LETTER TO RICHARD HELMS FROM HENRY KISSINGER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-12-4-20-1
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: October 25, 2011
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: March 8, 1971
• Content Type: LETTER

THE tiV~iITIr HOUSE
~Y.~.5HING'I'O1~F:
March 8, 1971
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as ~~
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No Objection to Declassificati n
on in Part 2012/05/14 : LOC-HAK-12~-.4~.-~2-.0-~11~ .~/~-
D'e~~ Dick:
Y.ou and the entixe intelligence co~x~un.ity eras to be
commexided for NIE 11-$~70, "Soviet Forces fox' Inter-
..continental Attack. " It is a considerable innpravement
.over last year's vexsion_and reflects the large and
irriaginative effort which all of you have. obviausly put
into it. T find particularly useful:
-- The frequent sharply-defined, cles.rly argued
clis~cussians of various contested issues.
25X1
-- The alternative farce models bas~d on explicit
diffexences in underlying assumptions. and the attezxapt
to define which were the more likely medals.
-- The quantitative detail for each model which
illustrates the differences between the' models anal
gives an opexational meaning to soxr;~e of the general
statements.
A.gsin, my congratulations to you'and those in the
intelligence agencies who woxlced-c,n NIE 11-$-?'q for
a jvb well done...
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/05/14 : LOC-HAK-12-4-20-1
The Honorable Richard Helxn.s
Dixect~ar
Centxal Intelligence Agency
 X5728
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/05/14 : LOC-HAK-12-4-20-1
THE WHITE Ht]USE.
WA3HINCTDN
THE P1iLSID~,?~1T HAS .SL~.ad.
ACTIQN
March 5, 19'71
MEMt7RANDUM FOR T'HE PRESIDENT
FROM: Henry A. Kissinger l~~.~-,
SUBJECT: Letter to Dick Helms an NTE 11-S-7Q, ,"Soviet Forces
far Irxtercontinental Attack"
Attached at Tab A for your signature is a lett~:r to Dick Helms
which congratulates him. and the. intelligence. community fox the
sxgz~i?acant improverx~.ent in this yearT s NIE 11-8 w 70.
~ earlier. txansmitted the NIE to you. As I noted then, thin year's
NIE is a great improvement aver last years effort. A lettex from
you to Helx~a.s and the intelligence community would recc-gnize their
effvxts and help to continue this ,year's changes.
As I wrote you before, the NIEs can still be improved. I wa:11 see.
Helln.s personally within a few weeks to discuss how this can be
accompla.sh~d,
Ray.Pricy cancuxs.
REGQM1yIENDATION
That you sign the letter to Helms at T'ab A.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/05/14 : LOC-HAK-12-4-20-1
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/05/14 : LOC-HAK-12-4-20-1
ME~IQRAND'L~fi~S
- SUBJEC'T':
Congratulatory Leger from the President to
Richard Helms
We would like your approval on the attached letter from the
President tra Richard Helms. The ~c~overing rnernorandr~m
to the President from Dr. Kissin er expls.ins the situation.
I? you have any questions, pleas call me at extension 6923.
Thee original letter is on the gr en White House stationery
which the President uses. If r~eCessary, l can obtain the
original or can also get you a~copy of the earlier .memorandum
from Dx. Kissinger to the Pr~'esident.
Th~.rxk yc~u.
SECRET
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/05/14 : LOC-HAK-12-4-20-1
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/05/14 : LOC-HAK-12-4-20-1
NATIONAL SECURITY COU
AC TZON
SECRE'T'. ~ February 24 T971
~RArr~u,: ~a~:, na~~~~~~~s~~
`
'
FRUIVI: I~. Wayne Smit
SUBJ'E~T; Lettex from the President to Richaxd Helms on
'NIE '.l ]:--8~~70, "Sovi.et Farces,:~or Intern?ntx~~ixt'ai?Atta`c.k" ..
Attached at Tab A is a memoxandurn to the President recommending
that he sign an aceoz-npanying letter to Richard Helms which congratulates
him and the intelligence community for their work. on NIE' 11-8-7D, "5ovi,et
Forces for Intercontinental. Attack. "
This follows up youx previous memorandum (Tab B) to the President
#oxwaxding the NIE. with comments. On my covexing memorandum
(Tali C) to you, then, you indicated that you wanted the President rather,
than yourself to send a congratulatory letter to Helms. As you instructed,
the attached letter is very cozraplimentary and without nit-puking. The
letter dpes, however, highlight some particular improvements in the
NIE. I believe this. not only gives the letter some su~jstance, but it
reinforces tlie~ new approaches which so rnuch~ improved the document, ? ? '
As you also instructed, I will set up a meeting for you with Dick Helms
in a few t~reeks.t? discuss further.'neeessary impravexnents in the NIE.
I will prepare talking points fog the mee?ing and, .after the nneeting, .will
prepare a memorandum from yoga to Helms detailing the changes which
need to be made.
REC4MMl~NDATION
That you sign the memorandum to the ,President at Ta.b A.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/05/14 : LOC-HAK-12-4-20-1
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