National Security Adviser.
Trip Briefing Books and Cables of Henry Kissinger, 1974-76
Collection Finding Aid
This rich collection has two distinct facets. The first relates directly to Kissinger’s trips, including briefing materials for meetings with foreign leaders and reports to the President on those meetings. The second relates to cable traffic, on myriad foreign affairs topics, exchanged during the trip between Kissinger and his travel staff on one hand, and State Department and White House officials on the other hand.
QUANTITY
18.4 linear feet (ca. 36,800 pages)
DONOR
Gerald R. Ford (accession number 77-118)
ACCESS
Open, but some materials continue to be national security classified and restricted. Access is governed by the donor’s deed of gift, a copy of which is available on request, and National Archives and Records Administration regulations (36 CFR 1256).
COPYRIGHT
Gerald R. Ford donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain.
Prepared by Helmi Raaska, February 2011
The White House Situation Room: Noon and Evening Notes is one of many sub-collections that comprise the National Security Adviser Files. The provenance of the Ford National Security Adviser Files and an explanation of the designations “Presidential” and “Institutional” are provided in Appendix A.
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.
Boxes 1-46 Kissinger Trip File, 1974-76. (18.4 linear feet)
Trip files consisting of briefing books and materials prepared for Henry Kissinger’s meetings with foreign leaders, and cable traffic to/from the Secretary and his travel staff with White House and State Department officials. Materials are primarily from foreign trips, but also include trips for speaking engagements in the United States, consultations at the United Nations, and vacation travel. Files contain substantive materials relating to U.S. relations with the countries visited as well as concurrent international and domestic issues impacting foreign policy and national security. Major topics include U.S.-Soviet relations, SALT negotiations, Middle East peace negotiations, Africa, Southeast Asia, China, Europe, NATO, arms transfers, international economic issues, trade, United Nations, and the developing countries. . Arranged chronologically by date of trip, and thereunder alphabetically by folder title. An exception to the alphabetical arrangement occurs with HAKTO/TOHAK and SECTO/TOSEC messages, which are filed consecutively, rather than in alphabetical sequence
Box 1 Kissinger Trip File
August 31 - September 4, 1974 - Caneel Bay, Virgin Islands
HAKTO
TOHAK
SECTO
TOSEC
Summary of Developments in Your Absence
September-October, 1974 - United Nations
General
September 23-24, 1974 - United Nations
TOHAK
September 30 - October 3, 1974 - United Nations
TOHAK (1)-(4)
October 8-13, 1974 - Middle East
General (1)-(3)
HAK Messages for the President
Box 2 Kissinger Trip File
October 8-13, 1974 - Middle East
HAKTO (1)-(2)
TOHAK (1)-(5)
Memorandum of Conversation with King Hussein of Jordan, 10/12/74
SECTO
TOSEC
Security Conditions
Summary of Developments in Your Absence
Box 3 Kissinger Trip File
October 20 - November 9, 1974 - Europe, South Asia, and Middle East
Briefing Book for Secretary’s Visit to the Middle East (1)-(4)
