BRIEFING CONGRESS ON SALT PREPARATIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B00972A000100530018-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 16, 1997
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: July 14, 1969
• Content Type: MF

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/21: CIA-RDP79B00972A000100530018-4
14 July 1969
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director for Intelligence
SUBJECT Briefing Congress on SALT
Preparations
1. I forward a copy of the memorandum to
Secretary Rogers, Dr. Kissinger, and Mr. Bryce
Harlow from Gerard Smith on the discussion of
SALT with Congressional leaders.
2. The memorandum sets up three optional
plans for briefing Congressional leaders on SALT.
In each plan, the Director of Central Intelligence
is slated to speak on the verification aspects
of any arms agreement.
3. Plan I--the one recommended by Gerry Smith
and concure"n by Mr. Rogers--calls for two brief-
ings at the White House under the chairmanship of
the President. The first briefing would take place
while NAC consultations are going on and before
final NSC consideration, with 21 July suggested
as a likely date. After introductory remarks by
President Nixon, presentations would be made as
follows:
--Strategic balance Laird, Wheeler
--Summary of SALT Preparations G. Smith
--Summary of alternatives
considered G. Smith
-- Verification Helms
--Some problems anticipated
and planned responses Rogers, Smith
The second White House briefing would take place
after final NSC action, after the President returns,
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/21: CIA-RDP79B00972A000100530018-4
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/21: CIA-RDP79B00972A000100530018-4
and before talks begin, perhaps the first week of
August. Mr. Smith would summarize the major features
of the approach the US will make to the USSR.
Mr. Helms and others will be present to comment.
4. Plan II is essentially the same--a White
House briefing with the same panel presentations--
except it would be a one-shot operation coming after
final NSC action.and after the President returns,
about the first week of August.
5. A total of 30 Congressional leaders are
identified in Annex A to be briefed under Plans I
and II.
6. Plan III cuts the number of Congressmen
and Senators to be briefed to 17 and undertakes
to meet with them in their offices on the Hill,
preferably in small groups. Implementation of
this Plan--"a poor third'--would come immediately
following final NSC action on 23 July.
7. I believe that the Director's presentation
to the NSC on monitoring forms a good basis for a
presentation to the Congressional leaders. The
exact form probably cannot be decided until the
Plan and timing are known. If, under Plan I, the
various SALT Alternatives are presented, we would
tailor the briefing to reflect this. If, under Plan
II, the briefing comes after NSC action is completed
and the US approach has been decided, the briefing
would concentrate on-the specifics of the US pro-
posal.
//
BRUCE C. CLARKE, Jr.
Director
Strategic Research
Attachment:
Menlo from Gerard Smith
on the discussion of
SALT with Congressional
leaders.
Distribution:
Orig. & 2 -- Addressee w/att 1
1 --
2 -- D/OSR w att.
1 --
2 -- OD/OSR w/att.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/21: CIA-RDP79B00972A000100530018-4