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Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.
Collection: Culvahouse, Arthur B.: Files
Folder Title: Iran/Arms Transaction: Legal
Memoranda: NSC Matter - Plan Of Action - DTR
Box: CFOA 1131
To see more digitized collections visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digital-library
To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library inventories visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/document-collection
Contact a reference archivist at: [email protected]
Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/citing
National Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/
NSC Matter -- Plan of Action
Donald T. Regan
1.
Widen scope of investigation by Attorney General into NSC.
Promise report to Congress as soon as it convenes in
January. Urge Attorney General to use PFIAB expertise.
2.
Call Senate and House leaders to meeting in White House at
11:00a.m. Include chairmen and ranking members of
Intelligence committee. Byrd, Dole, Wright and Michel.
Tell them all the facts we know.
3.
Accept resignation of Admiral Poindexter because of failure
to inform President of possible misfeasance by members of
his staff, and failure to investigate.
4.
Order reassigment of Marine Corps Lt. Col Oliver North, and
relieve him of all duties pending further investigation.
5.
Invite Secretaries of State, Defense, Treasury, and Director of
the CIA to meeting with Congressional leaders. Have them
informed by Chief of Staff as to reason for meeting.
6.
Chief of Staff to prepare Presidential statement using his
own White House staff plus representatives from Attorney
General's office. Wallison, Thomas, Buchanan, Speakes.
7
President to go to Press room around noon to deliver
statement. In it he should state he ordered Attorney
General to look into arms shipment and who knew what.
Discuss findings. How much detail to be decided by counsel.
Enough to get our full story, how to protect innocent, or
not harm future conduct of foreign relations should be
decided quickly. Statement should express his shagrin, and
shock at revelations. Should promise full investigation as
in #1. Tell of his acceptance of John Poindexter's
resignation and reassignment of North.
8.
Who should background for press?
Attorney General, or his representative to be decided.
Admit details still fuzzy, further work is needed.
Congress, and public to be fully informed when investigation
completed.
2
9.
Tough as it seems. blame must be put at NSC's door -- rogue
operation, going on without President's knowledge or
sanction. When suspicions arose he took charge, ordered
investigation, had meeting of top advisors to get at facts,
and find out who knew what. Try to make the best of a
sensational story. Anticipate charges of "out of control",
"President doesn't know what's going on," "Who's in charge",
"State Department is right in its suspicions of NSC",
"secret dealing with nefarious characters", "Should break
off any contacts with: a) Iranians, b) Contras
10. Try to get answers to such charges in advance. President
should not answer in Press room, but others in
Administration are going to be asked. President must ask
George Shultz to muzzle State Department, ditto for Cap
Weinberger, and Bill Casey, and Chief of Staff, or else
there will be all kinds of stories and malicious gossip that
can only hurt Admiral Poindexter. Remind all that Attorney
General is investigating, and its best not to surmise what
might happen, or be discovered.
11. Appoint a special review board to examine NSC policy
implementation and procedures.
The board should consit of three members, one with
Congressional connections, and one a democrat.
12. Put Al Keel in charge of NSC on a temporary basis. Ask him
to try to carry on business as usual. Use Chief of Staff's
guidance, if needed.
13. Find replacement for John Poindexter as soon as possible.
Warn President that George Shultz may "suggest" he take
over both agencies on a temporary basis. He will put in his
person and then return operation to White House. It will
then be an outpost of State Department.
Best course, to be recommmended to President, "Find an
outstanding person in Foreign Affairs/Foreign
Policy/Intelligence Community and put him/her in charge
immediately. Have person somewhat acquainted with job when
Attorney General's findings are complete. Have person
recruit new staff, and tighten all proceedures.
3
14. Qualifications for NSC head:
a.
Knowledge of foreign affairs, and experience in
government in this area
b.
Some knowledge of intelligence gathering
C.
Vast knowledge of intelligence interpretation
d.
Mature judgement
e.
Calm exterior particularly in crisis
f.
Ability to analyze, verbalize.
g.
Desire to remain "out of sight", advise to President
only, low profile in media
h.
Some knowledge of Congress, and ability to get along "on
the Hill"
i.
Ability to recruit, and manage a staff of, hopefully,
brilliant younger people.
j.
Diplomatic skills to be able to handle disparate views
of Cabinet level officers and their deputies.
k.
Willingness to work extraordinary hours.
1.
Must agree to serve at least through January 1989, or
at the pleasure of the President.
m.
Non-military.
15. Possible Candidates:
a. Max Kampleman/Arms Control
b. Larry Eagleburger/former State
C. Dave Abshire/Ambassador to NATO
d.
Bob Gates/CIA #2
e. John McMahon/former CIA #2
f. Ken Adelman/Arms Control Agency
g.
