THE PRESIDENT'S REQUEST FOR A QUARTERLY REPORT ON SOVIET STRATEGIC FORCES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-2-6-25-5
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: November 4, 2009
• Sequence Number: 25
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2009/11/04: LOC-HAK-2-6-25-5
W
T/SENSITI"VE
MEMORANDUM FOR
Honorable Richard M. Helms
Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT: The Prasidentes Request for a Quarterly
Report on Soviet Strategic Forces
The coneept for a Quarterly Report on Soviet Strategic: Forces
outlined in your September 18, 1969 meenorandum is e3MeU ent.
I assume that these reports would be approved by the United States
Intelligence Board, as are the National Intoiligance R tlznatas.
These reports will be of great value both in providing detailed,
up-to-date information on Soviet strategic weapons developments
and deployments and in providing early warning of suspicious
activities that merit the attention of the Administration's senior
officials.
MORI/CDF C05106175
Pages 1-4
Henry A. Kissinger
SECRET f S? N?ITIV
VI I I r~l ^Y I I I YFti~I FyluK
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2009/11/04: LOC-HAK-2-6-25-5
 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20505
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
18 Septle iiher 1969
F0,10RA.NDUM FOR: Dr. Henry A. Kissinger
The White House
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2009/11/04: LOC-HAK-2-6-25-5
SUBJECT: The President's Request for a Quarterly Report
on Soviet Strategic Forces
1. Would you be good enough to ads; i.ss me as to whether what
is proposed below will appropriately satisfy the Presid&ent's re-
quest at the i'~SC meettng, 10 Septe,,iber, for a quarterly report on
Soviet strategic forces.
2. Such an all-source quarterly report would cover the cur-
rent status -- operational and under construction -- of deployed
strategic offensive and dcfensive weapon systems. and forces in a
format that highlights changes and new develop:rents between re-
porting periods. In addition, the report would rake appropriate
reference to the relationship of observed developments to current
estimates.
3. The report would cover in highlight fashion significant
testing (e.g., NRVJ, FOBS, ABM) and other developmental activities
that took place during the reporting period. It .would note im-
portant developments at the test ranges, such as new silos or new
radars, that presaged future system capabilities.
14. The format of the report would involve the use of tables
to present the significant statistics, supplemented and amplified
by brief textual.statements. The report is in essence an intelli-
gence report conveying evaluated facts. with interpretive comments.
The report is not the vehicle for arguing intelltgerze problems,
although where uncertainty or differences exist these would be noted.
5. The subjects to be covered are listed in the attachment.
The "Other" category would allow for the inclusion of material
relevant to the purpose of the report that was not needed or avail-
able for each report. Such things as the Soviet satellite recon-
naissance program, Soviet statements on strategic doctrine, or
Soviet military budget matters could be reported.
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No Objection to Declassification in Part 2009/11/04: LOC-HAK-2-6-25-5
 w w
b. in addition to tables and text, the format of the
report could include graphic material -- bar charts, line graphs,
etc. -- that helped convey the ideas of magnitude and change.
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7. We can have a mock-up of the proposed report for the
President's review by early October. Regular production could be-
gin for distribution on 9 December, three months after USIB ap-
proval of NIE 11-8-69. Alternatively, we could aim for regular
production keyed to the first of January and the succeeding
quarterly periods.
wd-~
Richard Helms
Director
Attachment : - 1
Draft Table of Contents
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No Objection to Declassification in Part 2009/11/04: LOC-HAK-2-6-25-5
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2009/11/04: LOC-HAK-2-6-25-5
President's Quarterly Report on Soviet Strategic Forces
-- Draft Table of Contents --
I. Intercontinental Attack
A. Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles
B. Submarine Ballistic Missiles
C. Heavy Bombers
II. Peripheral Attack
A. Medium and Intermediate Range Ballistic
Missiles
B. Medium Bombers
III. Strategic Defense
A. Antiballistic Missiles
B. Surface-to-air Missiles
C. Interceptor Aircraft
IV. Other (as significant information is available)
Examples :
Satellite reconnaissance developments
Soviet statements on strategic doctrine
Soviet military budget developments
Soviet developments in early warning radars
ASW developments
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No Objection to Declassification in Part 2009/11/04: LOC-HAK-2-6-25-5
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2009/11/04: LOC-HAK-2-6-25-5
MEMORANDUM
SECRET /SENSITIVE
MEMORANDUM FOR DR. KISSINGER
FROM: Laurence E. Lynn, Jr.
SUBJECT: Helms' Proposal for a Quarterly Report on Soviet
Strategic Forces
Dick Helms has developed a concept and outline for the Quarterly
Report on Soviet Strategic Forces requested by the President at
the September 10 NSC meeting. The concept looks quite satisfactory.
He does not mention whether or not these reports will be approved
by the U. S. Intelligence Board. To have any value, the reports
should be reviewed by. USIB so that all agency views can be reflected.
In your return memorandum to Helms, I suggest that you emphasize
the importance of these reports as an "early warning" vehicle as
well as a compendium of up-to-date facts.
RECOMMENDATION: That you sign the enclosed response to Helms.
Enclosure
Tab A - Memo to Helms
SECRET /SENSITIVE
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2009/11/04: LOC-HAK-2-6-25-5