CHRONOLOGY OF TWO-YEAR DISPUTE ON "MISSILE GAP"

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80M01009A000300420062-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 10, 2013
• Sequence Number: 62
• Publication Date: February 9, 1961
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/07/10 : CIA-RDP80M01009A000300420062-3
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Article from New York Times, Thursday, February 9, 1961
CHRONOLOGY OF TWO-YEAR DISPUTE ON "MISSILE GAP"
The dispute over the military "missile gap" has surged back and
forth from Capitol Hill to the White House, the Pentagon and the cam-
paign stump for two years.
The "gap" debate began -- as far as it is possible to fix a time --
with a not-for-attribution? background briefing held for reporters in
January, 1959, by former Secretary of Defense Neil H. McElroy. Ironi-
cally it was revived last Monday by the same device -- a background
session for newsmen widely reported to have been held by the present
Defense Secretary, Robert S. McNamara.
Following is a chronology of major statements and events relating
to the "gap":
January 16, 1959. Secretary McElroy gave a secret briefing to
Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and was reported by Joseph Alsop)
the columnist, to have told the committee that the Soviet Union would
have a missile superiority of 100 intercontinental ballistics missiles
by 1960. Mr. Alsop contended the edge will be 300.
January 22, 1959. At a news conference, Mr. McElroy called
estimates that the Soviet Union would have 300 ICBM's by 1960 "exag-
gerated." He contended that there was no "positive evidence" the Soviet
Union had an ICBM in a state of combat readiness.
January 23) 1959. Senator Stuart Symington, Democrat of Missouri,
argued that present plans would provide less than 25 percent of the
number of ICBM's in the Soviet Union.
January 28, 1959. Soviet Premier Khrushchev reported that the
Soviet Union had begun mass production of ICBM's.
January 29, 1959. Secretary McElroy testified that the United
States had no intention of matching the Soviet Union "missile for
missile" in the ICBM field. Instead, it would maintain superiority
in over-all striking power, he said.
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February 45 1959. President Eisenhower told reporters, "We
do not believe there is a relative increase in their (the Russians)
capacity."
May 4, 1959. Secretary McElroy reported "steady advances" in
ICBM programs. The Senate Preparedness subcommittee blamed the
"missile gap" controversy on faulty intelligence estimates of Soviet
strength.
June 27) 1959. Secretary McElroy said both the United States
and the Soviet Union were behind schedule in the race to perfect an
operational ICBM.
July 27, 1959. Secretary McElroy indicated in a television
interview that the Soviet Union might have won the race for the first
operational ICBM.
July 29, 1959. President Eisenhower told his news conference
the United States was speedily closing the ICBM gap) and pointed out
that the Soviet Union had begun its missile program nine years before
the United States.
September 1, 1959. Atlas ICBM missile declared operational.
December 1, 1959. Secretary McElroy said that, the Soviet Union
might well forge ahead of the United States in ICBM's by 1963. Both
countries had about ten combat-ready ICBM's, but the United States
did not intend to make heavy investments in "first generation" Atlas
missiles, he said.
January 19) 1960. Newly appointed Secretary of Defense Thomas
S. Gates, Jr.) conceded that the Russians probably had a greater number
of ICBM's, but insisted in Senate testimony there was no "deterrent
gap."
January 26, 1960. Senator Richard B. Russell, Democrat of
Georgia and Chairman of the Armed Forces Committee, said the United
States was "woefully behind" in missiles.
February 1) 1960. Secretary. Gates said that the United States
would begin overtaking the Soviet missile lead in 1962. Until then,
the Russians will have "moderately more" missiles in production and
in operation) but United States strength in other weapons over-
shadows any missile gap) he added.
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August 26, 1960. Senator John
before the Veterans of Foreign Wars
missile lag looms larger and larger
rejected Administration contentions
mean a "deterrent gap."
F. Kennedy, in a campaign speech
in Detroit, charged that "the
ahead." Mr. Kennedy's criticism
ths:t a "missile gap" did not
September 7, 1960. Campaigning in Seattle, Mr. Kennedy called
for acceleration of the Polaris, Minuteman and other missile programs,
and "a complete re-evaluation of national defense organization."
September 12, 1960. In a speech in San Diego, Mr. Kennedy said
the danger of Soviet missile attack would grow as the Russians in-
creased the missile lead.
September 14) 1960. In New York, Mt. Kennedy saw a need for
"crash programs to provide ourselves with the ultimate weapons
which will eventually close the missile gap
September 24, 1960. Secretary Gates said that contentions
that the United States was a second rate military power "are simply
not supported by the facts." The nation's capacity was "infinite,"
he said, adding, "I think it is time we took some pride in our ac-
complishments."
January 25, 1961. The House Republican Policy Committee reported
Russia had thirty-five operational ICBM's and 200 long-range bombers,
while the United States had sixteen operational Atlas missiles, thirty-
two Polaris missiles in readiness aboard nuclear-powered submarines,
and 600 long-range bombers.
February 6, 1961. Defense Secretary McNamara reportedly told
an off-the-record press briefing there was no missile gap.
February 7, 1961. White House Press Secretary Pierre Salinger
called this information "incorrect," whatever its source.
February 8, 1961. President Kennedy said studies were still
under way to determine if there was a gap. He said he hoped the
reports would show there was none.
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