NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR. OUTSIDE THE SYSTEM CHRONOLOGICAL FILE, 1974-77

The Outside the System Chronological File is one of many sub-collections that comprise the National Security Adviser Files.

When National Archives staff received this collection at the end of the Ford administration, the boxes were labeled “Outside the System.” The exact office of origin is uncertain.

The collection consists almost entirely of photocopies, with occasional carbon and ribbon copies, of items that were not included in the regular National Security Council (NSC) computer control number system. Some items were not entered into the system because they were considered either highly sensitive or very routine in nature. They were often marked “OS,” “Outside the System,” or “Completely Outside the System.” “Completely Outside the System” appears to have been used for the most sensitive materials. In some cases the documents were time sensitive and were marked “Urgent Action,” “Urgent Staffing,” or “Urgent Information.” Originals or photocopies of many of these documents can be found in other National Security Adviser collections.

Scope and Content of the Materials

The collection contains memoranda, briefing papers, reports, correspondence, notes, and messages. These items are usually from the NSC staff to National Security Advisers Henry Kissinger and Brent Scowcroft, and from Kissinger and Scowcroft to the President. Supplemental materials from the Departments of State and Defense and Central Intelligence Agency are often included with NSC items. Researchers will not find a concentration of material on a given topic, but rather individual documents of high importance. Major topics include arms control negotiations, nuclear test ban negotiations, arms sales, military assistance for Israel, the Middle East peace process, reorganization of the intelligence community, Angola, Cuba, and the Soviet Union. Items concerning the Nixon-Ford transition and worldwide reaction to President Ford’s assumption of office are available, as well as briefing materials prepared for Donald Rumsfeld for his confirmation hearings as Secretary of Defense. Other materials relate to personnel matters and administration and organization of the NSC.

The volume of material is uneven over the course of the Ford administration. There are several folders for some months, while others have only one. The folder for September 1975 was received empty.

Approximately 50 percent of this collection remains classified. These classified documents relate especially to arms control and nuclear test ban treaty negotiations, the Middle East, and intelligence matters, and most have been referred for further systematic declassification review via the Remote Archive Capture project. Researchers can request access to materials that remain closed through the mandatory declassification review process

Related Materials (June 2005)
Related materials are available in a number of other National Security Adviser collections. Subject access to materials in processed collections is provided through PRESNET search reports. As collections are processed, the information is entered into the PRESNET database. Researchers can consult the Ford Library website for announcements of collection openings.