National security council paper 68 nsc68 nsc68 was a topsecret report written by paul nitze of the us state departments policy planning office. This article examines the thoughts and plans of dean acheson and paul nitze that led them to the development of nsc 68, the national security council document of 1950 that called for rearmament of europe and solidified the cold war. The document laid out a strategy of containment of the soviet union, which the united states adopted and followed from the early 1950s until. Nsc 68 by paul nitze, an important cold war document somewhere into it i found this quote and instantly glenn beck jumped to mind, principally because he is amazingly irresponsible as are many of his fans but also because i wondered what hed think of it, especially if you got someone to say it was from a bad source before he heard it.
When paul henry nitze died at the age of 97 on oct. Library of congress, paul nitze papers, box 27a, unlabelled file. 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. As instrumental as nitze may have been in the drafting of nsc68, for example, that paper was first and foremost tailored to dean achesons preferences, not paul h. After graduating from harvard university in 1927 he worked as an investment banker in wall street. They come from the conclusion of the important study nsc 68, completed april 7, 1950.
United states objectives and programs for national. Nitze s contribution to the evolution of american cold war strategy from 1949 to 1953. That nitze happened to share most of his bosss viewsa hardly unique situation. Nelson drew as america emerged from world war ii, it was evident that a new world order was taking shape, one unlike any that had come before. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus.
Nsc 68, adopted in 1950, which went far beyond his immediate boss. Nsc 68, a policy document prepared by the national security council and signed by truman, called for a drastic expansion of the u. In late january 1950, truman requested an indepth report on the continuing world crisis. The resulting document, national security council report no. Truman which provided the strategic outline for increased u. Forging the strategy of containment washington, dc. In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content nsc 68 and the soviet threat reconsidered john lewis gaddis paul nitze in the fall 1979 issue of international security, historian samuel f. Nsc68 was a topsecret report written by paul nitze of the us state departments policy planning office. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel.
Nsc 68, a policy document prepared by the national security council and signed by truman, called for a. 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. United states objectives and programs for national security. Like paul nitze, his record of public service reflects an unusual degree of vision. Paul henry nitze, american military strategist born jan. Secretary of the navy, and director of policy planning for the u. Yet as the author of nsc 68, which many historians consider the most important u. Presented to president harry truman on april 14, 1950, the document concluded that, following the end of wwii, revived russian expansionism required the united states to embark upon a massive. Tami davis biddle examines the policy and the individuals responsible for its preparation, particularly paul nitze and george kennan. Harold brown has devoted himself to understanding and shaping the scientific, technical, policy, and political aspects of national and international security. In 1950 he was appointed head of policy planning at the department of state and wrote the famous nsc68 document that described soviet aspirations of world domination and called for a.
Oct 21, 2004 paul nitze protagonist in both the arms race and the end of the cold war. Nitze, an advocate of rollback, ensured that only the most severe claims about the soviet. The report, designated nsc 68, was presented to president truman on 7 april 1950, who passed it on to the nsc for further consideration on 12 april 1950. Paul henry nitze american military strategist britannica. 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. Nsc 68, adopted in 1950, which went far beyond his immediate boss, george kennans advocacy of containment. That nitze happened to share most of his bosss viewsa hardly unique situation for a subordinatejust made his job a bit easier. The soviet unions behavior following the conclusion of world war ii challenged united states policy.
Deputy secretary wolfowitz described the national security legacy of paul nitze, who served six presidents from franklin d. 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. Jun 24, 2017 this study is an intellectual history of paul h. The article examines in comparative perspective two official documents of great historic value from the point of their influence both on the onset of the cold war, and on the shaping of the united states us grand strategy in the postwar era. Nsc 68 is considered to be one of the most significant documents in the history of the u. Project muse nsc 68 and the soviet threat reconsidered. They were led by paul nitze, the director of the state departments policy planning staff. This article examines the thoughts and plans of dean acheson and paul nitze that led them to the development of nsc 68, the. Nitze, third from left, at a national security council meeting on february 7, 1968. 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. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Paul henry nitze january 16, 1907 october 19, 2004 was an american statesman who served as united states deputy secretary of defense, u. The underlying conflict in the realm of ideas and values between the u.
