Foreign Relations of the United States, 1917–1972, Volume VIII, Public Diplomacy, 1969-1972

80. Memorandum From the Senior Military Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (Haig) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)¹

Washington, April 8, 1970

SUBJECT

• USIA Polls

At Tab A is the memorandum you sent to the President in response to his directive that USIA polls abroad be eliminated. You informed the President that you would discuss the consequences of phasing out USIA polling in Vietnam and elsewhere abroad in a manner that would avoid drawing attention to their cessation. The President’s notation indicated that he wanted you to proceed with the phase-out since the polls “serve no useful purpose.”

At Tab B is a memorandum from you to Shakespeare which would implement the President’s directive.

I believe that USIA should have a full hearing before the President’s directive is implemented since I am sure that a good case could be made for the value of these polls. As you know, the President is not particularly happy with the pollsters at the present moment. Rather than send a directive on this subject it would be preferable to meet with Shakespeare and discuss means by which the implementation can best be handled. As an initial step, I suggest that you ask Shakespeare to prepare a carefully reasoned rebuttal and to develop procedures which would better preserve the secrecy of the results of the polls. In the interim, Shakespeare should reduce the frequency of polls being taken, particularly in Vietnam.

RECOMMENDATION

That you not send a written directive to Shakespeare, but rather discuss with him the means by which the President’s order can be temporized.²

Tab A

Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon³

Washington, March 27, 1970

SUBJECT

• USIA Polls in Vietnam

1. In the News Summary of 20th March,⁴ you took note of a report that Shakespeare had denied Fulbright the USIA Vietnam polls.⁵ The incident cited was a refusal of a USIA witness to give over the polls. The witness said he must refer the request to his Director. Shakespeare has consulted with us, and we have advised him to respond to Fulbright in the following way:

—The survey data should be given to Fulbright because refusal would only magnify their impact—they would be leaked anyway.

—The data must remain classified.

—An unclassified letter of transmittal from USIA to Fulbright should be drafted to emphasize that to declassify or leak the polls would constitute an attempt seriously to distort, since they would be interpreted as being similar in accuracy to American polls. They, of course, are not—being designed instead to serve a particular operational need . . . etc., etc. It should be drafted in a manner to settle blame squarely on Fulbright if the polls are leaked.

—When the polls are leaked, the USIA-Fulbright letter should be released to the Press with a special news conference.⁶

2. I shall consult with Frank Shakespeare to examine the consequences of phasing out USIA polling in Vietnam and elsewhere abroad in a manner that would avoid drawing attention to their cessation.⁷

Tab B

Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to the Director of the United States Information Agency (Shakespeare)⁸

Washington, undated

SUBJECT

• USIA Polls Abroad

The President has requested that a report be prepared on the value of USIA polling abroad to the conduct of U.S. foreign policy. The report should examine the risks of misinterpretation and public disclosure of the results, as well as the consequences of not having the type of information which the polls provide. The report should also consider procedures which could be adopted to maintain greater security for the findings of the polls.

In the interim, the President has directed that the frequency of USIA polling be decreased, particularly in Vietnam, and that a plan be developed for a possible eventual phase-out of all USIA polling activity. The plan should include a description of the best manner for effecting a phase-out without drawing attention to cessation of polling.

Henry A. Kissinger⁹

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 294, Agency Files, USIA—Vol. II—1970 [27 Feb–Dec 14, 1970] [2 of 2]. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Attached as Tab A to a May 22 memorandum from Kennedy to Kissinger, in which Kennedy highlighted issues for Kissinger to discuss at a May 22 breakfast with Shakespeare. (Ibid.) Tab B of the May 22 memorandum, a March 23 memorandum from Shakespeare to Kissinger, is attached as Tab C to a May 21 memorandum from Kennedy and Rodman to Kissinger, printed as Document 86.
2. Kissinger initialed the “Disapprove” line. Below it, he wrote: “I think they should go. I’ll see Shakespeare but Pres is right.”
3. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. The President wrote “ok” in the top right-hand corner of the memorandum.
4. Not found.
5. During a March 19 hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Nickel indicated that he was acting under instructions from Shakespeare not to provide the committee with the polling information. Fulbright asserted that by refusing to answer, Nickels was taking the Fifth Amendment. (“USIA Withholds Poll Data,” Washington Post, March 20, 1970, p. A16)
6. On April 23, during the daily proceedings of the Senate, Fulbright asked to enter into the Congressional Record his correspondence with Shakespeare regarding the polling data, including an April 6 letter from Shakespeare to Fulbright, under which Shakespeare transmitted “classified copies of the surveys conducted in Viet-Nam from 1965 to 1970.” (Congressional Record, vol. 116, Part 10 (April 23–May 4, 1970), pp. 12752–12753)
7. The President wrote “ok” below this sentence and drew an upward facing arrow to the word “avoid.” He added, “But phase them out. They serve no useful purpose.”
8. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only
9. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.