September 1985–November 1985
Personal Diplomacy: Reagan, Gorbachev, and the Geneva Summit
140. Telegram From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, [no N number]. Secret; Immediate; Nodis.
141. Draft National Intelligence Estimate
Source: Reagan Library, John Lenczowski Files, Subject File, U.S.-Soviet Union (21); NLR–324–10–21–2–5. Secret; [handling restriction not declassified]. In a November 6 covering memorandum to McFarlane, Gates explained: “1. The DCI has instructed that I make available to you the uncoordinated draft of the forthcoming National Intelligence Estimate 11–18–85, ‘Domestic Stresses on the Soviet System,’ so that its themes can be of use in preparations for the meeting between the President and Gorbachev.” He continued: “2. Please be reminded that this draft does not represent coordinated national intelligence. So far it is only the product of the National Intelligence Officer/USSR and select analysts of CIA/SOVA. Since we have not previously tackled this range of internal Soviet problems, it is more than usually difficult to anticipate final agency positions. I anticipate that some will take the position that this draft exaggerates the depth of Soviet internal difficulties and their constraining impact on Soviet foreign and military behavior. Others may feel that these Soviet problems make it more likely than this draft judges that the Gorbachev regime will compromise on security issues to achieve a relaxed and predictable course for East-West relations. Nevertheless, while dissents may be vigorous, I doubt they will be radically at variance with this draft.” The final version of NIE 11–18–85, “Domestic Stresses on the Soviet System,” dated November 13, is available in the Electronic Reading Room of the CIA FOIA website. A copy is in the Central Intelligence Agency, History Staff Files. The draft NIE’s “Key Judgments” section was rewritten for the final version; however, the content and message remain similar. The “Discussion” section of the draft and final NIE are almost identical.
142. Memorandum From Peter Sommer of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane)
Source: Reagan Library, Tyrus Cobb Files, Country File, USSR 1985 (12); NLR–98–5–20–7–9. Secret. Sent for action. Matlock, Linhard, and Cobb concurred, with Sommer initialing for Matlock and Linhard. An unknown hand wrote “Copy for Ty” in the upper right-hand corner.
143. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan
Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron November 1985 (4/10). Secret; Sensitive. All brackets are in the original. No drafting information appears on the memorandum. According to an undated action memorandum from Ridgway to Shultz, under which Ridgway sent Shultz a copy, it was drafted by Burton and Tefft; cleared by Parris and Palmer. (Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, 1985 Soviet Union November) McFarlane forwarded the memorandum to Reagan on November 14. Reagan wrote on the covering memorandum: “I kept the memo to take with me. RR.” (Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron November 1985 (5/10))
144. Minutes of a National Security Council Meeting
Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Geneva Meeting: NSC (National Security Council) Meetings. Secret. The meeting took place in the Cabinet Room. On November 13, Reagan wrote in his personal diary that three meetings related to the upcoming summit took place. He wrote: “A full cabinet meeting to brief them on plans for Geneva—then some talk about the ‘87 bud. (even though they haven’t come up with one for ‘86). Then an N.S.C. meeting—again on practical details for Geneva. Cap came in with full report on Soviet treaty violations (more reading).” This report, along with a November 13 covering letter to the President from Weinberger, are scheduled for publication in Foreign Relations, 1981–1988, vol. XLIV, Part 1, National Security Policy, 1985–1988. Another copy is in the Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, Memoranda of Conversations, Moscow (09/11/1985)–(11/13/1985). Reagan continued, noting that later that day “Bill Casey brought in 3 of his experts on the Soviet U. Their presentations on the people of Russia were great & confirmed things I had heard from unconfirmed sources. The Soviet U. is an ec. basket case & among other things there is a rapidly spreading turn by the people to religion.” (Brinkley, ed., The Reagan Diaries, vol. II: November 1985–January 1989, pp. 539–540) This meeting with CIA analysts presumably covered the NIE on Soviet Domestic Economic Stresses, sent to the White House on November 6; see Document 141.
145. Information Memorandum From the Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (Abramowitz) to Secretary of State Shultz
Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, Executive Secretariat Sensitive (11/15/1985); NLR–775–14–76–5–8. Secret; Sensitive; Noforn; Nocontract; Orcon. Drafted by A. Friedt (INR/SEE).