Richard Perle/Assistant Secretary Defense
h. Jeanne Kirkpatrick/Formerly UN Ambassador
i. Don Rice/Rand Corporation
j. Charlie Price/Ambassador to Great Britain
k. John Lehman
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Document data
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"ocrText": "Ronald Reagan Presidential Library\nDigital Library Collections\nThis is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.\nCollection: Culvahouse, Arthur B.: Files\nFolder Title: Iran/Arms Transaction: Legal\nMemoranda: NSC Matter - Plan Of Action - DTR\nBox: CFOA 1131\nTo see more digitized collections visit:\nhttps://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digital-library\nTo see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library inventories visit:\nhttps://reaganlibrary.gov/document-collection\nContact a reference archivist at: [email protected]\nCitation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/citing\nNational Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/\nNSC Matter -- Plan of Action\nDonald T. Regan\n1.\nWiden scope of investigation by Attorney General into NSC.\nPromise report to Congress as soon as it convenes in\nJanuary. Urge Attorney General to use PFIAB expertise.\n2.\nCall Senate and House leaders to meeting in White House at\n11:00a.m. Include chairmen and ranking members of\nIntelligence committee. Byrd, Dole, Wright and Michel.\nTell them all the facts we know.\n3.\nAccept resignation of Admiral Poindexter because of failure\nto inform President of possible misfeasance by members of\nhis staff, and failure to investigate.\n4.\nOrder reassigment of Marine Corps Lt. Col Oliver North, and\nrelieve him of all duties pending further investigation.\n5.\nInvite Secretaries of State, Defense, Treasury, and Director of\nthe CIA to meeting with Congressional leaders. Have them\ninformed by Chief of Staff as to reason for meeting.\n6.\nChief of Staff to prepare Presidential statement using his\nown White House staff plus representatives from Attorney\nGeneral's office. Wallison, Thomas, Buchanan, Speakes.\n7\nPresident to go to Press room around noon to deliver\nstatement. In it he should state he ordered Attorney\nGeneral to look into arms shipment and who knew what.\nDiscuss findings. How much detail to be decided by counsel.\nEnough to get our full story, how to protect innocent, or\nnot harm future conduct of foreign relations should be\ndecided quickly. Statement should express his shagrin, and\nshock at revelations. Should promise full investigation as\nin #1. Tell of his acceptance of John Poindexter's\nresignation and reassignment of North.\n8.\nWho should background for press?\nAttorney General, or his representative to be decided.\nAdmit details still fuzzy, further work is needed.\nCongress, and public to be fully informed when investigation\ncompleted.\n2\n9.\nTough as it seems. blame must be put at NSC's door -- rogue\noperation, going on without President's knowledge or\nsanction. When suspicions arose he took charge, ordered\ninvestigation, had meeting of top advisors to get at facts,\nand find out who knew what. Try to make the best of a\nsensational story. Anticipate charges of \"out of control\",\n\"President doesn't know what's going on,\" \"Who's in charge\",\n\"State Department is right in its suspicions of NSC\",\n\"secret dealing with nefarious characters\", \"Should break\noff any contacts with: a) Iranians, b) Contras\n10. Try to get answers to such charges in advance. President\nshould not answer in Press room, but others in\nAdministration are going to be asked. President must ask\nGeorge Shultz to muzzle State Department, ditto for Cap\nWeinberger, and Bill Casey, and Chief of Staff, or else\nthere will be all kinds of stories and malicious gossip that\ncan only hurt Admiral Poindexter. Remind all that Attorney\nGeneral is investigating, and its best not to surmise what\nmight happen, or be discovered.\n11. Appoint a special review board to examine NSC policy\nimplementation and procedures.\nThe board should consit of three members, one with\nCongressional connections, and one a democrat.\n12. Put Al Keel in charge of NSC on a temporary basis. Ask him\nto try to carry on business as usual. Use Chief of Staff's\nguidance, if needed.\n13. Find replacement for John Poindexter as soon as possible.\nWarn President that George Shultz may \"suggest\" he take\nover both agencies on a temporary basis. He will put in his\nperson and then return operation to White House. It will\nthen be an outpost of State Department.\nBest course, to be recommmended to President, \"Find an\noutstanding person in Foreign Affairs/Foreign\nPolicy/Intelligence Community and put him/her in charge\nimmediately. Have person somewhat acquainted with job when\nAttorney General's findings are complete. Have person\nrecruit new staff, and tighten all proceedures.\n3\n14. Qualifications for NSC head:\na.\nKnowledge of foreign affairs, and experience in\ngovernment in this area\nb.\nSome knowledge of intelligence gathering\nC.\nVast knowledge of intelligence interpretation\nd.\nMature judgement\ne.\nCalm exterior particularly in crisis\nf.\nAbility to analyze, verbalize.\ng.\nDesire to remain \"out of sight\", advise to President\nonly, low profile in media\nh.\nSome knowledge of Congress, and ability to get along \"on\nthe Hill\"\ni.\nAbility to recruit, and manage a staff of, hopefully,\nbrilliant younger people.\nj.\nDiplomatic skills to be able to handle disparate views\nof Cabinet level officers and their deputies.\nk.\nWillingness to work extraordinary hours.\n1.\nMust agree to serve at least through January 1989, or\nat the pleasure of the President.\nm.\nNon-military.\n15. Possible Candidates:\na. Max Kampleman/Arms Control\nb. Larry Eagleburger/former State\nC. Dave Abshire/Ambassador to NATO\nd.\nBob Gates/CIA #2\ne. John McMahon/former CIA #2\nf. Ken Adelman/Arms Control Agency\ng.\nRichard Perle/Assistant Secretary Defense\nh. Jeanne Kirkpatrick/Formerly UN Ambassador\ni. Don Rice/Rand Corporation\nj. Charlie Price/Ambassador to Great Britain\nk. John Lehman"
}