Ronald Reagan Cold War Ending CIA Files

Description

Reagan, the Cold War, and CIA Intelligence

Timeline of Main Events

This timeline focuses on key events and topics covered within the described collection of CIA files and related documents provided to President Reagan regarding the Soviet Union and the Cold War.

• Pre-January 1981: CIA briefings of President-elect Reagan and his staff on the Soviet Union and Cold War issues.
• July 17, 1981: Issuance of an Interagency Memo on the discussion of U.S. intelligence needs concerning Soviet Ballistic Missile Defense, with a tasking memo from Richard Allen. This indicates early focus on Soviet military capabilities.
• November 16, 1981: Issuance of National Security Decision Directive Number 15, titled “Theater Nuclear Forces,” suggesting policy decisions regarding nuclear strategy in Europe.
• April 1, 1982: Issuance of a NIC Memo titled “The Soviet Bloc Financial Problem as a Source of Western Influence,” highlighting concerns and potential leverage points related to the Soviet economy. Also, a DI Intelligence Assessment on “The Soviet Political Succession: Institutions, People, and Policies” is produced, indicating ongoing analysis of Soviet leadership dynamics.
• April 3, 1982: A letter from William J. Casey to President Reagan regarding Soviet Political Succession, underscoring the importance of this issue for the administration.
• April 21, 1982: Minutes from a National Security Council Meeting on Strategic Arms Reductions Talks (START), signifying high-level discussions on arms control negotiations with the Soviet Union.
• May 1, 1982: Release of a DI Research Paper, “Soviet Economic ‘Reform’ Decrees: More Steps on the Treadmill,” suggesting skepticism about the effectiveness of Soviet economic reforms.
• May 5, 1982: Tasking memo from DCI Casey to the Deputy Director for Intelligence on the policy implications of Soviet succession, further emphasizing the administration’s focus on this topic.
• June 25, 1982: Issuance of a Special National Intelligence Estimate on “Soviet Policies and Activities in Latin America and the Caribbean,” reflecting concerns about Soviet influence in the Western Hemisphere.
• July 26, 1982: An Internal NIC Memo titled “The Soviet Challenge to US Security Interests,” indicating a broad assessment of the ongoing competition between the US and the Soviet Union.
• August 1, 1982: Release of a DI Intelligence Assessment, “Depressed Trajectories: Unlikely Role for Soviet SLBMs,” focusing on specific aspects of Soviet military technology and strategy.
• October 13, 1982: Issuance of a National Intelligence Estimate on “Soviet Ballistic Missile Defense, Key Judgments and Summary,” demonstrating continued attention to Soviet strategic defense capabilities.
• May 27, 1983: Release of a DI Memo, “Soviet Use of Economic Relations for Political Purposes,” with cover notes, indicating analysis of Soviet economic statecraft.
• September 12, 1983: Issuance of a NIC Interagency Intelligence Assessment on “Possible Soviet Responses to the US Strategic Defense Initiative,” highlighting early analysis of the potential Soviet reaction to Reagan’s SDI proposal.
• November 24, 1987: A Memo by DDCI Gates, “Gorbachev’s Gameplan: The Long View,” suggesting an assessment of Mikhail Gorbachev’s long-term strategies and intentions.
• December 1, 1987: Release of a DI Research Paper, “The Chernobyl Accident: Social and Political Implications,” indicating analysis of the impact of the Chernobyl disaster on Soviet society and politics.
• May 21, 1988: An NSC Memo to President Reagan from Colin Powell regarding a “Background Film for your Moscow Summit Trip,” suggesting preparations and informational materials for a high-level summit meeting with Soviet leadership.
• 1980-1989 (General Coverage): The collection broadly covers high-level arms control summits between Reagan and Gorbachev, Soviet attempts to revamp their failing economic system, and evidence of widening fissures within Soviet society.

Cast of Characters

This list includes the principal people mentioned in the description of the CIA files and their likely roles based on the context.

