Declassifiedreleased on 7389 under provisions of e. It is inescapably militant because it possesses and is. Consider that while nss 2002 is a public document, nsc68 was classified and hidden. The 58page memorandum is among the most influential documents composed by.
Department of states policy planning staff on april 7, 1950. Slantchev march 3, 2019 overview we study the eisenhower presidencies from the end of the korean war until 1960. In 1950, the national security council produced a 58page, topsecret report. Please also note how the truman doctrine in 1947 further facilitated the basic goals of the document as well as the european recovery program erp. In the new postwar world, the report argued, the united states could no longer retreat toward isolationism without encouraging the aggressive expansion of communism across the globe. Providing a critical rereading of nsc 68, youngs article first revisits the origins of nsc 68. Confidential confidential 2 table of contents pages executive summary 417 part one. War also hastened implementation of nsc68, a document drafted by paul nitze that called for a vigorous program of atomic and conventional rearmament to meet americas global commitments. The nsc 68 document reflected the american belief in the limitless capabilities of the american economy and society to support a giant rearmament program to expand the american military. In the new postwar world, the report argued, the united states could no longer retreat toward isolationism without encouraging. Apr 29, 2016 nsc 68 was a virulent anticommunist document which profoundly shaped american foreign policy during the cold war. National security council paper nsc68 entitled united states objectives and programs for. In 1950, the national security council produced a 58page, topsecret report proclaiming. To understand americas actions during the cold war, it is essential to understand nsc 68 the 1950 report, requested by president truman and prepared by the national security council nsc, that guided american foreign policy for nearly forty years.
National security council paper nsc 68 entitled united states objectives and programs for national security and frequently referred to as nsc 68 was a topsecret report completed by the u. Written in 1950, nsc 68 laid out the rationale for american cold war strategy. National security council report 68 nsc 68 was a 58page top secret policy paper issued by the united states national security council on april 14, 1950, during the presidency of harry s. Project muse nsc 68 and the soviet threat reconsidered. The document itself remained top secret until historians successfully lobbied for its declassification in 1975. Thus, some useful dividends about the origins of the cold war might be produced. Records of the national security council nsc national. This posting describes the relationship of containment and nsc 68 to the purpose of american involvement in the korean war. The marshall plan succeeded in reviving europes economy and thwarting the large internal communist parties in europe threatening to take over. The capabilities of the soviet world are being exploited to the full because the kremlin. The actual document was a merging of two separate policy actions.
The soviet unions behavior following the conclusion of world war ii challenged united states policy. Documents 123 base that will permit a very rapid expansion to full mobilization. Nsc 68, 1950 national security council paper nsc 68 entitled united states objectives and programs for national security and frequently referred to as nsc 68 was a topsecret report completed by the u. Objectives and programs for national security national. This volume includes the complete text of nsc 68, followed by commentaries from former officials, specialists on american foreign policy, and american and foreign scholars. Nsc68 pdf file nsc 68 united states objectives and. Jul 17, 2019 the document itself remained top secret until historians successfully lobbied for its declassification in 1975. United states objectives and programs for national security, better known as nsc 68, was a 66page top secret national security council nsc policy paper drafted by the department of state and department of defense and presented to president harry s. Memo for nsc from executive secretary, same subject, dated april 14, 1950 the enclosed letter by the president and the report by the. Nsc 68 united states objectives and programs for national security a report to the president pursuant to the presidents directive of january 31, 1950 top secret washington, april 7, 1950 contents terms of reference analysis i. United states objectives and programs for national security april 14, 1950 a report to the president pursuant to the presidents directive of january 31, 1950. Nsc68 may not have been such a flawed document after all. We select realism to highlight the long telegram and nsc 68.
Nsc68, 1950 national security council paper nsc68 entitled united states objectives and programs for national security and frequently referred to as nsc68 was a topsecret report completed by the u. National security council report, nsc 68, united states. National security council report, nsc 68, united states objectives and programs for national security, april 14, 1950, history and public policy program digital archive, us national archives. Nsc 68 1950 in 1950, the national security council produced a 58page, topsecret report proclaiming the threat of soviet communism. This notion that pressure for bold action might be dangerous rather than helpful underpinned state department discussions during the late spring, as officials gathered to discuss the possible implementation of nsc 68. This document was made possible with support from the leon levy foundation. Aug 15, 2016 record group 273 194769 overview of records locations table of contents 273. A document that pushed for a large build up of the u.
Nsc 68 is considered to be one of the most significant documents in the history of the u. The prospect in 1950 of a united and expansionist communism, led by the soviet union and communist china, led the truman administration to draft and adopt the most important national security document of the cold warnational security council report 68. Unfortunately, historians of the korean war do not seem to remember nsc 68 and, if they do, assert that it was not decided upon until well after the war had begun. Truman and the korean war institute for the study of. National security council paper nsc68 entitled united states objectives and programs. This content was copied from view the original, and get the alreadycompleted solution here. The following report was produced by the national security council study group headed by paul nitze in 1950. Most rank and file staff members are detailed from the intelligence community, state department, the military, or other govern. Nsc 68 was a virulent anticommunist document which profoundly shaped american foreign policy during the cold war. Nsc 68 was a cold war policy paper that examines how to deter the ussrs world domination plans. This document can only be declassified by the white house. Jan 01, 1993 written in 1950, nsc 68 laid out the rationale for american cold war strategy.
