National Security Council Memoranda
The Oxford Companion to American Military History
|
2000
|
|
© The Oxford Companion to American Military History 2000, originally published by Oxford University Press 2000. (Hide copyright information)
Copyright
National Security Council Memoranda. Soon after President
Harry S. Truman established the
National Security Council (NSC), its participants developed an extended series of memoranda recording basic policy on diplomatic, intelligence, and military issues. Most comprehensive and ambitious was NSC 68, 14 April 1950, “United States Objectives and Programs for National Security,” which called for massive increases in military spending to support the U.S. position in Europe and East Asia. Besides the policy papers, Truman's NSC institutionalized National Security Intelligence Directives (NSIDs) that specified tasks for the intelligence establishment. For the most part, NSC memoranda had high security classifications—often top secret—a practice that Truman's successors carefully followed.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower's NSC apparatus continued Truman's precedent. Among important papers issued were annual statements on basic national security policy that delineated foreign and military policy objectives, strategic concepts, and requirements for foreign aid and military capabilities. Like Truman's policy papers, Eisenhower's documents created a framework for policymaking, seldom recording particular decisions.
When President
John F. Kennedy came to power, he abolished the NSC policy paper and institutionalized more informal arrangements through National Security Action Memoranda (NSAMs). Kennedy and his national security adviser
McGeorge Bundy used NSAMs for a variety of purposes—to communicate a policy decision, request specific information, or ask for studies on a particular issue. President
Lyndon B. Johnson continued this format, although less frequently than his predecessor.
After President
Richard M. Nixon appointed
Henry Kissinger as his national security adviser, a more formal system of National Security Study Memoranda (NSSMs) and National Security Decision Memoranda (NSDMs) appeared. NSSMs were White House requests for studies by the agencies, while NSDMs represented a presidential decision made after an NSC Senior Review Group, NSC members, and the president had completed the study and review process. Some have claimed that Kissinger used this process to distract the bureaucracy, but others have argued that it gave White House decision makers a better sense of the available options. For example, NSC agencies produced important studies on strategic arms control that led to NSDMs on negotiating positions for the
SALT Treaties. Nevertheless, the NSDMs only reflected part of the diplomatic process; Nixon and Kissinger never incorporated positions discussed in secret “backchannel” negotiations.
President
Gerald Ford continued the NSSM/NSDM process, and subsequent presidents adopted the same routine although using different terminology. Under President
Jimmy Carter, there were Presidential Directives (PDs) and Presidential Review Memoranda (PRMs), while under President
Ronald Reagan the national security system produced National Security Study Directives (NSSDs) and National Security Decision Directives (NSDDs). During the Reagan and Bush administrations, congressional investigators tried to get information about the scope and content of presidential directives; however, both administrations refused to cooperate because they considered them too important and too sensitive to divulge. Although giving new nomenclature to his NSC memoranda, the first post–Cold War president,
Bill Clinton, continued the practice of shrouding most of them in secrecy.
[See also
Arms Control and Disarmament: Nuclear;
Commander in Chief, President as;
Intelligence, Military and Political.]
Bibliography
John Prados , Keepers of the Keys: A History of the National Security Council from Truman to Bush, 1991.
Jeffrey Richelson, ed., Presidential Directives on National Security from Truman to Clinton, 1994.
William Burr
Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.
|
Security Council, seriously concerned at recent attacks, loss of lives in Burundi,would consider possible additional measures to support peace, stability there.
M2 Presswire; 4/25/2008; 700+ words
; ...United Nations: Security Council, seriously concerned...Burundi between the National Defence Forces and...Palipehutu-FNL and the National Defence Forces of Burundi...that regard. "The Security Council requests the Secretary...
|
|
Security Council condemns terrorist bombing that killed former Lebanese prime minister, calls on government to bring perpetrators to justice; Also Requests Secretary-General to Report Urgently on Act's Circumstances, Causes, Consequences.
M2 Presswire; 2/16/2005; 700+ words
; ...terrorism. "The Security Council is gravely concerned...democratic conditions. "The Security Council is concerned by the...their long-standing national aspiration to full sovereignty...territorial integrity. "The Security Council reaffirms its previous...
|
|
Security Council condemns use of force following killings in Guinea-Bissau, says urgent measures needed to remedy crisis; Presidential statement urges political parties, national authorities to complete Transitional Charter implementation before April 2005 elections.