General (1)-(5)
HAK Messages for the President (1)-(2)
HAKTO (1)-(2)
Box 4 Kissinger Trip File
October 20 - November 9, 1974 - Europe, South Asia, and Middle East
HAKTO (3)-(5)
TOHAK (1)-(6)
Box 5 Kissinger Trip File
October 20 – November 9, 1974 – Europe, South Asia, and Middle East
TOHAK (7)-(17)
Box 6 Kissinger Trip File
October 20 – November 9, 1974 – Europe, South Asia, and Middle East
TOHAK (18)-(19)
Memorandum in Support of the Secretary’s Trip to South Asia (1-(4)
SECTO (1)-(3)
TOSEC
Summary of Developments in Your Absence
November 25-29, 1974 – People’s Republic of China
December 10-13, 1974 - Brussels
HAK Messages for the President
Box 7 Kissinger Trip File
December 10-13, 1974 - Brussels
TOHAK
SECTO
TOSEC
Talking Points for Briefing the President
December 26, 1974 - January 2, 1975 - Puerto Rico
General
HAKTO
TOHAK (1)-(2)
SECTO
TOSEC (1)-(2)
Summary of Developments in Your Absence
February 10-18, 1975 - Middle East and Europe
General - Europe (1)-(2)
General - Middle East (1)-(3)
HAK Messages for the President
HAKTO
TOHAK (1)
Box 8 Kissinger Trip File
February 10-18, 1975 - Middle East and Europe
TOHAK (2)-(7)
SECTO (1)-(4)
TOSEC (1)-(6)
Summary of Developments in Your Absence
Box 9 Kissinger Trip File
March 5-22, 1975 - London and Middle East
General - Europe
General - Middle East (1)-(2)
HAK Messages for the President
HAKTO (1)-(5)
TOHAK (1)-(3)
Box 10 Kissinger Trip File
March 5-22, 1975 – London and Middle East
TOHAK (4)-(12)
Box 11 Kissinger Trip File
March 5-22, 1975 - London and Middle East
TOHAK (13)
SECTO (1)-(2)
TOSEC
Security Conditions
Summary of Developments in Your Absence
April 4-7, 1975 - Palm Springs, California
General
HAKTO
TOHAK (1)-(5)
SECTO
TOSEC
April 1975 - Latin America (1) [trip cancelled]
Box 12 Kissinger Trip File
April 1975 – Latin America (2) [trip cancelled]
May 18-23, 1975 - Europe
Briefing Memorandum for Secretary
HAK Messages for the President
HAKTO
TOHAK (1)-(6)
Secretary – Statement and Speech
SECTO (1)-(2)
Box 13 Kissinger Trip File
May 18-23, 1975 - Europe
TOSEC (1)-(2)
State Department Telegrams - EXDIS
State Department Telegrams - NODIS
Summary of Developments in Your Absence
May 26 - June 3, 1975 - Europe
General
HAKTO
TOHAK (1)-(5)
Box 14 Kissinger Trip File
May 26 - June 3, 1975 - Europe
TOHAK (6)-(12)
SECTO (1)-(2)
TOSEC (1)-(2)
Summary of Developments in Your Absence
Box 15 Kissinger Trip File
June 27 - July 4, 1975 - Caneel Bay, Virgin Islands
HAKTO
TOHAK (1)-(4)
SECTO
TOSEC (1)-(5
Summary of Developments in Your Absence
Box 16 Kissinger Trip File
July 9-12, 1975 - Europe
General
HAKTO
TOHAK (1)-(2)
Secretary's Meeting with Gromyko (1)-(3)
SECTO (1)-(3)
TOSEC (1)-(6)
Box 17 Kissinger Trip File
July 9-12, 1975 – Europe
TOSEC (7)-(8)
Security Conditions
July 14-17, 1975 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
HAKTO
TOHAK
SECTO
TOSEC
August 20 - September 3, 1975 - Middle East
General
HAK Messages for the President
HAKTO (1)-(3)
TOHAK (1)-(3)
Box 18 Kissinger Trip File
August 20 – September 3, 1975 – Middle East
TOHAK (4)-(8)
Miscellaneous Cables - Alexandria (1)-(4)
Miscellaneous Cables - Amman
Miscellaneous Cables - Damascus
Miscellaneous Cables - Ed
Miscellaneous Cables - Jerusalem (1)
