LETTER TO WILLIAM J. CASEY FROM GAIL E. WEISS REGARDING ABC S "20/20" TELEVISED SEGMENT ENTITLED "IF YOU WERE THE PRESIDENT"

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83M00914R002400010034-2
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 27, 2007
• Sequence Number: 34
• Publication Date: September 17, 1982
• Content Type: LETTER

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L-L+wutive Regiatr?
GREGORY M. McCARTHY
CHMN., BOARD OF DIRECTORS
GAIL E. WEISS
SECRETARY-GENERAL
TODD C. RIDEOUT
CHEF DU CABINET
THE TENTH
NATIONAL COLLEGIATE
SECURITY COUNCIL
September 17, 1982
William J. Casey
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
The CIA
Washington, DC 20505
DEAN PETER F. KROGH
COUNSELOR
AMB. DONALD F. McHENRY
COUNSELOR
Dear Mr. Casey,
A year ago this summer ABC's "20/20" televised a segment entitled "If You Were
the President." Featured was a policy making simulation conducted by the Center for
Strategic and International Studies of Georgetown University which assembled an
array of present and former government officials playing the roles of U.S.
leaders confronted with a fictional crisis. The composition of the playing
team, the nature of the crisis, and the lessons learned about the U.S. crisis
policy making mechanism combined to present a very relevant and thought provoking
depiction of a small portion of the American bureaucracy.
For the past nine years the Georgetown International Relations Association has
been sponsoring similar exercises for college students interested in international
affairs. Past conferences of the National Collegiate Security Council (NCSC)
have included model United Nations Security Councils, International Courts of
Justice, and most recently a model International Atomic Energy Agency. Prompted
by the "20/20" program and by the enthusiasm of two Georgetown professors involved
in the original project, we have decided to include a "Crisis Management" simulation
at NCSC X in October, 1982. in Washington... And we thought that you might be
interested.
Delegates from predominately East Coast colleges and universities will assemble
at the Georgetown Marbury House hotel for a weekend (October 14-17), be assigned roles
as officials in the White House, intelligence, or military communities of the U.S.
government, and them be expected to deal with a fast moving chain of fictional
events threatening world stability. The conference, we hope, will be as exciting
and informative as the CSIS version played last year as well as being particularly
relevant in the context of recent world events.
I have enclosed a copy of the NCSC brochure as well as an outline of "Crisis.
Management." If there is any more in_`ormation that I can provide, please do not
hesitate to contact me.
Very truly yours,
-Gail E. Weiss
Enclosures (2)
BOX 1606 HOYA STATION ? GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY ? WASHINGTON, D.C. 20057 ? 202-337-6694
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NCSC X Georgetown University
Crisis Management
The concept is based on the real-life Crisis Team. chaired by Vice-
President George Bush, created in order to enhance coordination among the
executive agencies (State, Defense, Intelligence Community, White House
Staff) involved in U.S. foreign policy during a crisis in which
U.S. national interest and security are at stake. This structure
seeks to remedy the old interservice rivalries, duplication of information,
conflict in interpretations, and coordination problems associated
with different agencies working apart from each other with communication
only reserved for the highest levels. However, even this remedy has not
achieved its objective .in.being able to promote the "team" enthusiasm
needed to solve these complications under conditions+pf intense pressure
to diffuse a potentially explosive situation in a limited amount of time.
For the NCSC version, two teams have been created: one staffed by
GU I.R.C. experts (Control Team) and one composed of the actual conference
delegates selected. for this activity ("Game" Team). The Game Team
plays the roles of the specific members of a crisis management team composed
of staff-members (of the middle-executive level) from the State and
Defense Departments as well as a third subdivision combining intelligence
leaders with White House staff positions. During the course of the game,
half of the time will be devoted to the full team meeting and discussing
as a group (only at this time will they be allowed to make decisions,
issue orders, or affect the game outside of the "United States") while the
other half of the game will be spent in departmental conference as each
sub-team (State, Defense, Intelligence/White House) meets as if in "caucus."
At the beginning of the conference, the delegates (roles previously
unassigned) will be gathered together to hear the inaugural remarks of
the "President," The first day will simulate the hectic transition
process, as each delegate receives his role assignment in the form of a
packet of materials, with the President assuming his new position amt
the "appointed and confirmed" delegates preparing for their roles. -
However, theirs will be a ba,tism by fire as they will be presented with
the first crisis of their government careers in the first day of the
administration. As the situation unfolds, the delegates will discover
that their legal restrictions become minimal while their perso..Zi.t.
in.conducting their roles assume more.importance. On the morning of the
second day of the conference, the crisis will begin with a President
try.ng to set the course of his administration and a crisis team certain
on Ay of the. fact that they must solve this problem threatening the nation's
in erests. They will have to contend with a nasty cast of potential
ad ersaries, steadfast (perhaps not-so-steadfast) allies, "half-crazed"
national leaders, and "where's the U.N. when you need them," as well
as a pesky Congress, a pushy Press and Press Secretary, a public hungry
for news, a bureaucratic jungle, a lack of information,?a need for their
"momnsies," and a whole host of other dilemmas. Through it all, however,
the President's shadow looms large: he's their boss, his decision will be
based on the Team's recommendations, these recommendations could either give
the new administration a boost in the public opinion polls or incinerate
all of civilized man. . .
1
leaders.
The saying goes.that the future. of America is vested in its youn
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