National Security Policy, 1969-1972This volume documents U.S. national security policy in the context of the Vietnam War and the changing Cold War strategic balance between the United States and the Soviet Union. When President Richard Nixon assumed office in January 1969, he was confronted with the fact that the United States no longer held commanding military superiority over its superpower rival. Since the end of his stint as Vice President in 1961, the Soviets had achieved a rough strategic parity that left the United States with "significant vulnerabilities" vis-à-vis the USSR. This work documents the Nixon administration's efforts to grapple with this new strategic situation and provides coverage of the following: The administration's review of U.S. nuclear and general purpose forces and strategic doctri≠ its attempts to ascertain the level of technological sophistication achieved by the Soviet missile program; and its decision to deploy Safeguard, a modified anti-ballistic missile system. The page contained in this volume also examines chemical and biological weapons policy; U.S. nuclear policy in Asia; the evolution of the administration's strategic priorities in light of an ever-shrinking defense budget; and the transition from military conscription to an all-volunteer armed force. Additionally, it provides previously unreleased material regarding the October 1969 Joint Chiefs of Staff Readiness Test, in which Nixon secretly placed on alert portions of the United States military, including its nuclear forces. Throughout this comprehensive and historical volume, a consistent theme is the relationship between military strength and diplomatic strength; in particular, the importance of military might--real or perceived--to the United States' ability to maintain credibility in the eyes of allies and adversaries alike. |
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air defense aircraft allies alternative area defense attack billion biological warfare bombers capability chemical China Chinese cost David Packard decision defense budget Department of Defense deploy deployment deterrent discussion Document draft Europe Footnote Helms Ibid ICBM improve increase Institutional Files H-Files Intelligence issues Joint Chiefs Kissinger Korea limited line not declassified memorandum military Minuteman MIRV Moorer National Archives National Security NATO Nixon Presidential Materials North Vietnam NSC Files NSC Institutional Files NSC meeting NSDM NSSM nuclear war nuclear weapons options Packard paper posture President problem protection purpose forces radar reduce Safeguard Safeguard program SALT Secretary of Defense silos SLBM Southeast Asia Soviet Union strategic forces strategic nuclear submarines tactical nuclear talks targets testing threat tion Top Secret toxins Tucker U.S. strategic United USSR Vietnam warheads Warsaw Pact Washington Wheeler White House