Box 19 Kissinger Trip File
August 20 - September 3, 1975 - Middle East
Miscellaneous Cables – Jerusalem (2)
Miscellaneous Cables - Jidda
Miscellaneous Cables - London
Miscellaneous Cables - Sana
Miscellaneous Cables – Tel Aviv
SECTO (1)-(7)
TOSEC (1)-(10)
Soviet Position on Sinai Agreements – Secretary’s Copy
Box 20 Kissinger Trip File
August 20 – September 3, 1975 – Middle East
State Department Cables
Summary of Developments in Your Absence
September 15-17, 1975 - Orlando, Florida and Cincinnati, Ohio
September 21-25, 1975 and September 28 - October 1, 1975 - United Nations
CIA LDX
HAK Messages for the President
HAKTO
TOHAK (9/21-25/75) (1)-(2)
TOHAK (9/28-10/1/75)
SECTO (1)-(2)
TOSEC (1)-(2)
October 14-15, 1975 - Ottawa
General
TOHAK
SECTO
TOSEC
Box 21 Kissinger Trip File
October 19-23, 1975 - People's Republic of China
Briefing Book for China - Bilateral Issues (1)
Briefing Book for China - Bilateral Issues (2)
Briefing Book for China - Third Country Issues (1)
Briefing Book for China - Third Country Issues (2)
Briefing Book for Tokyo Meetings (1)
Briefing Book for Tokyo Meetings (2)
Cables - Peking
Cables - Seoul
Cables - Taipei
Cables - Tokyo
HAK Messages for the President
HAKTO (1)
HAKTO (2)
TOHAK (1)
Box 22 Kissinger Trip File
October 19-23, 1975 – People’s Republic of China
TOHAK (2)
TOHAK (3)
TOHAK (4)
SECTO (1)
SECTO (2)
TOSEC (1)
TOSEC (2)
TOSEC (3)
TOSEC (4)
TOSEC (5)
Box 23 Kissinger Trip File
October 19-23, 1975 - People's Republic of China
TOSEC (6)
TOSEC (7)
TOSEC (8)
TOSEC (9)
TOSEC (10)
TOSEC (11)
TOSEC (12)
TOSEC (13)
October 30, 1975 - New York
TOHAK
TOSEC
November 3, 1975 - Jacksonville, Florida
HAKTO
Talking Points for the President
TOSCO
TOSEC
November 11-12, 1975 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
December 7-8, 1975 - Tokyo
HAKTO
Box 24 Kissinger Trip File
December 7-8, 1975 - Tokyo
TOHAK (1)-(2)
SECTO
TOSEC
December 10-17, 1975 - Europe (Brussels, London, Paris, Nuremberg)
General
HAKTO
TOHAK (1)-(3)
SECTO (1)-(7)
Box 25 Kissinger Trip File
December 10-17, 1975 - Europe (Brussels, London, Paris, Nuremberg)
TOSEC (1)-(11)
December 26, 1975 - Jamaica
HAKTO
TOHAK (1)
Box 26 Kissinger Trip File
December 26, 1975 - Jamaica
TOHAK (2)-(4)
SECTO
TOSEC (1)-(2)
January 20-25, 1976 - Moscow, Brussels, Madrid
Briefing Book - Brussels (1)-(5)
Briefing Book - Copenhagen
Briefing Book – Madrid
Box 27 Kissinger Trip File
January 20-25, 1976 – Moscow, Brussels, Madrid
Briefing Book - Moscow (1)-(4)
Briefing Book - Other Arms Control Issues (1)-(5)
General
HAK Messages for the President
HAKTO
Box 28 Kissinger Trip File
January 20-25, 1976 - Moscow, Brussels, Madrid
TOHAK (1)-(3)
SECTO (1)-(3)
TOSEC (1)-(5)
Box 29 Kissinger Trip File
January 20-25, 1976 – Moscow, Brussels, Madrid
TOSEC (6)-(9)
February 2-4, 1976 - West Coast
Briefing Book
HAKTO
TOHAK
SECTO (1)-(3)
TOSEC
February 7-15, 1976 – Boston, Massachusetts
TOHAK
Box 30 Kissinger Trip File
February 7-15, 1976 - Boston, Massachusetts
SECTO
TOSEC (1)-(2)
February 16-25, 1976 - Latin America
General (1)-(2)
HAK Messages for the President
HAKTO
TOHAK (1)-(3)
SECTO (1)-(4)
Box 31 Kissinger Trip File
February 16-25, 1976 - Latin America
TOSEC (1)-(8)
Security Conditions
February 27 - March 2, 1976 - Palm Springs, California
HAKTO