• Ronald Reagan: The 40th President of the United States (1981-1989). The CIA files primarily cover information provided to him regarding the Soviet Union and the Cold War, informing his policies and decisions.
• Mikhail Gorbachev: Soviet leader who came to power in 1985. The files document his attempts to reform the Soviet economic and political systems (“perestroika” and “glasnost”) and his engagement in arms control negotiations with President Reagan.
• Richard Allen: Served as President Reagan’s first National Security Advisor (1981-1982). He is mentioned in connection with a tasking memo on Soviet Ballistic Missile Defense, indicating his early involvement in national security issues.
• William J. Casey: Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) under President Reagan (1981-1987). Several documents mention him directly tasking intelligence assessments and writing to the President on key issues like Soviet political succession, highlighting his role in shaping intelligence priorities and providing analysis to the President.
• Colin Powell: Served in various national security roles during the Reagan administration, including as Deputy National Security Advisor (1987-1989). His memo regarding a background film for the Moscow Summit Trip suggests his involvement in preparing the President for high-level meetings with Soviet leadership.
• Robert Gates: Served as Deputy Director of Central Intelligence (DDCI) under President Reagan (1986-1989). His memo on “Gorbachev’s Gameplan” indicates his role in providing high-level analysis of Soviet leadership and strategy.

Ronald Reagan Cold War Ending CIA Files

2,890 pages of CIA files covering CIA information provided to Ronald Reagan between 1980 and 1989, related to the Soviet Union and the Cold War.

The document collection featured in theis colledction includes intelligence assessments, National Intelligence Estimates, high-level memos, DCI talking points, CIA finished intelligence reports and other reporting. Also included are non-CIA documents from the archives of the Reagan Library, including minutes from relevant National Security Council and National Security Planning Group meetings on key US-Soviet issues, as well as copies of key National Security Decision Directives (NSDDs).

The document coverage includes high-level arms control summits between former US President Reagan and former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, Soviet attempts to revamp an increasingly inefficient and failing economic system, and evidence of widening fissures in a Soviet society which was becoming increasingly difficult for Communist Party leaders to control.

Highlights within the documents include:

Documents on CIA briefings of President-elect Reagan and his staff in the months before Reagan took office.

A July 17, 1981 Interagency Memo on Discussion of U.S. Intelligence Needs on Soviet Ballistic Missile Defense, with tasking memo from Richard Allen.

A November 16, 1981 National Security Decision Directive Number 15 titled, Theater Nuclear Forces.

An April 1, 1982 NIC Memo titled. “The Soviet Bloc Financial Problem as a Source of Western Influence,” with cover memo to the Director of Center Intelligence from NIC Chairman.

An April 1, 1982 DI Intelligence Assessment, the Soviet Political Succession: Institutions, People, and Policies.

An April 21, 1982 meeting minutes of a National Security Council Meeting on Strategic Arms Reductions Talks.

An April 3, 1982 Letter to the President from William J. Casey regarding Soviet Political Succession.

A May 1, 1982 DI Research Paper, Soviet Economic “Reform” Decrees: More Steps on the Treadmill.

A May 5, 1982 Tasking memo from DCI Casey to Deputy Director for Intelligence on Policy Implications of Soviet Succession.

A June 25, 1982 Special National Intelligence Estimate, Soviet Policies and Activities in Latin America and the Caribbean.

An Internal NIC Memo dated July 26, 1982, The Soviet Challenge to US Security Interests.

A DI Intelligence Assessment dated August 1, 1982, Depressed Trajectories: Unlikely Role for Soviet SLBMs.

A National Intelligence Estimate dated October 13, 1982, Soviet Ballistic Missile Defense, Key Judgments and Summary.

A May 27, 1983 DI Memo, with two cover notes, titled Soviet Use of Economic Relations for Political Purposes.

A September 12, 1983 NIC Interagency Intelligence Assessment, Possible Soviet Responses to the US Strategic Defense Initiative.

A November 24, 1987 Memo by DDCI Gates, Gorbachev’s Gameplan: The Long View.

DI Research Paper, December 1, 1987, The Chernobyl Accident: Social and Political Implications.

NSC Memo to President Reagan from Colin Powell, dated May 21, 1988, regarding Background Film for your Moscow Summit Trip.