National Security Adviser. Trip Briefing Books and Cables of Henry Kissinger, 1974-76

The White House Situation Room: Noon and Evening Notes is one of many sub-collections that comprise the National Security Adviser Files.

Most of the files in this collection are for foreign trips, but files for travel to speaking engagements in the United States, consultations at the United Nations, and vacations are also included.  The materials relate to much more than each individual trip or country visited.  A researcher will find information about almost any international or domestic event concerning foreign policy or national security that occurred while Secretary Kissinger was traveling.  The subject content ranges from highly substantive foreign policy issues and crises to routine matters such as appointment schedules and travel logistics.  U.S.-Soviet relations, arms control negotiations, the Middle East, the civil war in Lebanon, U.S. participation in the United Nations and North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Africa (especially Southern Africa), international economic issues, Executive-Congressional relations, legislation, and the 1976 presidential campaign illustrate the range of topics covered in this collection.  Information on these topics is not concentrated and readily identifiable as it is in a subject file, but is included in the cable traffic as described below and in briefing books.

This collection, especially in the cable traffic, provides a valuable addition to the Library’s materials relating to U.S. policy concerning the processes to bring about majority rule in Rhodesia (now known as Zimbabwe), gain independence for Namibia, and end apartheid in South Africa.  Materials concerning Southern Africa are available in many trip files, but are especially concentrated in the files of the April 1976 trip to Africa, June 1976 trip to Europe and Puerto Rico, and December 1976 trip to Brussels and London.  In addition to the normal diplomatic cable traffic, the files include materials relating to Secretary Kissinger’s African policy speech given in Lusaka, Zambia, on April 27, 1976, and a briefing book for his meeting with South African Prime Minister Vorster in June 1976.

In addition to the Lusaka speech, cable traffic folders contain drafts and final texts for several other major speeches given by Secretary Kissinger.  These include various speeches defending Ford administration foreign policy; speeches presented at the World Food Conference, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Conference on International Economic Cooperation, and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development; and the Alastair Buchan Memorial Lecture given in London.  Materials relating to foreign policy speeches and the 1975 West Point commencement address given by President Ford are also available.

Cable traffic between Kissinger and the White House is in folders titled “HAKTO” and “TOHAK.”  The majority of the cables are addressed to/from Brent Scowcroft.  “HAKTO” communications include Kissinger’s detailed and candid reports of his meetings with foreign leaders.  The reports were cabled to Brent Scowcroft who had them typed in memo format for the President.  The President initialed and returned the reports to Scowcroft after he had read them, and they were filed as “HAK Messages for the President.”  “HAKTO” messages also conveyed general information on the progress of the trip, requested information as needed during the trip, and transmitted guidance and instructions for Scowcroft and National Security Council staff.  “TOHAK” messages often include an edited typed copy and a copy as sent from the White House Situation Room.  They informed Secretary Kissinger of the President’s and Scowcroft’s  daily activities, updated him on issues the NSC/WH staff were dealing with,  reported on media coverage of the Secretary’s trip, summarized newspaper reporting on current events, and forwarded sensitive intelligence reports received in the Situation Room.  Subject content of these messages is as described in the introductory paragraphs.

“SECTO” and “TOSEC’ folders contain telegrams to/from the travel party with State Department officials in Washington and foreign service officers stationed at various embassies.  The files include telegrams predating the trip which concern planning and arrangements as well as the cable traffic during the trip.  In addition to normal diplomatic cable traffic and the international and domestic issues as described above, the telegrams also concern administrative matters concerning the State Department and its personnel.

Briefing Books are available for the October-November 1974 trip to Europe, South Asia, and the Middle East (also a Briefing Memorandum in Support of the Secretary’s Trip to South Asia); October 1975 trip to China; January 1976 trip to Moscow, Brussels, and Madrid; June 1976 trip to Europe and the Economic Summit Meeting in Puerto Rico; and the December 1976 NATO meetings in Brussels.  A Briefing Memorandum in Support of the Secretary’s Trip to Europe (May 1975) is also available.  Additional briefing material and background information is sometimes incorporated in TOHAK and TOSEC cables.

Some trip files include a “Security Conditions” folder with an analysis of potential risks to Kissinger’s personal safety in the countries to be visited.  The files contain a “Summary of Developments in Your Absence” folder for trips while Secretary Kissinger was also the National Security Adviser.  This was a summary of developments in the various geographic regions prepared by NSC staff members for Kissinger to read upon his return to Washington.

Related Materials (February 2011)
Two closely related collections are Trip Briefing Books and Cables for President Ford and Trip Briefing Books and Cables for Brent Scowcroft.  Related materials are also available in many other collections, especially those received from the office of the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs.  Researchers can locate relevant materials via PRESNET search reports, which are provided upon request.  New information is entered into the PRESNET database as collections become available for research.  Researchers are encouraged to consult the Ford Library website for announcements of collection openings and to view online collections and documents.