CLEARANCE OF PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS ON SALT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-299-4-6-0
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: October 4, 2010
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: February 22, 1974
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/10/15: LOC-HAK-299-4-6-0
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February 22, 1974
MORI/CDF C03379010 pages
4-5
C00833692 page 7
THE SECRETARY OF STATE
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
THE CHAIRMAN, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
THE DIRECTOR, ARMS CONTROL AND
DISARMAMENT AGENCY
I wish to reaffirm in the strc:ngest terms my earlier directives
that all public statements or press releases concerning the
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks with the Soviet Union must be
cleared at the White House (the Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs) prior to release. This is necessary
to ensure consistency with Presidential policy and proper
coordination among the departments and agencies who share
responsibility for this important issue.
Divergent or inconsistent public statements on SALT can clearly
endanger vital national interests.
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/10/15: LOC-HAK-299-4-6-0
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THE WHITE HOUSE
CONFIDENTIAL
February 20, 1974
MEMORANDUM FOR: THE PRESIDENT
FROM: HENRY A. KISSINGERJ
SUBJECT: Directive on Clearance of Public'
Communications on SALT
In view of the recent spate of statements and press stories
concerning, our SALT Position, I recommend that you reaffirm
your earlier directives -requiring White House clearance prior
to release of all public statements or press releases on SALT.
RECOMMENDATION:
That you sign the directive at Tab A.
CONFIDENTIAL
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February 6, 1974
CONFIDENTIAL
MEMORANDUM FOR: GLN RALT SCO CROFT
,:~~C l '~~tS>t
FROM:
UBJECTz
Jeanne W. Davit,
An recuested, I have prepared a rrxemo from Secretary Kissinger
to the President (Tab A) enclosing a draft directive for his sig-
nature reminding all concerned of the reouire.rnent that all public
=taterments on SALT must be cleared by the White House prior to
release. An alternative directive for Secretary Kik,binger'e
signature its at Tab B, if he wishes to sign it himself. Jan Lodal
concurs.
Previous directives on SALT statements are at Tab C, along with
a related memo on clearance of statements concerning nuclear
tef:t ban policy and another an clearance of all statements on
foreign policy. A 'Personal-Eyes Only" letter from the President
to Gerry Smith Is at Tab D. In addition, each NSDM which tans
been issued on SALT has contained a paragraph on the necessity
for avoiding leaks or unauthorized etatementr.
That secretary Kissinger sign the memorandum to the President
at Tab A.
Alteernat1vely, that the Secretary sign the directive at Tab B.
CONFIDENTIAL
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Draft Directive on Clearance of
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THE WHITE HOUSE
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE ONLY
October 24, 1973
MEMORANDUM FOR:
THE SECRETARY OF STATE
THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
?T11E SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
THE SECRETARY OF LABOR
THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, EDUCATION,
AND WELFARE
THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT
THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION
SUBJECT: Coordination and Clearance of Statements
Concerning Foreign Policy
In September 1969, I directed that all policy statements by departments
and agencies relating to foreign policy should be cleared at the White
House (Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs). This
policy was intended to insure consistency in our statements on foreign
policy and to insure that statements were properly coordinated with
those departments and agencies sharing overlapping interests and
responsibilities in foreign affairs.
In view of the widening involvement of departments and agencies in
matters relating to foreign policy, I wish to restate my desire that all
statements containing definite or potential national security implications
be cleared at the White House (Assistant to the President for National
Security Affairs). Should there be any uncertainty with respect to a
MORI/CDF
C03379010 pages
4-5
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE ONr
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I:,I11 TTi' n nI"I`!! I:~I,~ u ONLY
position or statement, it should be resolved in favor of clearance.
Only in this way can we assure the orderly development of an effective
and comprehensive national security policy.
cc: Director, ACTION
Chairwoman, AEC
Director, ACDA
Administrator, NASA
Director, USIA
Director, CIA
LIMITED OFEIMAI, USE ONLY
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F ebrl:i. ry 1 r, 11) i ZI
MEMORANDUM YOR:
The Secretary of State
The Secretary of Defense
Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission
Director, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
SUBJECT: Clearance of Statements Concerning Nuclear Test
Ban Policy
The President has consistently affirmed United States support for the
conclusion of a comprehensive ban on nuclear testing within the context
of an adequately verified agreement. This is our current policy position.
The President has directed that official statements concerning our nuclear
test ban policy conform to his position. All statements must be approved
by the White House prior to release.
A
Henr A. Kissinger
cc: Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
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CONFIDENTIAL
MEMORANDUM FOR
SUBJECT:
YHE WHITE HOU5
WA j/4 NGTOM
May 23, 1970
The Secretary of Si,tte
The Secretary of Defense
The Director of Central Intelli;;encc
Chairntait, Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Director of Aries Control and Disarmament
Agency
Leaks on SALT
Vital national interests are being; jeopardized by leaks to the press
concerning the strate ic. arms limitation tag}cs. \o cane iii the Govern-
ment is authorized to divul~;c? the U. S. or Soviet positions to the press
or to speculate concerning US intentions kith respect to the ne%?,uti:i_
"tiions.
The President has directed that. immediate steps be, taken to ensure
that standing directives concernint; leaks are adhered to \vitltout
exception by personnel under your jurisdicction. l'ruitipt .ring severe
disciplinary action is to he taken in the event of violaitions.
Those in the Congress as v.eli as any consultants echo have been briefed
concerning SALT should be firing; retttinclcd that there 1111 1st he nu leaks
to the press. Allied Governments should be siinil,t rly reiniitdccl.
