Records on Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)

The materials in FOIA 2006-0040-F are a selective, not necessarily all inclusive, body of documents 2006-0040-F 2 responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related materials. FOIA 2006-0040-F contains materials from agencies and individuals responsible for the research, development, and deployment of the various aspects of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) including the National Security Council, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Department of Defense (primarily, the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization), and the United States Congress. Also included are records from private organizations and individuals expressing support or opposition to the program. (A portion of the records date to the Ronald Reagan Administration.) The WHORM Subject File categories contain correspondence, memoranda, reports, and congressional testimony of administration officials related to the design of various aspects of the SDI program as well as budget discussions regarding the financing of SDI research and deployment. The Bush Vice Presidential portion of these files contain a great deal of correspondence from school children voicing their concern and opposition to the program, speeches by President Reagan, and speaking invitations from various organizations and interest groups for Vice President Bush to promote SDI. The Staff and Office Files contain memoranda relating to public relations/affairs materials seeking support for SDI, foreign travel authorization and materials for administration officials attending defense seminars and meetings with U.S. allies and Russia, National Security Council meetings regarding SDI development and deployment, and Reagan-era documents relating to SDI funding and general design concepts; discussion papers, memoranda, and correspondence with foreign leaders regarding the shift during the Bush Administration toward theatre defense against limited ballistic missile strikes; National Space Policy Directives; reports on Strategic Defense planning and progress such as "White Paper on Department of Defense and the Congress: Report to the President by the Secretary of Defense" and "End of Tour Report" by Director of the SDIO Ambassador Henry F. Cooper; correspondence between members of Congress and the Executive Office of the President regarding ICBM modernization, SDI funding, the status/relevance of the ABM [Anti-Ballistic Missile] Treaty in lieu of the dissolution of the Soviet Union and letters from President either urging or thanking members for cooperation on SDI legislation; correspondence and memoranda related to the Defense and Space Talks with the Soviets/Russians and the United Nations discussions on the peaceful uses of nuclear power in space; cables between President Bush and Russian President Boris Yeltsin regarding cooperation on global defense and space exploration; newspaper articles pertaining to SDI; press releases and materials such as proposed media Q & A's and regarding SDI design and testing; finalized START [Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty] ratification documents; and Presidential statements regarding SDI anniversary and State of the Union address. Read less