PREPARATIONS FOR FUTURE PRESIDENTIAL BRIEFINGS AND MEETINGS WITH CABINET OFFICERS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81B00401R002400040021-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 18, 2004
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: September 1, 1978
• Content Type: MF

T
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1 September 1978
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
FROM : Presidential Briefing Coordinator
SUBJECT : Preparations for Future Presidential Briefings and
Meetings with Cabinet Officers
will schedule their submission to you to meet your travel require-
ments.
UOcZ"
1. This memorandum discusses plans for future Presidential Brief-
ings and also discusses your meetings with Secretary Vance. Two other
packages are being sent forward separately, one with material for the 12
September briefing and one with material for later briefings. 0 25X1A
2. Attached is my latest status report on briefing topics.
a. Please skim it and tell me if you object to any decisions
I have made, particularly with respect to dropping topics or
holding them in abeyance.
b. The topic Cuban Relations with the Nonaligned Nations is
listed as a nomination because of a comment you made on the 15
~~ 1g1% August NSC Meeting. It seemed to imply that the President believed
that pressure from the nonaligned nations was causing Castro to pull
in his horns. The gist of my talk with NIO/LA is that Castro does
in the future. Should you plan to discuss this with the President?
If so, one probably would also want to ask if there were any a2 5X1A
s which might have given the appearance of greater
pressure o astro an was in fact the case.
c. The topic oviet & Western European Views of Strategic
Attack Forces in Western Europe also is listed as a nomination be-
cause of the 15 August NSC Meeting. In two NSC meetings, the one on
DoD Fiscal Guidance and this one, the question of Soviet (and Western
European?) reactions to GLCMs or MRBMs in Western Europe has come up.
I don't have a feel for the importance of the topic and my general
impression from talking to analysts is that the answer is, "Western
Europeans would support such moves if the ground work was properly
laid and the Soviets would complain bitterly, but would not do any-
thing much different than what they are now doing." However, we are
not doing any research on this topic specifically. Should we be
oing Aesear~ch and if so shpuld we prepare a Presidential Briefing? 25X1
?I
not feel significant pressure and indeed he may well be more aggressive
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3. You have not met with Secretary Vance for sometime. I recom-
mend that you consider making a vigorous effort to meet with him regularly.
a., Pros. The broad Presidential Briefings on political issues
which we are preparing are appropriate for Secretary Vance too. His
role places him more in jeopardy of losing the forest for the trees
than almost any other Cabinet officer. Therefore, treating a broad
political issue from a different [DCI vice State) perspective
weekly or bi-weekly should be helpful to him. Also, you could profit
from getting his perspective on international issues or policy matters.
b. Cons. Both of your schedules are filled to overflowing
already and inevitably your schedule will have to be perturbed to
fit into Vance's rather than vice versa. Therefore, the value of
regular meetings may not justify the cost to your ability to han
your other responsibilities. y c -.
4. The following matters concern Presidential Briefing preparatio
more generally.
a. I still owe you a proposal for a briefing in which you and 1-2
others discuss a broad issue in a "give-and-take" mode to see if the
chemistry of such a briefing would work. The current topics that
seem best suited for this are African Teds,, Western Sahara and
Persian Gulf. I will work up a spgcific proposal while you are
gone next week. ~~
b. I think that the monthly Around-the-Table with the NIQs is
working out. It is well received by other attendees. But I recom-
mend making these sessions more open'ended. With your permission,
I will ask Barbara to keep the half hour after this monthly session
open so that you can either cut off the meeting after the hour
scheduled for it or can feel free to return to some subject for
deeper exploration.
U
,~4 i
? c. For your information, I am not happy with the other NIO
ll
h
th
ey rea
y
at
meetings. I have been unable to focus them so t
support your briefing preparations. At the same time, some other
participants don't seem to be learning from them. I do not have a
good alternative, but am trying to develop one.
d. More formal feedback to analysts preparing briefings would
help. Briefings evince less enthusiasm than papers in part be-
cause the analyst's reward structure centers on having a piece
of paper that his seniors and promotion boards can see. Therefore,
I would like to send the principal analysts who prepare a briefing
a memorandum like the one attached. Doing this will involve me
paraphrasing pieces of your memorandum for the record. The risk
here is that, although I will strive mightily to avoid it, I may
include something that you would prefer not go to the analyst.
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5. I trust that the very informal arrangement Jay and I have
worked out in which he usually handles NSC/SCC/PRC meeting preparations,
and your meetings with Dr. Brzezinski and I handle Presidential Briefings,
formal NSC briefings and Cabinet Officers meetings (except when one of us
needs to pinch hit for the other) is acceptable. The process is still
messy, but I think it will get,less disorderly as it evolves.
S E C R E T
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1 September 1978
25X1
THROUGH : Director, Regional and Political Analysis
FROM : Presidential Briefing Coordinator
SUBJECT : Presidential Briefing on Micronesia
MEMORANDUM FOR:
1. The Director briefed the President on Micronesia on 4 July.
The briefing was well received. In particular, the Director felt
that the discussion of the strategic implications of copra production
was valuable. There also was a lively discussion of the prospects
for regional political cooperation during the briefing.
2. The Director has asked me to relay his thanks to you for
your work in preparing the Micronesia briefing. He views such
briefings as one of his most important responsibilities as Director
of Central Intelligence.