146. Personal Notes of Robert Linhard of the National Security Council Staff
Source: Reagan Library, Robert Linhard Files, Summit Material, 11/19/85–11/21/85 OA 92178 [2 of 7]. No classification marking. The editor transcribed the text from Linhard’s handwritten notes of the November 14 NSPG meeting. An image of the notes is Appendix A. No formal record of the meeting was found. According to the President’s Daily Diary, the NSPG meeting took place in the Situation Room from 11:05 to 11:56 a.m. (Reagan Library, President’s Daily Diary) On November 14, Reagan wrote in his personal diary: “An N.S.P.G. meeting to talk about arms control & how we present (& what) to Mr. G. in Geneva.” He also wrote: “Met with our 3 arms negotiators who have just recessed the 3rd session. They are aware that the Soviets have gone farther in the sense of actually proposing numbers but still the Soviets shade things in their favor.” (Brinkley, ed., The Reagan Diaries, vol. II: November 1985–January 1989, p. 540) Later that day, he met with Kampelman, Tower, and Glitman in the Oval Office from 1:04 to 1:36 p.m. (Reagan Library, President’s Daily Diary) No substantive record was found.
147. Information Memorandum From the Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (Abramowitz) and the Legal Adviser of the Department of State (Sofaer) to Secretary of State Shultz
Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, Executive Secretariat Sensitive (11/16/1985–11/20/1985); NLR–775–14–77–10–1. Secret; Sensitive. All brackets are in the original. Drafted by M. Sigler (INR/SFA/SF) and B. Feldman (L); cleared by Nitze. An unknown hand initialed for Nitze.
148. Memorandum From the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (Ikle) to Secretary of Defense Weinberger
Source: Reagan Library, Fred Ikle Files, Geneva—November 1985 (Pres-Gorb). Secret; Eyes Only.
149. Memorandum From Jack Matlock of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane)
Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron November 1985 (6/10). Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Sent for action.
150. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, US-USSR Summits, 1985–1986, Reykjavik Meeting—Geneva Materials 10/12/1986–10/13/1986 (1). Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Zarechnak. The meeting took place in the Maison Fleur d’Eau. In his memoir, written with the benefit of hindsight, Gorbachev described this first, private meeting with Reagan: “we had a private meeting which lasted over an hour instead of the scheduled fifteen minutes. As I reread the minutes, I am amazed at the extremely ideological stands taken by both partners. In retrospect, they read more like the ‘No. 1 Communist’ and the ‘No. 1 Imperialist’ trying to out-argue each other, rather than a business-like talk between two leaders of the two superpowers. I myself spent time trying to fend off accusations of human rights abuses, even thought I was not always convinced that these were not justified. For his part Ronald Reagan was busy warding off my judgments on the role of the military-industrial complex in American politics and the existence of a powerful propaganda machine directed against the USSR. To top it all, we traded accusations of responsibility for the mad arms race which had led the world to the brink of a catastrophe.” Gorbachev continued: “We were both right and wrong at the same time. Both countries shared responsibility for splitting up the world into two blocs and fomenting the threat of war, as well as for the extreme tension that prevailed in Soviet-American relations. Yet neither of us was ready to admit this then at the Geneva summit. Nonetheless, we had a frank, meaningful conversation from the start.” (Gorbachev, Memoirs, pp. 405–406)
151. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, US-USSR Summits, 1985–1986, Reykjavik Meeting—Geneva Materials 10/12/1986–10/13/1986 (1). Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Palmer and Matlock. The meeting took place in the Maison Fleur d’Eau. On November 19, in his personal diary, Reagan summarized the morning meetings: “This was the day. Mr. G & I met. We were scheduled for 15 min. of pvt. one on one—we did an hour which excited the h—-I out of the Press. Then we joined the plenary meeting. I gave him the floor 1st and he did a pitch about us not trusting them etc. We should have no pre-conditions set before any agreement about better relations. ‘Our ruling class (munitions makers) keep our people upset at the Soviets so they can sell more weapons.’ He also took off on the Heretage [Heritage] Foundation & think tanks that do the same. He said we had declared zones of special interest around the world but attacked the U.S.S.R. when they did the same thing. We must recognize right of people to a revolution. Well finally it was my turn and I took them all the way through the history of Soviet aggression etc. We broke for lunch but I assured him he’d have the floor to rebut me after lunch. Our gang told me I’d done good.” (Brinkley, ed., The Reagan Diaries, vol. II: November 1985–January 1989, pp. 541–542; brackets are in the original quote)
152. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, US-USSR Summits, 1985–1986, Reykjavik Meeting—Geneva Materials 10/12/1986–10/13/1986 (1). Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Matlock. The meeting took place in the Maison Fleur d’Eau. Brackets are in the original. Reagan wrote in his diary on November 19: “In the P.M. session he had quite a prepared thing that had us suspicious without cause etc. Again I rebutted with some pretty solid examples—WWII then refusal to let Am. warplanes use Soviet fields etc. When I finished I suggested he & I leave the group & do another one on one.” (Brinkley, ed., The Reagan Diaries, vol. II: November 1985–January 1989, p. 542)
153. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, US-USSR Summits, 1985–1986, Reykjavik Meeting—Geneva Materials 10/12/1986–10/13/1986 (1). Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Krimer. The meeting took place in the Pool House at Maison Fleur d’Eau. In his diary on November 19, Reagan wrote of this private meeting: “We walked down to a pool house on the lake shore. Eddy had a fire going & we did about 2 hours on S.D.I. He’s adamant but so am I. I scored one we’ve worried about; —that the meetings should be on an ongoing basis. He accepted my invite to the U.S. next year & I’m invited to the U.S.S.R. in ‘87. That in itself could make the meeting a success.” (Brinkley, ed., The Reagan Diaries, vol. II: November 1985–January 1989, p. 542)
154. Record of a Meeting
Source: Reagan Library, Robert Linhard Files, Arms Control Chron, Geneva Summit Records, 11/19/1985–11/21/1985 (2 of 4). Secret; Sensitive. There is no drafting information. All brackets are in the original. This side meeting among Shultz, Shevardnadze, and their assistants took place during the Gorbachev-Reagan private meeting that started at 3:40 p.m.; see Document 153.
155. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, US–USSR Summits, 1985–1986, Reykjavik Meeting—Geneva Materials 10/12/1986–10/13/1986 (1). Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Eugenia Arensburger and William Hopkins. The dinner took place at the Villa at the Soviet Mission. On November 19, Reagan wrote in his diary: “Tonite to their place for dinner. And what a dinner—they must be influenced by the Orientals. Course after course & for half of them I thought each one had to be the entrée. Finally dessert & by this time it was time to go home & that’s what you did because the host & hostess pushed back their chairs & escorted us to the front door. When you have dinner with the Russians—dinner is the full evenings entertainment.” (Brinkley, ed., The Reagan Diaries, vol. II: November 1985–January 1989, p. 542)
156. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, US-USSR Summits, 1985–1986, Reykjavik Meeting—Geneva Materials 10/12/1986–10/13/1986 (1). Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Zarechnak. The meeting took place in the Soviet Mission. On November 20, Reagan wrote in his diary: “The last day of the summit & this time Mr. G. was host. We went to the Soviet mission & he took me into a small room with interpreters. This was my chance to have at human rights. I explained that I wasn’t telling him how to run his country—I was asking for his help; that I had a better chance of getting support at home for things we’d agreed to if he would ease some of the restrictions on emigration etc. I told him I’d never mention what he was doing out loud but he’d find that I could better meet some of his requests for trade etc. He argued back sort of indicating that he thought they treated their people better than we did ours. He quoted statements made by some of the feminist extremists to prove we were unkind to women. I fought back—only time will tell if I made any headway.” (Brinkley, ed., The Reagan Diaries, vol. II: November 1985–January 1989, p. 542)
157. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, US-USSR Summits, 1985–1986, Reykjavik Meeting—Geneva Materials 10/12/1986–10/13/1986 (1). Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Parris. The meeting took place in the Soviet Mission. On November 20, Reagan wrote in his diary: “In the plenary I took off on arms control then he fired back about S.D.I. creating an arms race in space & the stuff really hit the fan. He was really belligerent & d—-n it I stood firm. That took us til lunch.” (Brinkley, ed., The Reagan Diaries, vol. II: November 1985–January 1989, p. 542)
158. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, US–USSR Summits, 1985–1986, Reykjavik Meeting—Geneva Materials 10/12/1986–10/13/1986 (1). Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Parris. The meeting took place in the Soviet Mission.
159. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, US–USSR Summits, 1985–1986, Reykjavik Meeting—Geneva Materials 10/12/1986–10/13/1986 (1). Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Arensburger and Hopkins. The dinner took place at the Maison de Saussure. On November 20, Reagan wrote in his diary: “Then they were here for dinner. It was a pleasant evening & a small informal dinner. Over coffee some of our aides (both his & mine) came over to tell us they were having trouble on the joint statement—his people were trying to withdraw some things they had already agreed to. There was some brisk language & at 5 A.M.—the statement ended up the way we’d wanted it! And I think it was because Mr. G. told his guys to quit what they were doing.” (Brinkley, ed., The Reagan Diaries, vol. II: November 1985–January 1989, p. 542)