239, NSDM 207 (3 of 4). Secret. Copies were sent to the Secretaries of Treasury, Defense, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, and Transportation, and to the Attorney General, the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, the Director of Central Intelligence, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as well as the Directors of Central Intelligence, the United States Information Agency, and the Arms Control Disarmament Agency.
210. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon
Rogers presented an update on efforts to combat terrorism since January.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 310, Subject Files, Cabinet Committee on Terrorism, September 72–July 73, 1 of 1. Confidential.
211. Briefing Memorandum From the Special Assistant to the Secretary of State and Coordinator for Combating Terrorism (Hoffacker) to Secretary of State Kissinger
Hoffacker identified the major problems anticipated in combating terrorism during the ensuing 12 months.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, M/CT Files: Lot 77 D 30, Secretary—Correspondence and Reports 1972–73. Confidential. Concurred in by IO, SY, M, and EB/OA/AVP.
212. Briefing Memorandum From the Special Assistant to the Secretary of State and Coordinator for Combating Terrorism (Hoffacker) to Secretary of State Kissinger
Hoffacker presented an update on the terrorism situation for December.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, M/CT Files: Lot 77 D 30, Secretary-Correspondence and Reports, 1972–1973. Confidential. The attachment has not been found.
213. Action Memorandum From the Special Assistant to the Secretary of State and Coordinator for Combating Terrorism (Hoffacker) and the Deputy Legal Adviser (Maw) to Secretary of State Kissinger
Kissinger approved several initiatives for engaging the Soviet Union in more thoroughgoing measures to combat terrorism.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 23–8. Confidential. The attachments were not attached. Drafted by Hoffacker and Byron K. Huffman; cleared in EB/TT, H, IO, INR, EUR, L, and CIA. The options 3, 5, 6, and 7 were approved by Kissinger on December 31, with a notation to prepare talking points on those options. Options 1, 2, and 4 were marked “no action.”
214. Memorandum From the Special Assistant to the Secretary of State and Coordinator for Combating Terrorism (Hoffacker) to the Deputy Undersecretary for Management (Brown)
Brown approved Hoffacker’s recommendation to continue special screening measures for Arab visa applicants, referred to as Operation Boulder.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, M/CT Files: Lot 77 D 30, Visa-Operation Boulder, 1972–74. Confidential. Drafted by Gatch. Attached but not published at Tab A is telegram 1168 from the Embassy in Kuwait to the Department of State, March 27, which requested exceptions to Operation Boulder restrictions. Attached but not published at Tab B is a March 8 memorandum from John R. Diggins of SCA to Barbara M. Watson, which proposed altering procedures required by Operation Boulder to expedite the processing of visa applications. Attached but not published at Tab C is a April 9 letter from FBI director Clarence M. Kelley to Kissinger, which advocated retaining Operation Boulder provisions without amendment. Attached but not published at Tab D is an unsent draft telegram ordering revisions modifying the implementation of Operation Boulder.
215. Memorandum From the Acting Secretary of State (Rush) to President Nixon
Rush recommended several measures to ensure the protection of foreign officials and installations within the United States.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 325, Subject Files, Protection of Foreign Officials and Installations, 1 of 1. Limited Official Use. The attachment, a April 30 letter from Rush to Saxbe urged the Attorney General to promote more vigorous measures to protect foreign officials and property. Nixon’s response is published as Document 216.
216. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to Treasury Secretary Simon, Attorney General Saxbe, and the Deputy Secretary of State (Ingersoll)
President Nixon directed the Cabinet Committee to Combat Terrorism to conduct a study concerning the protection of foreign officials and establishments in the U.S.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 325, Subject Files, Protection of Foreign Officials and Installations, 1 of 1. Confidential. Copies were sent to the Secretary of Defense, the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., the Assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs, and the Director of the FBI. The April 30 memorandum is published as Document 215.
217. Airgram A–7676 From the Department of State to All Posts
The Department requested all posts to transmit information about the host country’s counter-terrorism policies and procedures.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P740110–0738. Confidential. Drafted by Rovine; cleared by Hoffacker, L, and L/PM; and approved by Rovine.
218. Memorandum From the Acting Secretary of State (Ingersoll) to Members of the Cabinet Committee to Combat Terrorism
The memorandum disseminated guidelines for responding to terrorist attacks within the United States involving international ramifications.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P740122–0412. Confidential. Copies were sent to USUN, the Attorney General, the Director of Central Intelligence, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, the Assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs, and the Secretaries of State, Treasury, Defense, and Transportation.
