National Security Advisor

502 Pages·2017·2.32 MB·English

441 Freedom Parkway NE
Atlanta, GA 30307
http://www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov

Records of the Office of the National Security Advisor:
A Guide to Its Records at the Jimmy Carter Library

Collection Summary

Creator: Office of the National Security Adviser

Title: Records of the Office of the National Security Advisor

Dates: 1977-1981

Quantity: 775 linear feet (various file units are open for research)

Identification:
Accession Number: 80-1
National Archives Identifier: 560131

Scope and Content:
These files consist of correspondence, reports, notes, telegrams, minutes, cables,
memoranda, articles, handwritten documents, and briefing papers on issues related to
foreign affairs and national security. Most of the documents were created by the
National Security Advisor (NSA), the National Security Council (NSC), representatives
of other countries, federal agencies, other White House staff offices, and the American
public. These files cover such topics as national security, human rights, foreign relations,
arms control, terrorism, energy, and international law. Closed folders are designated in
RED, while open folders are designated in BLACK. Although a folder might be
designated as “open,” please be aware that some or all of its contents might not be
available yet due to restrictions on access.

Creator Information: Office of the National Security Advisor
The Office of the National Security Advisor is a senior official in the Executive Office of
the President who serves as the chief advisor, stationed in the White House, to
the President of the United States on national security issues. This person also
participates in the meetings of the National Security Council. The NSA office is based in
the West Wing of the White House. The advisor is supported by the National Security
Council staff that produces research, briefings, and intelligence for the advisor to review
and present either to the National Security Council or directly to the President.
The Office was headed by Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski from 1977-1981. Some of the major
foreign policy events during Brzezinski’s term of office included the normalization
of relations with the People's Republic of China; the signing of the second Strategic Arms
Limitation Treaty (SALT II); the brokering of the Camp David Accords; the Iran Hostage
crisis; the overthrow of the Shah of Iran; the Soviet Union invasion of Afghanistan; and
the signing of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties relinquishing U.S. control of the Panama
Canal after 1999.

Biographical information on key office personnel is located at the end of the finding aid.

Restrictions:
Restrictions on Access: These papers contain documents restricted in accordance with
applicable executive order(s), which governs National Security policies, applicable
statutes/agency restrictions, and material which has been closed in accordance with the
donor’s deed of gift.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction: Copyright interest in these papers has been
donated to the United States Government. Some of the records may be subject to
copyright restrictions (i.e. newspapers, publications, etc.). Researchers should contact the
publisher for further information.

Related Material:
Related materials in this repository: White House Central File, Subject Files:
Atomic/Nuclear Energy, Countries, Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Immigration-
Naturalization, International Organizations, National Security-Defense, Peace, and
Tariffs; Donated Historical Material of Walter F. Mondale, Zbigniew Brzezinski,
George D. Moffett, and Anthony M. Solomon; Federal Records of the Cuban-Haitian
Task Force, Japan-U.S. Economic Relations Group, and the Presidential Commission on
World Hunger; National Security Council Institutional Files, 1977-81; Exit Interviews
with David Aaron, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Gilbert Kujovich, George Moffett, and Burton
Wides; White Burkett Miller Center Interview with Zbigniew Brzezinski (including
Madeleine Albright, Leslie Denend, and William Odom).
Related materials NOT in this repository: Library of Congress. Zbigniew Brzezinski
papers, 1798-2009.

NOTICE: Folders containing dated withdrawal sheets—typically with the date being
handwritten and located at the bottom of the sheet—have been opened for research on that date;
however, it should be noted that not all withdrawal sheets will bear such a date and some
documents in said folders might have been brought forward to the open folders prior to the
withdrawal sheet’s date. This is in part due to changes in staff processing workflow over the
years. Closed folders and specific documents listed on withdrawal sheets as being closed for
national security reasons can be requested for Mandatory Declassification Review.

Records of the Office of the National Security Advisor
Index Terms:
Limited to major topics under each category
Persons: Zbigniew Brzezinski; President Jimmy Carter; Cyrus Vance; Harold Brown;
Stansfield Turner; David Aaron

Organizations: Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); Office of the Secretary of Defense;
National Security Advisor (NSA), National Security Council (NSC), U.S. Department of
State

Subjects: National security, human rights, arms control, military strength, foreign
relations, terrorism, energy, trade, and international law

Places: Asia, China, Iran, Israel, Egypt, Middle East, Europe, Poland, Afghanistan, the
Soviet Union (USSR), Latin America, South America, Africa

Types of Material: Correspondence, reports, notes, telegrams, minutes, cables,
memoranda, articles, handwritten documents, and briefing papers

Administrative Information:
Preferred citation for textual material: [Type of Document], [Names of Sender and
Recipient or Title of Document], [Date], [Collection Title], [Series Title], [Sub-series
Title, if applicable], [Folder Title], [Box Number], Jimmy Carter Presidential Library.

