YOUR APPEARANCE BEFORE THE DEFENSE MANAGEMENT GROUP

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-448-5-11-7
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: February 2, 2010
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: September 18, 1970
• Content Type: MEMO

ANo Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/02/02: LOC-HAK-448-5-11-7
le~_MEMORANVUM
~~ :D-J17
INFORMATION
September 18, 1970
TOP SECRET
MEMORANDUM FOR DR. KISSINGER
FROM: K. Wayne Smith
SUBJECT: Your Appearance Before the Defense Management Group
Your concern that you might be grilled on the details of the DOD
budget and force posture at your meeting with the Defense Manage-
ment Group on Saturday appear to be ill-founded.
The Group's Purpose
The Defense Management Group is not what it would appear to be:
a serious-minded conclave of DOD's top management people.
According to past attendees and Mr. Laird's and Mr. Packard's
staffs, the group's primary purpose is social. The general ground
rules on its meetings are:
-- DOD officials are expected to bring their wives.
-- No classified information is discussed in the open meetings.
In short, the group was set up to allow top DOD officials to meet
together socially with people from DOD and other organizations.
If this understanding of the group is correct, you will not be expected
to address issues of substance at the meeting.
On the other hand, there is always the chance that your meeting with
the Defense group could prove an exception to its usual operations.
Under these circumstances, you might be asked to discuss substan-
tive problems with DOD's top people in one of the closed meetings
(wives excluded) that are held intermittently during these conferences.
TOP SECRET
NOV211970
RECD FROM ON ----- _-
NO INDICATION OF ORIGINATOR OR ADDRp SEErS
FOLLOW UP ACTION, DISIR, OR DISIRJauTION,
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/02/02 : LOC-HAK-448-5-11-7
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/02/02: LOC-HAK-448-5-11-7
TOP SECRET
While I do not expect you will face the latter I have, nevertheless,
prepared two sets of talking points for your use:
-- One set is a very lightweight discussion of the principal
directions of the President's foreign policy. This would be suitable
for delivery to a mixed group or a social occasion, but you can
doubtless do better on your own. (Tab A)
The other set focuses on the DOD budget and NSDM 84. This
would be suitable for use in a candid discussion of DOD budgetary
and force planning with a handful of its top people. It may be too
long and frank for you to use verbatim, but it covers all the important
issues. (Tab B)
In sum, I doubt that you will be put through the wringer by DOD,
though your meeting with the Defense group provides an opportunity
for them. I am told they expect to see the "Kissinger personality"
and to be more entertained than informed. However, if you feel
more preparatory work is needed, I will start it immediately.
TOP SECRET
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/02/02 : LOC-HAK-448-5-11-7