M2 Presswire; 11/3/2004; 700+ words
; ...November 2004-UN: Security Council condemns use...political parties, national authorities to...Bissau and other national authorities must...agreement. "The Security Council urges all political...faith, with national authorities to...
|
|
Security Council `deplores' failure to meet 15 December deadline for implementing Cote d'Ivoire peace agreement; Presidential statement also expresses full support for African Union facilitation mission.
M2 Presswire; 12/17/2004; 700+ words
; ...implementation. "The Security Council reaffirms its...the peace and national reconciliation...Agreement. "The Security Council underlines that...of peace and national reconciliation...2004). "The Security Council requests the...
|
|
Security Council again calls for immediate cease-fire, cessation of all hostilities, withdrawal of forces to international boundaries without delay. (Iran-Iraq conflict)
Magazine article from: UN Chronicle; 2/1/1987; 700+ words
; ...peaceful settlement The Security Council on 8 October unanimously...and the Minister of National Education of Morocco...serious threat to peace, security and stability in the...international peace and security. The Council, they indicated...
|
|
SECURITY COUNCIL CONGRATULATES HAITIAN PRESIDENT ON INAUGURATION, CALLS ON NEW PARLIAMENTARIANS TO WORK FOR BETTER FUTURE
News Wire article from: US Fed News Service, Including US State News; 5/15/2006; 700+ words
; ...press release: The Security Council congratulated Ren Garca...institutions, foster national reconciliation, inclusiveness...institutions, foster national reconciliation, inclusiveness...regional stability. "The Security Council expresses its full...
|
|
Security Council, in Presidential statement, expresses grave concern at breaches of arms embargo along Lebanon-Syria border.
M2 Presswire; 8/5/2007; 700+ words
; ...August 2007-UN: Security Council, in Presidential...Lebanese State, the Security Council today expressed...efforts towards national reconciliation...the attacks. The Council welcomes the tripartite...entirety. "The Security Council, in this...
|
|
Council panel to probe Becton: Subpoenas could play part in inquiry into roof repairs.(Metropolitan Times)(Top Of The News)
Newspaper article from: The Washington Times; 9/19/1997; ; 700+ words
; A D.C. Council committee, invoking...In a 5-0 vote, the council's education committee...Chavous told fellow council members during a 20...Mayor Marion Barry's security detail and allegations...has turned into a national embarrassment for the...
|
|
Security Council press statement on Iraq-Kuwait.
M2 Presswire; 12/12/2007; 700+ words
; ...United Nations: Security Council press statement...and third country nationals by the former Iraqi...Members of the Council were confident...Vorontsov's mandate. Council members noted with...missing Kuwaiti national archive and reaffirmed...paragraph 14 of Security ...
|
|
Governing Council of United Nations Compensation Commission elects president, vice-president.
M2 Presswire; 1/27/2005; 700+ words
; ...UN: Governing Council of United Nations...United Nations Security Council. It was...behalf of their nationals, their companies...behalf of their nationals, corporations...per cent by the Security Council under its resolution...
|
|
Security Council
Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of Russian History
...Rushailo, became Security Council secretary. During Vladimir Putin's presidency, the Security Council became slightly more visible...by the generals. The new National Security Concept drawn up by the council in 2000 stressed internal...
|
|
United Nations Security Council
Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security
...charter, the Security Council must meet at least...year. However, the Security Council is designed to operate...terms, so that the council changes five members...One member of each national delegation to the Security Council must be present...
|
|
Council of Ministers, Soviet
Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of Russian History
...x2014; was renamed the Council of Ministers to bring...Membership of the Council of Ministers consisted...USSR. Chairpersons of Councils of Ministers of Union...officio members of the Council of Ministers of the...for direction of the national economy and economic...planning; defense, state ...
|
|
National Security Council
Book article from: The Oxford Companion to American Military History
National Security Council. Since its origins in 1947...cabinet‐level National Security Council (NSC) has...more effective cooperation in national security policy. Moreover, the council would supervise the Central...
|
|
NSC (National Security Council), History
Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security
NSC (National Security Council), History █ JUDSON KNIGHT The history of the United States National Security Council (NSC) lends itself...x2014; relied heavily on powerful National Security Advisors (McGeorge Bundy...
|