BRIEFING BOOK

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000505400034-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 9, 2010
• Sequence Number: 34
• Publication Date: June 26, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/09: CIA-RDP90-005528000505400034-2
ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT
26 June 1983
BRIEFING b00fi DONALDSON: Key officials from former President Carter's 1980
re-election campaign today made available to ABC News a copy of
the briefing book prepared for Hr. Garter's debate with Ronald
Reagan in an attempt to demonstrate that the material Reagan
officials acknowledged they obtained in some fashion from the
Carter camp was important to the debate's outcome, an assertion
the Reagan officials strongly deny. DONt,L.DSON: The book made
available to ABC News consists of, among other things, suggested
themes for the debate and Garter's strategy objectives. It
contains extensive pages of sample questions and answers, for
instance, quection, 'Bow.Lould you compare your economic
revitalization program with Governor Reagan's tax cut proposal?'
The suggested answer covers two-and-a-half pages, ranging from
his proposal would overinflate the economy to it would benefit
the rich. The book also contains key lines for Kr. Garter to
say about Mr. Reagan, and a section on Reagan positions and how
they might best be attacked during the debate. The book, made
available by former Garter campaign officials, certainly fits
the description of the material as described in lime magazine
reporter Larry barrett's book which first b: ought the matte: to
light. Wrote Barrett, '6f ter the debate was over, the
' Reaganauts realized that the papers provided by their informant
had included every item Garter used or. the air except one, his
reference to his daughter, Amy.' but this description of the
material they had is contested now Dy Reagan officials. White
House Chief of Staff James baker says it did not seer to be
close-in briefing material, but rather a compendium of Carter.
administration positions. And Cppimunications Director David
"Gurger. describes it this way. G[JRGEN: We've said already on
several occasions it was not significant.
DONALDSON: The Carter officials insist the detailed briefing
book made available toda}? is the only briefing material they
used. Reagar. officials strongly suggest tY.at is certainly not
the material they have. The question of hoc important the
material actually was may not be directly relevant to the
investigation of how the Reagan camp obtained it; that is,
whether it was stolen or not, but it may have a bearing on how.
serious investigators and the public view the entire episode..