25X1A
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1 September 1978
MEMORANDUM FOR: All Office Directors and NIOs
FROM : Presidential Briefing Coordinator
SUBJECT : Presidential Briefing Topics for September and Later
1. Law of the Sea was covered in the 17 August Presidential Briefing
in addition to some administrative and operational matters.
2. No briefings are scheduled until 12 September. The
nominated for this briefing are:
A. Soviet/Cuban Options in Southern Africa
25X1A Q/ C.
C.
3. The following topics are in various stages of preparation for
future Presidential Briefings. The responsible office and tentative
briefing dates, if known are shown:
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A. Monitoring Arms Control Agreements (PBC)
B.
(_NIO/NP)
26 Sep
C.
(NIO/NESA)
D.
(CTS/OWI)
19 Sep
E. L]Dydn Foreign Policy (ORPA)
mid-Oct
F. Eastern European Dissidents (ORPA)
G. Human Rights (ORPA)
26 Sep
H. International Narcotics (ORPA)
19 Sep
I. East Germany (NIO/USSR-EE)
J. Monitoring a CTB (RM/OPEI)
K.
African Trends (NIO/AF)
3 Oct
L.
M.
The Western Sahara
Latin American Tre
(NIO/NESA)
nds (NI O/AR)
N.
I
(NSA)
0.
(OER)
4. The following topics have been nominated for and accepted as
briefing topics. However, preparation is being held in abeyance. The
responsible office and factors determining the delay are described below
for each topic.
0e
F ...... lmdj) i Ct BY ..............
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A., determine time and purposes of Prime
finis er visit and restructure briefing to
support preparations.
B. OSR will evaluate information collected
in early September and if it is sufficient prepare the
briefing.
C. PRC Strategic Forces and Soviet Perceptions of Them..
NIO/SP will prepare briefing when work on this subject
being undertaken as part of an IIM has reached the
point that it can support a briefing.
D. NATO's Northern Flank. NIO/USSR-EE will prepare briefing
when IIM on this subject can support it (late October?).
E. Moves Toward Western European Unity. The long-term
picture is basically satisfactory. NIO/WE will note
when enough is known about the prospects for European
parliamentary elections to say something useful and
complete that part of the briefing.
F. Indonesia. NIO/EAP is reviewing the feasibility of
incorporating this into a broader discussion of Southeast
Asia. If it is not feasible, a briefing on Indonesia
itself 'will be prepared.
G. International Energy Conservation. OER will prepare the
briefing as soon as 1977 data are available.
H. Rhodesia Internal SettlemeAt Prospects. NIO/AF is
following the development of the Soviet/Cuban Options
in Southern Africa briefing and will determine whether
the prospects for the internal settlement are adequately
covered or ORPA should prepare a separate briefing.
I. Korean Military Situation. NIO/EAP will prepare the
briefing when interagency work on the order of battle
update is complete.
5. The following topics have been proposed as possible future topics
for Presidential Briefings. Preparation work on these topics should not
begin until the nomination is approved and a responsible officer is named.
A. Oil Booms & Social Change in LDCs
Cuban Relations with the Nonaligned Nations
C. Soviet & European Views of Strategic Attack Forces
in Western Europe
D. Monitoring Opium Poppy Cultivation
6. The following topics have been dropped from the list of active
topics for the reasons indicated.
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Supporting research
work will not be completed for some time. If the topic
appears to merit a briefing then, OWI or OSI renominate
it.
7. Basic preparation work has been completed on the following
briefings. They are being held awaiting an appropriate opportunity to
use them. Then the responsible officer will be contacted by the PBC for
a last-minute review and update of the briefing. Responsible officers
are requested to inform the PBC if these topics are to be treated in the
PDB, NID or other intelligence publication so that the briefings can be
canceled or modified as appropriate.
A. Nuclear Power in the LDCs (OER)
B. Soviet Nuclear Power Program (OSI)
C. Foreign Free World Fiber Optical Communications (OSI)
8. For the next few weeks, there will be no need for submission of
additional presidential Briefing topic nominations. This does not rule
out a topic you feel should definitely be prepared. In that case, feel
free to forward a nomination at anytime.
9. A tentative schedule for major topic preparation is attached.
25X1A
3-
A. Soviet Missile Accuracy. Being handled by a memorandum
report.
B. Israeli-Egyptian Prospects. Being handled by a series
of memoranda and meetings.
C. Higher priority topics
w i l l preclude use of this topic.
D. Nigeria. Adequately covered by the combination of
written material and the general view of African trends.
E. Sudan. Expert opinion is that all information needed in
preparation for the Sudanese President's visit can be
adequately handled by memoranda.
F. Afghanistan. Overcome by events
G. Overcome by events.
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1 September 1978
TENTATIVE MAJOR TOPIC PREPARATION SCHEDULE
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Backup Material
to DCI on:
DCI/NFAC Presidential
Meeting on: Briefing on:
(none)
(none)
25X1A
CTB Monitoring Around-the-
East European table-with-
Dissidents NIOs
18 Sep African Trends Human Rights
or a Look at
Post-Summit
Reactions
Policy Trends Dissidents
Options in Southern
Africa 25X1 A
Cuban Manpower
-International
Narcotics
25 Sep Libyan Foreign African Human Rights 25X1A
2 Oct ?
? African Trends
Filler material is or will be available on the following topics:
-Fiber Optical Communications -Nuclear Power in LDCs
-Monitoring Arms Control -CTB Monitoring
Agreements
Note that this schedule is tentative. It will be revised weekly and major
changes may take place from week to week.
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