219. Briefing Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs, Department of State (Buffum) to Secretary of State Kissinger
In the aftermath of a shooting incident at the Ukrainian Mission to the U.N., Buffum requested an expedited protection plan for diplomats in New York City.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P750160–1756. Secret. Drafted by Blake. Concurred in by Dikeos and Hoffacker. Tab B, a December 6, 1974 memorandum from Springsteen to Scowcroft, responded to a November 16 request from Kissinger in his capacity as National Security Adviser for a more detailed assessment of the options for enhancing diplomatic security measures in New York City. (National Archives, RG 59, M/CT Files: Lot 77 D 30, Box 2, Protection of Foreign Officials and Installations, October–December 1974)
220. Airgram A–775 From the Department of State to All Posts
The Airgram circulated procedures for responding to acts of terrorism against U.S. citizens abroad.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P750027–0570. Confidential. Drafted on January 24 by Hoffacker; cleared in ARA, SCA, EA, NEA, AF, SY, EB, AID, EUR, USIA, L, S/S–O, DG/MED, S/PRS, S/P, DG; and approved by Brown. Enclosure 5 is published as Document 218. In the wake of the kidnapping and death of Consular Agent John Patrick Egan in Cordoba, Argentina in late February, the State Department circulated further revisions to A–775 in Airgram A–4709, July 10, 1975. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P750113–1050)
221. Memorandum From the Acting Secretary of State (Ingersoll) to President Ford
Ingersoll updated Ford on efforts to combat terrorism and highlighted continuing concerns.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P750037–0744. Secret. A copy was sent to S/CCT. Attachment 1 is not published. Attachment 2 is published as Document 218. Attachment 3 is published as Document 220.
222. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Ford
Kissinger analyzed the U.S. Government’s progress in combating terrorism.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Subject File, Box 17, Protection of Foreign Officials and Installations (5). Secret. Sent for information. Ford initialed the first page. Tab A is published as Document 221. Tab 1 is not published. Tab 2 is published as Document 218. Tab 3 is published as Document 219.
223. Executive Summary, Mass Destruction Terrorism Study
The study highlighted the danger of weapons of mass destruction falling into terrorist hands and recommended measures to improve the government’s response to the problem.
Source: Ford Library, Bobbie Greene Kilberg Files, Box 17, Mass Destruction Terrorism Study—Executive Summary. Secret. Distributed to CIA, DOD, FBI, LEAA, ERDA, FPA, NRC, NSC, and the Departments of Justice and State. The remainder of the report is not published.
224. Memorandum From the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (Lynn) to President Ford
Lynn recommended the President veto a bill that would expand the federal role in protection of foreign diplomats on U.S. soil.
Source: Ford Library, White House Records Office, Legislation Case Files, 1974–1976, Box 33, 11/29/75, H.R. 12. No classification marking. Ford vetoed the bill on November 29; memorandum from Cannon to Ford, November 28, ibid. On December 31, Ford signed a compromise bill, Public Law 94–196, which limited federal reimbursement to $3.5 million per annum, included claims retroactive to July 1, 1974, and provided compensation only for extraordinary protection for permanent missions to international organizations in which the United States participated as a member or an observer. (United States Congress, Senate, Committee on Environment and Public Works, 97th Congress, 2nd session, December 17, 1982, Report No. 97–687, Protection of Foreign Diplomatic Missions)
225. CIA Research Study on Potential Terrorist use of Nuclear Weapons
The study assessed how terrorist groups might acquire and use nuclear weapons or fissile material, judging the threat in the immediate future as relatively low.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency Files, Job 91R00884R, National Intelligence Council Files (OPI 122), Interagency Intelligence Memorandum. Secret; Noforn.
226. CIA Research Study on International and Transnational Terrorism
The study identified potential future terrorist threats and suggested counteractive strategies.
Source: Ford Library, Kilberg Files, Box 17, International and Transnational Terrorism: Diagnosis and Prognosis. No classification marking. Only the Executive Summary and Implications section are published.
227. Briefing Memorandum From the Special Assistant to Secretary and Coordinator for Combating Terrorism (Feary) to Secretary of State Kissinger
Feary summarized a report on the threat posed by “intermediate terrorism.”
Source: Ford Library, Kilberg Files, Box 17, Intermediate Terrorism Study, (2). Secret. Sent through Eagleburger. The study is not published. Kissinger forwarded the memorandum on June 5 to all members of the Cabinet Committee to Combat Terrorism. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P760086–0060)
228. Circular Telegram 256207 From the Department of State to All Diplomatic and Consular Posts.
The Department informed posts of Presidential action to bring into force domestic legislation and international treaties intended to counteract terrorism and instructed posts to promote anti-terrorism legislation with host governments.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Limited Official Use. Drafted in L/SFP by Fields. Cleared in L, L/PM, L/T, L/UNA, M/CT, M/DG, and IO; and approved by Eagleburger. The text of President Ford’s Proclamation upon ratification of the Convention to Prevent and Punish Acts of Terrorism Taking the Form of Crimes Against Persons and Related Extortion That Are of International Significance is attached to a memorandum from Borg to Scowcroft, November 3, 1976. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P760182–1026)