Department of states policy planning staff on april 7, 1950. The document laid out a strategy of containment of the soviet union. Nitze, director of the state departments policy planning staff and head of the interdepartmental working group which drafted nsc 68. It was one of the most significant statements of american policy in the cold war. Nitze, director of policy planning for the united states department of state, 19501953, nsc68 was a memorandum approved by president harry s.
Nitze, director of policy planning for the united states department of state, 19501953, nsc 68 was a memorandum approved by president harry s. A report to the president pursuant to the presidents directive of january. What was his viewpoint on the soviet unions foreign policy. The report was a group effort, created with input from the. What is the conclusion for nsc68 in terms of american response to the soviet union. Truman receives national security council paper number 68 nsc68. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. 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 our policy even now. Nitze, then director of the state departments policy planning staff and head of the interdepartmental working group that drafted nsc 68, and currently serving. In 1950 the senior staff of the national security council, under the leader ship of paul nitze, the head of policy planning in the state department, submitted a memorandum to president harry truman known as nsc 68. Nsc 68 and the soviet threat international security, vol.
In the fall 1979 issue of international security, historian samuel f. United states objectives and programs for national security, better known as nsc 68, was a. National security council report 68 was a 58page top secret policy paper by the united states national security council presented to president. President truman receives nsc68 report, calling for. Nitzes contribution to the evolution of american cold war strategy from 1949 to 1953. A report to the national security council nsc 68, april 12, 1950.
The following report was produced by the national security council study group headed by paul nitze in 1950. Only one of these, nsc 68, is easily available online. Nsc68 united states objectives and programs for national security. In his oral history, nitze claims that truman supported nsc68 all the way, but did not think that it was necessary to spend all of that money. Communist aggression around the world created a turbulent and difficult environment for the united states and western europe to address. 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. The report was a group effort, created with input from the defense department, the state department, the cia. Objectives and programs for national security national.
National security council paper 68 nsc 68 nsc 68 was a topsecret report written by paul nitze of the us state departments policy planning office. 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. Over the years, ambassador nitzes insights into both the strategy and the. In 1950, nitzes conception of containment won out over kennans. Con tainment meant blocking the expansion of soviet power. 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. 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. Major general truman landon, joint chiefs representative.
Truman receives national security council paper number 68 nsc 68. Nsc 68 united states objectives and programs for national security. Over the next few years nitze became extremely wealthy from his business activities in new york. Nsc68 by national security council staff under the direction of paul h. Over the years, ambassador nitze s insights into both the strategy and the. He is best known for being the principal author of nsc 68 and the cofounder of team b. Paul nitze has noted that his concern about military spending began in the spring of 1949, when he participated in joint military planning efforts with european.
Forging the strategy of containment with analyses by paul h. Nitze, a national security advisor and arms control negotiator to a succession of american presidents over fifty years, was almost unrivalled in his breadth and depth of experience in the cold war national security establishment of the united states. Paul nitze, director of the policy planning staff at the department of state at that time, was instrumental in shaping the strategy that emerged from this endeavorthe strategy of containment as embodied in the seminal strategic document of the cold war era. Nsc68 is considered to be one of the most significant documents in the history of the u. National security council report, nsc 68, united states objectives and programs for national security citation. Nsc68 united states objectives and programs for national. To achieve this goal, the united states had to practice containment. The fundamental design of those who control the soviet union and the international communist movement is to retain and solidify their absolute power, first in the soviet union and second in the areas now under their control. Nsc 68 and the soviet threat reconsidered semantic scholar. However, the overall impact of nsc68 arguably led to as many positive outcomes such as the post. Paul henry nitze was born in amherst, massachusetts, on 16th january, 1907. 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. Paul nitze protagonist in both the arms race and the end of the cold war.