The President has directed this office be informed by Ili eittoI'll rtduttt,
due on May 27, 1970, concerning stt'Ib that have been taken to stop
leaks concerning SAL1'.
MORI/CDF
C00833692 page 7
henry A. Kissinger
CON IT ID ENTI A I,
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THE WHITE HOUSE
WA$MINGTON .
CONFIDENTIAL
MEMORANDUM FOR
SUBJECT:
October 31, 1969
THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Avoidance of Leaks on SALT
.I strongly concur in your proposal to establish procedures that
will avoid unauthorized disclosures of our SALT planning. In
directive issued from Colorado ,Sprins ,on September 1, x1-9;69,
I established" general procedures for coordination and clearance
of Public Statements and Press Releases on matters of known or
potential Presidential interest. These procedures will of course
be particularly applicable to SALT. In addition, on the more
routine and purely operational aspects of SALT, public and b :ck-
,gTound s,,taee cents ,.should be coordinated and cleared by the
backstopping machinery which I asked to be established and which
was dealt with in Henry Kissinger's memorandum to the Under
-Secretary of State of September 6, 1969.
By these means we will ensure that the views of all interested
department and agency heads as well as the White House will be
taken account of, and I will be enabled to exercise control over
our public posture on SALT.
The attached directive reflects these considerations.
. Attachment
CONFIDENTIAL
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 CSA020
00 !ITE
1?~~/5, I. 1--
DE WTEI7 0020 (COLORADO SPRINGS)
FROM THE PRESIDENT
TO SECRETARY OF STATE
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
CITE CSWH90020
'S E C R E T/EYES ONLY/NIODIS
?I HAVE BEEN DISTURBED IN RECENT DAYS BY THE LACY OF
TEAMWORK IN TTH CONDUCT OF NATIONAL SECURITY AFFA iS
CONSEQUENTLY9 i AM REAFFIRMING MY POLICIES WITH RESPECT
TO THIS MATTER.
.PUD'L-IC 'STATEMENTS AND PRESS RELEASES: ,PRO-R TO
tELEASE9 ALL PUBLIC COiIMUNICATIOt.S ON MATTERS O X".11OWN
OR POTENTIAL PRESIDENT I A L INTER EST MUST BE CARE,"ULLY
CLEARED BY THE RITE HOUSE. (ASSISTAUT TO THE PRESI)E~1T
Pr E5ID~:; IAL
FOR NATIONAL SECURITY) FOR CONSISTE iC,' WITH
POLICY AND FOR COORDINATION WITH THE L.:.Pn T;;~i:TS AND AGENCIES
WHO SHARE OVERLAPPING INTERESTS A;ID RESPOC;SI~:LITIES0
SHOULD TH-54 BE ANY U jCER TAINTY AS TO PRESIDENTIAL OR
INTER-DEPARTMENTAL INTEREST9 IT WILL BE RESOLVED IN FAVOR
OF CLEARANCE,
2. OF; XCIAL COMMUNICATIONS: ALL OFFICIAL CO?iMUNICATI0NS
WITH POLICY IMMl?LICATIONS MUST BE CLEARED BY THE WHITE
HOUSE. WHEN IN DOUBT, TH RULE IS THAT MESSAGES ::SILL BE
SO CLEARED. THIS PROCEDURE REQUIRES CLOSE AND CONFIDENTIAL
STAFF RELATIONSHIPS AT ALL LEVELS BETWEEN THE WHITE HOUSE
AND YOUR DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS Ar;ONG DEPARTMENTS.
DIG 0122552 SEP 69
RICHARD NIXON
SECRET
3PS 360 IMI 360
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rte. ~..-.
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THE WHITE HOUSE
WA 5,H IN G~rQ N
October 31, 1969
MEMORANDUM FOR
THE SECRETARY OF STATE
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
THE DIRECTOR, CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
THE CHAIRMAN, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
THE DIRECTOR, ARMS CONTROL AND DISARMAMENT
AGENCY -
THE DIRECTOR, UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
THE CHAIRMAN, ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
SUBJECT: Avoidance of Leaks on SALT
As we enter SALT, it is of first importance that the security of our
plans be maintained and that all in the Government speak with one voice.
The basic procedure for ensuring this was established in my directive
of September 11, 1969, issued at Colorado Springs. The operative
parts of this directive follow:
"1. Public Statements and Press Releases: Prior to release, all
public communications on matters of known or potential Presidential
interest must be carefully cleared by the White House (Assistant
to the President for National Security) for consistency with
Presidential policy and for coordination with the departments and
agencies who share overlapping interests and responsibilities.
Should there be any uncertainty as to Presidential or inter-
depart-mental interest, it will be resolved in favor of clearance.
"Z. Official communications: All official communications with
policy implications must be cleared by the White House. When
in doubt, the rule is that messages will be so cleared. This
procedure requires close and confidential staff relationships at
all levels between the White House and your department as well
as among departments."
CONFIDENTIAL
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In addition, for routine and purely operational matters relating to
SALT, public and background statements and guidance for such state-
ments, should be dealt with by the backstopping machinery which
was established at my direction in Henry Kissinger's memorandum
to the Under Secretary of State on September 6, 1969.
Leaks about SALT planning and divergent statements to the public,
Congress or foreign governments can clearly endanger the national
interest and security. Special precautions should therefore be taken
to avoid unauthorized disclosures or renditions of the Administration's
views that have not been approved by the procedures referred to above.
CONFIDENTIAL
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/10/15: LOC-HAK-299-4-6-0
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/10/15: LOC-HAK-299-4-6-0
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