Preferred citation for material accessed via the CREST/RAC project: Jimmy Carter
Presidential Library, RAC Project Number NLC-xx-xx-xx-xx

Acquisition information: These historical materials were received under provisions of the
instrument of gift that Jimmy Carter signed January 31, 1981.

Processing information: The first series of the collection were opened in 1996.
Subsequent larger segments of material in the collection were opened in 1997, 1998,
1999, and 2003—processing continues to present day and is largely driven by processes
such as Mandatory Declassification Review and the Remote Archives Capture Project.
“Opening dates” can vary for different file units within series given the nature of the
declassification process. Many documents bear an archivist-supplied item number in
pencil in the upper righthand corner.

System of Arrangement:
Arrangement Note: The Records of the Office of the National Security Advisor’s files
were kept in two large sub-collections given the titles "Brzezinski Material" and ''Staff
Material." Within each sub-collection were several series, each of which has been
maintained. These individual series sometimes contain various sub-series.
The records of the Records of the Office of the National Security Advisor are divided into
thirty-two series:

Records of the Office of the National Security Advisor
Series Title National Archives Identifier
Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - President’s Daily Report Files (NSA 1) 560133
Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - CIA President’s Daily Brief Files (NSA 2) 560144
Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - President's Correspondence With Foreign 560148
Leaders Files (NSA 3)
Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Trip Files (NSA 4) 560149
Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - VIP Visit Files (NSA 5) 560150
Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Country Files (NSA 6) 560151
Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Subject Files (NSA 7) 560152
Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Agency Files (NSA 8) 560153
Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Name Files (NSA 9) 560155
Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Staff Evening Reports Files (NSA 10) 560156
Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Inderfurth and Gates Chron Files (NSA 11) 56refugee
Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - General Odom Files (NSA 12) 560158
Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Schecter/Friendly (Press) Files (NSA 13) 560161
Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Public and Congressional Correspondence 560163
Files (NSA 14)
Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Office Files (NSA 15) 560164
Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Cables Files (NSA 16) 560165
Staff Material - Office Files (NSA 17) 560166
Staff Material - Deputy Subject and Meeting Files (NSA 18) 560170
Staff Material - Special Projects Files (NSA 19) 560172
Staff Material - Staff Secretary Files (NSA 20) 560176
Staff Material - Freedom of Information/Legal Files (NSA 21) 560177
Staff Material - Press and Congressional Relations Files (NSA 22) 560178
Staff Material - Europe, USSR, and East/West Files (NSA 23) 560183
Staff Material - North/South Files (NSA 24) 560184
Staff Material - Middle East Files (NSA 25) 560185
Staff Material - Far East Files (NSA 26) 560187
Staff Material - Horn/Special Files (NSA 27) 560189
Staff Material - Global Issues Files (NSA 28) 560190
Staff Material - International Economics Files (NSA 29) 560191
Staff Material - Science and Technology Files (NSA 30) 560192
Staff Material - Defense/Security Files (NSA 31) 560193
Staff Material - President's Intelligence Oversight Board Files (NSA 32) 560194

Records of the Office of the National Security Advisor
Detailed Description of the Collection

Closed folders are designated in RED, while open folders are designated in BLACK. Although a
folder might be designated as “open,” please be aware that some or all of its contents might not
be available yet due to restrictions on access.

Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - President’s Daily Report Files (NSA 1)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-18. This series was opened on March 13, 1996. This series
contains reports from the Situation Room to Brzezinski and Brzezinski to the President.
Arranged chronologically.

Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - CIA President’s Daily Brief Files (NSA 2)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-34. This series was opened on March 13, 1996. This series
contains Daily CIA reports to the President. Arranged chronologically.

Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - President's Correspondence With Foreign Leaders Files
(NSA 3)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-22. This series was opened on March 13, 1996. This series
contains correspondence between the President and foreign leaders. Arranged alphabetically by
country and chronologically there under.

Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Trip Files (NSA 4)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-43. Some material in this series was first opened on March 13,
1996. This series contains briefing books and correspondence for the travel of the President, Mrs.
Carter, the Vice President, Zbigniew Brzezinski, David Aaron, Cyrus Vance, Clark Clifford, and
Robert Strauss. Arranged by traveler in the order listed above and chronologically there under.

Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - VIP Visit Files (NSA 5)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-15. Some material in this series was first opened on March 13,
1996. This series contains briefing books and correspondence concerning visits of foreign
dignitaries. Arranged alphabetically by country and chronologically there under.

Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Country Files (NSA 6)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-89. Some material in this series was first opened on March
13, 1996. This series contains correspondence, reports, newspaper and magazine articles,
and maps concerning all countries and regions of the world. Some of the countries and
regions include China, Cuba, Iran, Israel, Middle East, and the Soviet Union. Arranged
alphabetically by country or region and both chronologically and by topic there under.

Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Subject Files (NSA 7)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-68. Some material in this series was first opened on March 13,
1996. This series contains correspondence, reports, newspaper and magazine articles, and maps
concerning various subjects. Some of the subjects include arms control, foreign aid, budgets,
First Lady Travels, cabinet meetings, human rights, memcons, missiles, nuclear, SALT II, and
the Soviet Union. Arranged alphabetically by subject and chronologically there under.

Records of the Office of the National Security Advisor
Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Agency Files (NSA 8)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-23. Some material in this series was first opened on March 13,
1996. This series contains briefing books, correspondence, and reports concerning various
federal government agencies and international organizations. Some organizations and agencies
include Central Intelligence Agency, Defense Department, Energy Department, National
Security Council, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), State Department, and United
Nations (UN). Arranged alphabetically by agency or organization and chronologically therein.

Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Name Files (NSA 9)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-4. Some material in this series was first opened on March 13,
1996. This series contains correspondence with or concerning 125 individuals. There is
presumed to be more information on each of these individuals scattered elsewhere in the
National Security Advisor's files and other White House files. Arranged alphabetically by name
of individual and chronologically there under.

Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Staff Evening Reports Files (NSA 10)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-33. Some material in this series was first opened on September
30, 1996. This series contains memos, cables, and newspaper and magazine clippings. Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday of each week, each staff member was to provide a memo to
Brzezinski (or occasionally to David Aaron in Brzezinski’s absence) indicating the staff
member’s daily activity. On Thursdays each staff member could submit suggested items for the
President’s attention. These memos were expected to be very short, so they tend to cover topics
that were not covered by more substantive memos during the day. The memos were filed here
after being seen by Brzezinski and often have his annotations. Items are filed by date of report
with subsequent commentary on that report attached. Occasionally items were attached to these
daily reports, the most prominent example being almost daily cables analyzing media news
reports in the Middle East. Arranged chronologically.

Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Inderfurth and Gates Chron Files (NSA 11)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-7. This series was opened on September 30, 1996. This series
contains memos, reports, and correspondence that were created by Rick Inderfurth and Robert
Gates, Special Assistants to Zbigniew Brzezinski and David Aaron. Arranged chronologically.

Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - General Odom Files (NSA 12)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-61. Some material in this series was first opened on September
30, 1996. This series contains correspondence, reports, notes, and briefing books. General
William Odom was the Military Assistant to the National Security Advisor and Crisis
Coordinator throughout the administration. Arranged alphabetically by subject and
chronologically thereunder.

Records of the Office of the National Security Advisor
Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Schecter/Friendly (Press) Files (NSA 13)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-18. Some material in this series was first opened on December
31, 1996. This series contains cables, letters, memos, printed material, and White House press
releases. The material relates to two NSC staff members, Jerrold Schecter and Alfred Friendly,
who were assigned to support the White House Press Secretary on national matters, but worked
for the National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski. They coordinated press guidance and
functions of the security agencies, served as liaison between press and Brzezinski and NSC staff,
monitored what the media was writing and broadcasting about national security matters, and
developed press guidance on national security matters for the President and other administration
spokespersons for use at press conferences, trips abroad, and during visits to the United States by
international leaders. The series is subdivided into a subject file that is arranged alphabetically by
subject and chronologically there under. The trips/visits file is arranged chronologically.

Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Public and Congressional Correspondence Files (NSA 14)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-30. Some material in this series was first opened on December
31, 1996. This series contains cables, letters, memos, and printed material. The series is divided
into a Subject File and Chron File. The Subject File series consists primarily of items that were
sent to White House Central Files for filing. The Chron File series was retained by the National
Security Advisor’s office. The Subject File is arranged alphabetically by subject, and the Chron
File is arranged chronologically.

Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Office Files (NSA 15)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-127. Some material in this series was opened on July 1, 2003.
This series is divided into a Country Chron File and a Subject Chron File, the file is made up
almost entirely of photocopies. Each of the sub-series is arranged alphabetically.

Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Cables Files (NSA 16)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-130. Some material in this series was first opened in July 1,
2003. These cables were seldom used in this form, but were stored presumably for reproduction
and use if requested by a staff member. Chronological sub-series are Afghanistan, Far East,
People's Republic of China/Vietnam, Africa, Olympics in Moscow, Europe, Latin America, Mrs.
Carter’s Latin America Trip, Nicaragua, Middle East, Egypt/Israel Camp David Meeting, Iran,
Iran: Hostage Rescue Attempt Reaction, Presidential Messages In/Out, State Department Out,
White House In/Out, Hotline In/Out, Privacy Channels In/Out, Special Channels, and Countries.

Staff Material - Office Files (NSA 17)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-23 (March 13, 1996); 24-156 (July 1, 2003). Some material in
this series was first opened on 3/13/1996 and 7/1/2003. This series contains correspondence and
briefing books for National Security Council and Special Coordination Committee meetings,
arranged by meeting type and chronologically thereunder. Subsequent sub series are the
Institutional File (arranged by serial number); The Outside the System File (arranged
alphabetically by subject); the Presidential Advisory File (arranged as photocopied from other
files); the For President or Brzezinski Only File (arranged alphabetically by subject); the 1976-
77 Transition Files of Anthony Lake (arranged alphabetically in a Correspondence File, Name
File, and Subject File) and Richard Moose (arranged alphabetically by subject), the Unfiled File
(arranged alphabetically by subject), the Microfiche File, and the Maps File. The 1976-77
Transition Files were found in State Department files in 1997, but were deemed to be President

Records of the Office of the National Security Advisor
Carter's files rather than files of the State Department and are filed here for convenience of
research use.

Staff Material - Deputy Subject and Meeting Files (NSA 18)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-9. This series is unprocessed as of July 2018; containers were
created as of July 1, 2003. David Aaron served as Zbigniew Brzezinski's deputy throughout the
Carter administration. Although his handwritten notes appear on documents throughout the
National Security Advisor's File, the small amount of material located here is all that was filed
under his name. Arranged alphabetically.

Staff Material - Special Projects Files (NSA 19)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-64. This series is unprocessed as of July 2018; containers were
created as of July 1, 2003. Henry Owen served as the President's personal representative with the
rank of ambassador to prepare for international economic summits. He was assisted by Joan
Corbett and Hazel Denton. Arrange alphabetically by subject. For international economics, see
also the International Economics series.

Staff Material - Staff Secretary Files (NSA 20)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-46. This series is unprocessed as of July 2018; containers were
created as of July 1, 2003. Michael Hornblow served as Acting Staff Secretary for a few months
at the beginning of the administration before being succeeded by Christine Dodson. Arranged
alphabetically by subject.

Staff Material - Freedom of Information/Legal Files (NSA 21)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-96. This series is unprocessed as of July 2018; containers were
created as of July 1, 2003. Robert Kimmitt served as legal counsel to the National Security
Council from August, 1978, to the end of the administration. He also served in the Global Issues
cluster from January through June of 1977. His files are arranged into three sub-series, each
arranged alphabetically by subject: Arms Transfers File, Arms Transfers/Country File, and a
Subject File. During most of the administration, Beverly Zweiben and Brenda Reger handled
document access requests. Their files are arranged alphabetically by subject in two sub-series:
Freedom of Information/Privacy Act/Executive Order Request File and a Subject File.

Staff Material - Press and Congressional Relations Files (NSA 22)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-5. This series was opened on June 23, 1997. This series
contains correspondence primarily of Madeleine Albright, who joined the staff in March, 1978,
as Congressional Relations Officer. The NSC Weekly Legislative Reports filed here before
Albright joined the staff were written by Jane Pisano and Jerry Schecter. Both sub-series are
arranged chronologically.

Staff Material - Europe, USSR, and East/West Files (NSA 23)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-69. Some material from this series was first opened on
September 28, 1998. This series contains correspondence, reports, notes, and briefing books.
After an initial Western Europe Subject File, there are seven additional sub-series consisting of
files of individuals. Included are files of Robert Hunter, James Rentschler, Robert Blackwill,
Robert Putnam, Reginald Bartholomew, Marshall Brement, and Stephen Larrabee. Seven Subject

Records of the Office of the National Security Advisor
Files arranged alphabetically by subject and chronologically there under and one Trips/Visits
File arranged chronologically.