TOHAK
SECTO
TOSEC
March 23, 1976 - Dallas, Texas
HAK Speech
TOHAK
SECTO
TOSEC
Box 32 Kissinger Trip File
April 17-20, 1976 - Palm Springs, California
HAK Speech in Phoenix on April 16
HAKTO
TOHAK
Memorandum for General Scowcroft
TOSEC
April 23 – May, 1976 – Africa
HAK Messages for the President
HAKTO (1)-(2)
TOHAK (1)-(4)
Box 33 Kissinger Trip File
April 23 - May 7, 1976 - Africa
TOHAK (5)
Miscellaneous Cables (1)-(2)
SECTO (1)-(10)
TOSEC (1)
Box 34 Kissinger Trip File
April 23 - May 7, 1976 - Africa
TOSEC (2)-(15)
Box 35 Kissinger Trip File
April 23 - May 7, 1976 - Africa
TOSEC (16)-(18)
May 19-27, 1976 - Europe (Oslo, Bonn, Stockholm, Luxembourg)
General
HAK Messages for the President
HAKTO (1)-(2)
TOHAK (1)-(7)
Box 36 Kissinger Trip File
May 19-27, 1976 - Europe (Oslo, Bonn, Stockholm, Luxembourg)
SECTO (1)-(5)
TOSEC (1)-(8)
Security Conditions
June 5, 1976 – Latin America
TOHAK
June 6-13, 1976 - Latin America
General
HAK Messages for the President
Box 37 Kissinger Trip File
June 6-13, 1976 - Latin America
HAKTO
TOHAK (1)-(2)
SECTO (1)-(4)
TOSEC (1)-(4)
Box 38 Kissinger Trip File
June 6-13, 1976 – Latin America
TOSEC (5)-(7)
June 20-28, 1976 - Paris, Munich, London, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Briefing Book - HAK European Trip and Puerto Rico Summit
Briefing Book - HAK-Vorster Meeting (1)-(3)
General (1)-(2)
HAK Messages for the President
HAK Speech - Alastair Buchan Memorial Lecture, 6/25/76
HAKTO
TOHAK (1)
Box 39 Kissinger Trip File
June 20-28, 1976 - Paris, Munich, London, San Juan, Puerto Rico
TOHAK (2)
SECTO (1)-(3)
TOSEC (1)-(6)
July 21-25, 1976 - Seattle, Portland, Bohemian Grove, New Fame, Vermont
HAK Speech - Seattle
TOHAK
SECTO (1)-(2)
TOSEC
Box 40 Kissinger Trip File
August 4-11, 1976 - London, Tehran, Kabul, Islamabad, Deauville, The Hague
General
HAK Messages for the President
HAKTO
TOHAK (1)-(3)
SECTO (1)-(4)
TOSEC (1)-(5)
Box 41 Kissinger Trip File
August 4-11, 1976 – London, Tehran, Kabul, Islamabad, Deauville, The Hague
TOSEC (6)
September 3-7, 1976 - London, Zurich
General
HAK Messages for the President
HAKTO
TOHAK (1)-(2)
SECTO (1)-(2)
TOSEC (1)-(3)
September 13-24, 1976 - South Africa, London
General (1)-(3)
Box 42 Kissinger Trip File
September 13-24, 1976 – South Africa, London
General (4)-(8)
HAK Messages for the President
HAKTO (1)-(2)
TOHAK (1)-(8)
Box 43 Kissinger Trip File
September 13-24, 1976 - South Africa, London
SECTO (1)-(8)
TOSEC (1)-(8)
Box 44 Kissinger Trip File
September 13-24, 1976 - South Africa, London
TOSEC (9)-(15)
September 29-30, 1976 - USUN [United Nations]
TOHAK
SECTO (1)-(2)
TOSEC
October 6-9, 1976 - USUN [United Nations]
TOHAK
SECTO
TOSEC
November 23 - December 2, 1976 - Acapulco, Mexico City
General
HAKTO
TOHAK
Box 45 Kissinger Trip File
November 23 – December 2, 1976 – Acapulco, Mexico City
SECTO
TOSEC (1)-(4)
December 7-12, 1976 - Brussels, London
Briefing Book - NATO - Agenda (1)-(5)
Briefing Book - NATO - Background Papers (1)-(2)
Briefing Book - NATO - Bilaterals/Biographies (1)-(2)
Box 46 Kissinger Trip File
December 7-12, 1976 – Brussels, London
Briefing Book – NATO – Bilaterals/Biographies (3)-(5)
General
HAKTO
TOHAK
SECTO
TOSEC (1)-(3)
December 25, 1976 - January 2, 1977 - Acapulco, Mexico
HAKTO
TOHAK
TOSEC