Records of the Office of the National Security Advisor

504 Pages·2015·2.91 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 Advisor

Title: Records of the Office of the National Security Advisor

Dates: 1977-1981

Quantity: 775 linear feet (various folder titles 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 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 located
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).

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.
NOTICE: Many documents from these series can be searched on-site at the Library via the
CREST (CIA Records Search Tool), which is a keyword-searchable computer system of
digitized documents predominantly from the NSA series that were previously withdrawn for
national security concerns and have since been scanned for the RAC (Remote Archives
Capture) project and are now released-in-full or released-in-part.

Records of the Office of the National Security Advisor 2
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], [Folder Title],
[Box Number], Jimmy Carter Presidential Library.

Preferred citation for material accessed via the 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 was opened in 1996. Subsequent
series in the collection were opened in 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2003. The open dates are
indicated in the series descriptions. Processing continues as individual documents are
opened via processes such as Mandatory Declassification Review and the Remote
Archives Capture Project.

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 3
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) 560157
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 4
Detailed Description of the Collection

* Closed folders are designated in RED; Open folders are designated in BLACK

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. This series was 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. This series was 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. This series was 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. This series was opened 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.

Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Agency Files (NSA 8)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-23. This series was opened on March 13, 1996. This series
contains briefing books, correspondence, and reports concerning various federal government
Records of the Office of the National Security Advisor 5
agencies and international organizations. Some the 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 there under.

Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Name Files (NSA 9)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-4. This series was 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.

Return to series list

Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Staff Evening Reports Files (NSA 10)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-33. This series was 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. This series was 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.

Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Schecter/Friendly (Press) Files (NSA 13)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-18. This series was 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 the press guidance and functions of
the security agencies, served as liaison between the press and Brzezinski and the 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
Records of the Office of the National Security Advisor 6
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. This series was 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.

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Zbigniew Brzezinski Material - Office Files (NSA 15)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-127. 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. This series was 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. Sub-series arranged chronologically 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). This series was
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 are arranged by
meeting type and chronologically there under. 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 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 was opened on 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.
Records of the Office of the National Security Advisor 7
Staff Material - Special Projects Files (NSA 19)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-64. This series was opened on 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 was opened on 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

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Staff Material - Freedom of Information/Legal Files (NSA 21)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-96. This series was opened on 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. This series was 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 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). 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
Records of the Office of the National Security Advisor 8
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. This series was 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.

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Staff Material - Far East Files (NSA 26)
Scope and Content: Containers 1-72. This series was 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. This series was 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 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 was opened on July 1, 2003. This series contain
a cluster of files that include a Subject File arranged alphabetically; Tim Deal and Guy Erb Files
Records of the Office of the National Security Advisor 9
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. This series was 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 was opened on 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 was opened on March 13, 1996. 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.)

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Records of the Office of the National Security Advisor 10