Stalemate: January 1, 1980–January 20, 1981


386. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, Brzezinski Donated Material, Subject File, Box 37, Serial Xs—(5/80–6/80). Secret; Sensitive. Sent for action. The date is handwritten. Carter initialed “C” in the upper right-hand corner of the memorandum, indicating that he saw the document.


387. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Carter Library, Brzezinski Donated Material, Subject File, Box 37, Serial Xs—(5/80–6/80). Secret. The meeting took place in the Cabinet Room.


388. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassies in Israel and Egypt

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East, Trips/Visits File, Box 119, 7/2/80 Visit of Interior Minister Burg of Israel and Foreign Minister Ali of Egypt: 6–7/80. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Sent for information Immediate to the White House. Printed from a copy that indicates the original was received in the White House Situation Room. Drafted by Wat T. Cluverius (S/SN); cleared by Hunter, Sterner, Walker (S/SN), and Robert S. Steven (S/S–O); approved by Linowitz. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P880143–1255)


389. Memorandum From Robert Hunter, Gary Sick, William Odom, and Fritz Ermarth of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East, Chron File, Box 128, Hunter: 7/16–24/80. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information.


390. Presidential Determination No. 80–23

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 50, Presidential Determinations: 6–9/80. No classification marking.


391. Briefing Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Saunders) to Secretary of State Muskie

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East, Subject File, Box 51, Israel: 7/80. Secret. The memorandum was attached to a July 23 memorandum from Hunter to Brzezinski, describing it as a “bootleg” copy.


392. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P880143–1203. Confidential; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by J.L. Hirsch (NEA/IAI); cleared by Sterner, Saunders, and Jane E. Becker (S/S–O); approved by Muskie. Sent for information Immediate to Cairo and the White House.


393. Memorandum From Robert Hunter of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)

Source: Carter Library, Brzezinski Donated Material, Subject File, Box 37, Serial Xs—(7/80–9/80). Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. Brzezinski wrote in the upper right-hand corner of the memorandum: “These are good p[oin]ts. Try them out on Hal S.” At the bottom of the memorandum, an unknown hand wrote: “Hunter given c[op]y 7/31.”


395. Memorandum From Secretary of Defense Brown to Secretary of State Muskie

Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files, FRC 330–82–0217B, Egypt (May–July) 1980. Secret. A copy of the memorandum was sent to Brzezinski.


396. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Egypt

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P900086–2303. Secret; Cherokee; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Sterner; cleared by Saunders, Linowitz, Hunter, and Jane E. Taylor (S/S–O); approved by Newsom.


398. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East, Subject File, Box 5, Autonomy Talks: 8/80. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for action. Carter wrote “Zbig. J” in the upper right-hand corner of the memorandum.


400. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P880142–1034. Secret; Niact Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Korn; cleared by Hunter, Newlin, Constable, W. Scott Butcher (S/S–O), and Raymond G. Seitz (S/S–O); approved by Christopher. A draft version of Muskie’s oral message is in the Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 37, Israel: 8/15–31/80. Lewis delivered the text of the message to Begin over the telephone on August 24. (Telegram 15711 from Tel Aviv, August 24; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P880142–1027)


401. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs, Assistant Secretary’s Files—1973–1983, Miscellaneous Middle East Documents, Lot 83D340, Box 1, 1980 Memcons—Secretary. Secret; Nodis. The meeting took place in Muskie’s office at the Department of State. Drafted by Korn on August 28; cleared by Christopher.


402. Summary of a Telephone Conversation Among the President’s Special Representative for Middle East Peace Negotiations (Linowitz), Vice President Mondale, and President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East, Trips/Visits File, Box 119, 8/29/80–9/5/80 Linowitz Trip to Middle East: 8–9/80. Secret; Sensitive. Carter and Mondale were in the Oval Office; Linowitz was in Cairo.


403. Summary of a Telephone Conversation Between President Carter and Israeli Prime Minister Begin

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office, Presidential Advisory Board, Box 79, Sensitive X: 9/80. Secret; Sensitive. Carter was in the Oval Office. Carter wrote, “OK. J.” in the upper right-hand corner of the summary. The summary was attached to a September 4 covering memorandum from Sick to Brzezinski. A handwritten note from Denend to Brzezinski on the covering memorandum reads: “Gary reports that within an hour of this conversation Begin made a public statement to the effect that he had been invited to meet with President Carter after the US election.” A separate handwritten note on the covering memorandum, in an unknown hand, states that Brzezinski hand carried the summary to Carter on September 5.


404. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Washington National Record Center, OSD Files, FRC 330–82–0217B, Israel 1980 (August). Secret. Drafted by Pelletreau; cleared by Smith on September 24. The meeting took place in the Secretary’s Conference Room in the Pentagon. An undated addenda to the conversation, drafted by Pelletreau, reads: “In reply to Foreign Minister Shamir’s request for closer US-Israeli strategic cooperation in Southwest Asia, Dr. Brown stated that before discussing these possibilities, it would be necessary to look at Israeli capacities. These talks were ready to proceed but it was important that they not be scenario-oriented. After the U.S. had looked at the capacity of Israeli air bases to accept U.S. forces, and after we had a better idea of what would happen if the Soviets became involved, we could consider looking beyond. Meanwhile Dr. Brown reaffirmed, the U.S. was ready to continue its strategic dialogue with Israel.” (Ibid.)


405. Telegram From the Department of State to Multiple Posts

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East, Subject File, Box 89, Syria: 8–11/80. Secret; Immediate; Special Encryption; Nodis. Sent to Amman, Damascus, Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, Jidda, and Tel Aviv. Sent for information Immediate to London, Paris, Rome, Bonn, and the White House. Printed from a copy that indicates the original was received in the White House Situation Room. Drafted by Jim Collins (NEA/ARN); cleared by W. Nathanial Howell (NEA/ARN), Draper, George Q. Lumsden (NEA/ARP), Kirby, Sick, Joseph V. Montville (INR/NESA), and in NEA/EGY and CIA; approved by Draper. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P870143–0750) Sick wrote in the upper right-hand corner of the telegram: “Syria: OK. (ZB “reluctantly” cleared—see ER item) ¶ 2 added at my request.” Brzezinski indicated his approval of the telegram on a September 11 action memorandum sent to him from Hunter, adding a handwritten note: “reluctantly. I still wonder if needed.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East, Subject File, Box 89, Syria: 8–11/80)


406. Memorandum From the President’s Special Representative for Economic Summits (Owen) to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Country Chron File, Box 22, Israel: 5–11/80. Secret. A typewritten notation in the upper right-hand corner of the memorandum reads: “Last Day for Decision: Monday Oct 6, 80.” Below this notation, Carter wrote: “I’ll meet if necessary. J.” Attached to the memorandum is an October 7 note from Poats to NSC/S, stating that a contingency meeting with Carter has been arranged for the morning of October 8. (Ibid.)


407. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office, Presidential Advisory Board, Box 86, Sensitive XX: 10/1–15/80. Secret. The meeting took place in the Cabinet Room.


408. Telegram From the Department of State to Multiple Posts

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800490–0218. Confidential; Priority. Sent to Athens, Bonn, Brussels, Dublin, London, Luxembourg, Paris, Rome, The Hague, and Copenhagen. Drafted by J.H. Madden (EUR/RPE/EEC); cleared by Robert M. Beaudry (EUR/RPE) and Sterner; approved by Vest. Sent for information to Cairo, Tel Aviv, New York, Amman, Jidda, Jerusalem, and Damascus.


409. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassies in Israel and Egypt

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Cables File, State Department Out, Box 120, 10/15–21/80. Secret; Sensitive; Immediate; Nodis. Sent for information Immediate to Amman, Jerusalem, and the White House. Printed from a copy that indicates the original was received in the White House Situation Room. Drafted by Walker; cleared by Sterner and Jane E. Taylor (S/S–O); approved by Linowitz. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P880140–0373)


410. Record of Meeting Between Israeli Prime Minister Begin and President Carter

Source: Carter Library, Plains File, President’s Personal Foreign Affairs File, Box 2, Israel, 4/79–11/81. No classification marking. According to the President’s Daily Diary, Carter met with Begin in the Oval Office from 11:05 to 11:40 a.m. (Carter Library, Presidential Materials)


411. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Carter Library, Brzezinski Donated Material, Subject File, Box 37, Serial Xs—(10/80–12/80). Secret. The meeting took place in the Cabinet Room. Carter’s handwritten notes related to this meeting are in the Carter Library, Plains File, President’s Personal Foreign Affairs File, Box 2, Israel, 4/79–11/81.


412. Memorandum From William E. Odom of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office, Presidential Advisory Board, Box 86, Sensitive XX: 11–12/80. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for action. Brzezinski wrote “OK. ZB” in the upper right-hand corner of the memorandum.


413. Letter From the President’s Special Representative for Middle East Peace Negotiations (Linowitz) to President Carter

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Linowitz Papers, Box CL2, Government Service, Middle East, Reports to the President 1979–1981. No classification marking.