Staff Material - North/South Files (NSA 24)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-67 (March 13, 1996); 68-90 (September 30, 1996); 91-125
(June 23, 1997). Some material from this series was opened on March 13, 1996; September 30,
1996; June 23, 1997. This series contains correspondence, reports, notes, and briefing books. The
Robert Pastor files concerning Latin America and the Caribbean include a Country File arranged
alphabetically by country (including regions), a Subject File arranged alphabetically, and a
Chron File arranged chronologically. The Thomas Thornton files on South Asia and United
Nations matters include a Country File and a Subject File. The Henry Richardson Chron File and
Gerald Funk Subject File and Chron File deal with sub-Saharan Africa.

Staff Material - Middle East (NSA 25)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-145. Some material from this series was first opened on July 1,
2003. William Quandt, Robert Hunter, and Gary Sick were the Middle East specialists
throughout the Carter administration. Quandt was the primary staff member for the Camp David
Accords, as was Sick for the Iran hostage crisis. Each has written books about those experiences.
Hunter began the administration on the NSC staff as a specialist in West Europe matters, but
replaced Quandt on the Middle East in September, 1979. For the entire cluster there is a Subject
File (arranged alphabetically), a Meetings File, and a Trips/Visits File (the latter two arranged
chronologically). There is also a Stoddard File concerning Iran (arranged alphabetically by
subject) and Chron Files for Hunter, Quandt, and Sick.

Staff Material - Far East Files (NSA 26)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-72. Some material from this series was first opened on March
31, 1997. This series contains correspondence, reports, notes, and briefing books. This series
includes the files of Michel Oksenberg and Roger Sullivan, who worked primarily on China, and
Michael Armacost and Nicholas Platt, who worked primarily on the rest of East Asia. A
particular focus of the series is the Oksenberg History File sub-series, which totals sixteen boxes
and includes copies of documents from 1955 to the beginning of the Carter administration.
Arranged alphabetically by subject and chronologically there under and chron files arranged
chronologically.

Staff Material - Horn/Special Files (NSA 27)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-6. This series was opened on September 30, 1996. Paul
Henze’s responsibilities included Greece/Turkey/Cyprus, the Horn of Africa including Kenya,
broadcasting and information programs of the United States government, and certain intelligence
activities. The Chron File consists almost entirely of photocopies of Henze’s memos and letters.
The Evening Reports File also consists of photocopies, though often with Brzezinski annotations.
Arranged chronologically.

Staff Material - Global Issues Files (NSA 28)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-63. Some material from this series was first opened on March
3, 1999. This series contains the files of Jessica Tuchman Mathews, Leslie Denend, Lincoln
Bloomfield, and Gerald Oplinger. Major subjects include conventional and nuclear arms control,
arms sales, weapons of mass destruction, human rights, refugees, the United Nations, the

Records of the Office of the National Security Advisor
environment, and Law of the Sea negotiations. Individual staff member files are arranged
alphabetically by subject and chronologically there under.

Staff Material - International Economics Files (NSA 29)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-49. This series is unprocessed as of July 2018; containers were
created as of July 1, 2003. This series contain a cluster of files that include a Subject File
arranged alphabetically; Tim Deal and Guy Erb Files arranged alphabetically by subject; and a
Rutherford Poats Chron File. Economic summit meetings are located under the Special Projects
series.

Staff Material - Science and Technology Files (NSA 30)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-5. Some material of this series was first opened on September
30, 1996. Ben Huberman and John Marcum worked on the staff of the National Security Advisor
and served as liaison with the Office of Science and Technology Policy. A majority of the
documents are photocopies. Both Huberman and Marcum are represented by subject files
arranged alphabetically by subject and chronologically there under and a chron files arranged
chronologically.

Staff Material - Defense/Security Files (NSA 31)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-223. This series is largely unprocessed as of July 2018;
containers were created as of July 1, 2003.This series contains a grouping of files that are
arranged alphabetically by subject under the names of various employees: Fritz Ermarth, Sydell
Gold, Samuel Huntington, Roger Molander, Horace Russell, Chris Shoemaker, Charles Stebbins,
James Thomson, Victor Utgoff, and Jasper Welch.

Staff Material - President's Intelligence Oversight Board Files (NSA 32)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-3. This series is unprocessed as of July 2018; containers were
created as of July 1, 2003.This series contains correspondence, reports, and briefing books for
Intelligence Oversight Board meetings. Meetings and reports are filed separately and arranged
chronologically there under. (The Intelligence Oversight Board was not supervised by the
National Security Advisor or by anyone on his staff. Nor were these files actually part of the
National Security Advisor's files. They did come to the Carter Library as part of the donation of
President Jimmy Carter and are placed here as part of the National Security Advisor's file for the
convenience of researchers.)

Records of the Office of the National Security Advisor