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February 8, 1960
MEMORANDUN FOR THE RECORD:
In the meeting of the President and his Board of Consultants
on Foreign Intelligence Activities on February 2, there was
discussion of the question of overflights. The group had
proposed that this source of intelligence be utilized to the
maximum degree possible. The President commented that
this is one of the most "soul-searching" questions to come
before a President. General Hull said he recognized the
difficulty but pointed out that, for example, we had saved our-
selves a lot of money through the knowledge that the Bison air-
craft was not being produced in the quantities originally esti-
mated. He added that a recent flight disclosed military
deployments and dispositions that gave no sign of a slackening
off in Soviet military power, as might have been suggested by
the "spirit of Camp David. 'r
T he President stated that he knew of no "spirit of Camp Cavid. 11
What was accomplished was frank and respectful discussion of
important issues, and a mutual recognition of the overriding
importance of avoiding general war. He added that every bit
of information he has seen corroborates what Khrushchev told
him at Camp David -- for example regarding the Soviet cut-
back in surface ships, aircraft, atomic power production, etc.
Khrushchev added that he was not too much interested in short-
range missiles. The President said he recognizes that intelligence
has value, but in today's circumstances the ICBM is taking on
central importance. If the Soviets concentrate on big missiles
they have only one mode of action to attempt a knock-out blow,
and to receive such a blow in return.
General Hull mentionedthat there are a great many unknowns
in the equation of Soviet military strength and preparation.
The President said that he has one tremendous asset in a summit
meeting, as regards effect in the free world. That is his reputa-
tion for honesty. If one of these aircraft were lost when we are
engaged in apparently sincere deliberations, it could be put on
DECLASSIFIED
TOD
E.Q. 12958, SEC. 3.6(b)
MR9433444
BY BBM DATE 8/17/99
Document source description
Memo of a February 2, 1960 meeting with President Eisenhower and Board of Consultants on Foreign Intelligence activities to discuss overflights.
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"ocrText": "(\n-\nFebruary 8, 1960\nMEMORANDUN FOR THE RECORD:\nIn the meeting of the President and his Board of Consultants\non Foreign Intelligence Activities on February 2, there was\ndiscussion of the question of overflights. The group had\nproposed that this source of intelligence be utilized to the\nmaximum degree possible. The President commented that\nthis is one of the most \"soul-searching\" questions to come\nbefore a President. General Hull said he recognized the\ndifficulty but pointed out that, for example, we had saved our-\nselves a lot of money through the knowledge that the Bison air-\ncraft was not being produced in the quantities originally esti-\nmated. He added that a recent flight disclosed military\ndeployments and dispositions that gave no sign of a slackening\noff in Soviet military power, as might have been suggested by\nthe \"spirit of Camp David. 'r\nT he President stated that he knew of no \"spirit of Camp Cavid. 11\nWhat was accomplished was frank and respectful discussion of\nimportant issues, and a mutual recognition of the overriding\nimportance of avoiding general war. He added that every bit\nof information he has seen corroborates what Khrushchev told\nhim at Camp David -- for example regarding the Soviet cut-\nback in surface ships, aircraft, atomic power production, etc.\nKhrushchev added that he was not too much interested in short-\nrange missiles. The President said he recognizes that intelligence\nhas value, but in today's circumstances the ICBM is taking on\ncentral importance. If the Soviets concentrate on big missiles\nthey have only one mode of action to attempt a knock-out blow,\nand to receive such a blow in return.\nGeneral Hull mentionedthat there are a great many unknowns\nin the equation of Soviet military strength and preparation.\nThe President said that he has one tremendous asset in a summit\nmeeting, as regards effect in the free world. That is his reputa-\ntion for honesty. If one of these aircraft were lost when we are\nengaged in apparently sincere deliberations, it could be put on\nDECLASSIFIED\nTOD\nE.Q. 12958, SEC. 3.6(b)\nMR9433444\nBY BBM DATE 8/17/99"
}