Backgrounds of the present world crisis within the past thirtyfive years the world has experienced two global wars of. S to quickly build up its military for the korean conflict. The events of 1949 made foreign policy the nations top priority. It was, in short, a reasonable response to a real problem and probably contributed although by how much can never be known to the successful containment of the ussr. I have added the original memo from the final draft. View notes nsc 68 pdf file from psyc 1101 at georgia state university, perimeter college. A report to the national security council by the executive secretary on basic national security policy author. Nsc 68, published in 1950, as an example, was the product of the national security staff in answering questions by president truman on two specific issues. Nitze, director of policy planning for the united states department of state, 19501953, nsc 68 was a memorandum approved by president harry s. Nato became a working alliance, the united states provided military assistance to europe, the soviet union detonated an atomic bomb, and the mao zedongs communist party took control of mainland china. United states objectives and programs for national security.
Nsc68 united states objectives and programs for national. It was one of the most important american policy statements of the cold war. United states objectives and programs for national. Drafted by paul nitze, who had replaced george kennan as the director of the state departments policy planning staff, and a team of state and defense department officials, nsc68 was submitted to the president in april. Nsc68 united states objectives and programs for national security.
The following text of nsc 68 is huge, originally 107 pages long. Jan 01, 20 revisiting nsc 68 revisiting nsc 68 young, ken 20101 00. A report to the national security council the executive secretary on the united states objectives and programs for national security april 14, 1950 i. Nsc68 was a topsecret report written by paul nitze of the us state departments policy planning office. Nsc682, in which truman approves the basic approach of nsc68 but directs additional work on the costs nsc683, the revised,analysis of programs and costs called for in nsc682 nsc684, trumans approval of nsc683 as the basis of a fouryear military and security program buildup. The web site is no longer updated and links to external web sites and some internal pages will not work. Americas cold war blueprint a close reading guide from america in class 3 what is most important to understand about nsc 68 today are its four fundamental premises, which guided american foreign policy throughout the cold war and are evident in.
Although the document itself had tersely and dismissively rejected the whole concept of a preventive strike, it had alluded to. National security council paper nsc68 entitled united states objectives and programs for national security and frequently referred to as nsc68 was a topsecret report completed by the u. Written by hardliner paul nitze, it took the worst case scenario in dealing with the soviet union. Record group 273 194769 overview of records locations table of contents 273. Section i nsc 68 is a document, or policy paper, written in april of 1950 to analyze the courses of action available to the president of the united states in defense to the u. For example, nsc 68 was conceived by paul nitze, the chief author, and george kennan soon after world war ii. A publication of humanities out there and the santa ana partnership including ucis center for educational partnerships, santa ana college, and the santa ana unified school district.
United states objectives and programs for national security april 14, 1950. President truman receives nsc68, calling for containing. Objectives and programs for national security, april. The full text of the document can be accessed here. National security study memorandum nssm 200 implications of worldwide population growth. The principal motivation behind our study is a theory exercise and application in order that a focused understanding of the perspective of each document might result. War also hastened implementation of nsc 68, a document drafted by paul nitze that called for a vigorous program of atomic and conventional rearmament to meet americas global commitments. Excerpt and link the scoop on historyapush and more. United states objectives and programs for national security april 14, 1950 a report to the president pursuant to the presidents directive of january 31, 1950 top secret washington, april 7, 1950 contents terms of reference analysis i. How is the struggle between the us and ussr depicted. United states objectives and programs for national security, better known as nsc 68, was a 66page top secret national security council nsc policy paper. In late january 1950, truman requested an indepth report on the continuing world crisis. Nsc681 which was not included in the foreign relations of the. National security council paper nsc68 entitled united states objectives and programs for national security and.
Barrett to acheson on public relations and nsc68, 1950. National security council report, nsc 68, united states objectives and programs for national. Responding to the presidents charge, the state department policy planning staff, led by paul nitze, completed national security memorandum 68 nsc 68 in april 1950. The document which recommended that such a directive be issued reads in part. Jump to navigation jump to search 68 by national security council staff under the direction of paul h. Nsc 68 was a memorandum from the national security council regarding the tension and conflict between the us and ussr. Presented to president harry truman on april 14, 1950, the document. The nscs role as a process manager is not synonymous with pol. It was one of the most significant statements of american policy in the cold war.
The capabilities of the soviet world are being exploited to the full because the kremlin is inescapably militant. Nsc68 1950 in 1950, the national security council produced a 58page, topsecret report proclaiming the threat of soviet communism. Nsc 68 which was disseminated in april 1950 by the united states national security council and the patriot act which congress passed after the terrorist attacks in september 2001. Communist aggression around the world created a turbulent and difficult environment for the united states and western europe to address. The usas nuclear monopoly ended as the ussr tested its own atomic bomb in september 1949.