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1552403
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NSC Meeting, 4/22/76
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1552403
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document
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NSC Meeting, 4/22/76
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National Security Council Meetings Files (Ford Administration)
National Security Council Meetings Files from the Ford Administration
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President (1974-1977 : Ford). National Security Council. (1974 - 1977)
Deterrence (Strategy)
Federal budget
United States-Soviet relations
Warships
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22
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1976-04-22
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4
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1976
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22
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1976-04-22
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4
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1976
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The original documents are located in Box 2, folder: "NSC Meeting, 4/22/1976" of the
National Security Adviser's NSC Meeting File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Frank Zarb donated to the United States
of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 2 of the National Security Adviser's NSC Meeting File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHiNGTON
SECRET GDS
MEETING OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
Thursday, April 22, 1976
9:00 a.m. (60 minutes)
The Cabinet Room
From: Brent Scowcroft
I.
PURPOSE
To review the first part of the Defense/NSC Study on our future
naval force requirements and shipbuilding plans.
II.
BACKGROUND, PARTICIPANTS & PRESS ARRANGEMENTS
A.
Background: The Defense/NSC Study on naval force require-
ments and shipbuilding plans arose out of the FY 77 budget
review last January and a recognition of the need to take a
closer look at the adequacy of the Navy's Five-Year Ship-
building Program. The study has gained new urgency in
view of the House Armed Services Committee action
significantly expanding the FY 77 shipbuilding budget and
restructuring the program in favor of larger nuclear-
powered ships. A decision will have to be made soon
whether to go along with the House Committee action or
stand by the program in your FY 77 budget. If you choose
the latter option, there is the added issue of whether to
request a budget supplemental adding funds to the ship-
building program to signal our intention to maintain a
strong navy but in a way which does not concentrate so
heavily on larger, nuclear-powered ships.
Secretary Rumsfeld will brief you on the first part of the
study at the NSC meeting. It reviews the growth of Soviet
military and particularly maritime forces over the last
decade, and describes the politico-military environment
we can anticipate in the 1980s and 1990s. It argues that
in view of the present rough equivalence in strategic forces,
SECRET GDS
ORIGINAL RETIRED FOR PRESERVATION
at 2/26/98
GERALO
SECRET GDS
2
and the Soviet advantage in ground combat capability, the
U.S. must possess clearly superior maritime capabilities
if it is to maintain the overall military balance with the
Soviet Union.
The briefing will also provide a first look at a general
strategy to maintain maritime superiority over the long
term. This strategy will rely on:
-- Recognition of the contribution of the naval forces
of our allies;
Utilization of the assets of other military services
for the maritime mission (such as land-based aircraft);
Emphasis on developing a mixed fleet with a core
force of highly capable ships combined with a larger number
of less sophisticated ships;
Greater concentration on the development of sensor
and weapon systems.
With this briefing to set the stage, Secretary Rumsfeld hopes
to have a second NSC meeting in the next week or so to brief
the rest of the naval requirements study and review the
decisions that have to be made on the FY 77 shipbuilding
program.
B.
Participants: (List at Tab A)
C.
Press Arrangements: The meeting will be announced. White
House photographer only.
III.
TALKING POINTS
1.
The purpose of this meeting today is to review the progress
of our study on naval force requirements and our future ship-
building program. This is a subject of great personal interest
to me and of great importance to the future security of this
nation. I would like to ask Don Rumsfeld to begin by briefing
us on the status of the study.
2.
I understand that this is just the first part of a longer study.
I will want to have an NSC meeting. to review the whole study
effort once it has been completed.
SECRET GDS
LIBRARY
SECRET GDS
3
--
Are you looking at the future vulnerability of aircraft
carriers and other surface ships in light of technological
advances?
--
To what extent are you considering non-carrier alternatives
such as greater reliance on surface ships with surface-to- -
air missiles and use of land-based aircraft?
-- To what extent are you considering the naval capabilities
of our allies?
3.
We have a good start in dealing with this very difficult problem.
I want to reaffirm my own firm conviction that the United States
Navy should continue to be second to none among the fleets of
the world.
BERMLE TORD LIBRARY
SECRET GDS