NSC-68

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NSC-68 (1950)
National Security Council staff, under the direction of Paul H. Nitze

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Sources: Naval War College Review, Vol. XXVII (May-June, 1975), pp. 51-108. Also in U.S. Department of State, Foreign Relations of the United States: 1950, Volume I.

Drafted under the guidance of Paul Nitze, Director of Policy Planning for the United States Department of State, 1950-1953, NSC-68 was a memorandum approved by President Harry S. Truman which provided the strategic outline for increased U.S. expenditures to counter the perceived threat from growing Soviet military strength.

52792NSC-681950National Security Council staff, under the direction of Paul H. Nitze

NSC 68: United States Objectives and Programs for National Security

(April 14, 1950)

A Report to the President
Pursuant to the President's Directive
of January 31, 1950

TOP SECRET

[Washington,] April 7, 1950

Contents

Terms of Reference

Analysis

I. Background of the Present World Crisis
II. The Fundamental Purpose of the United States
III. The Fundamental Design of the Kremlin
IV. The Underlying Conflict in the Realm of Ideas and Values Between the U.S. Purpose and the Kremlin Design

A. Nature of the Conflict
B. Objectives
C. Means

V. Soviet Intentions and Capabilities--Actual and Potential
A. Political and Psychological
B. Economic
C. Military

VI. U.S. Intentions and Capabilities--Actual and Potential
A. Political and Psychological
B. Economic
C. Military

VII. Present Risks
A. General
B. Specific

VIII. Atomic Armaments
A. Military Evaluation of U.S. and U.S.S.R. Atomic Capabilities
B. Stockpiling and Use of Atomic Weapons
C. International Control of Atomic Energy

IX. Possible Courses of Action

Introduction
The Role of Negotiation
A. The First Course--Continuation of Current Policies, with Current and Currently Projected Programs for Carrying Out These Projects
B. The Second Course--Isolation
C. The Third Course--War
D. The Remaining Course of Action--A Rapid Build-up of Political, Economic, and Military Strength in the Free World

Conclusions and Recommendations
Conclusions
Recommendations

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work of the United States federal government (see 17 U.S.C. 105).

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