REPROOUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHlllES - DECLASSI Fl Efi ----- - IVJSlS A R qiat i ff 12 ' THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON CONFIDENTIAL August 30 1972 MEMORANDUM FOR Colonel Robert C Taylor Military Assistant Office of the Secretary of Defense SUBJECT Senator Brooke's Letter As we discussed on the telephone attached is the response whi ch it is requested Secretary Laird make to Senator Brooke for the President lf' _ 7G _ Richard T Kennedy CONFIDENTIAL I ·------- Dear Senator Brooke The President has asked me to respond to your letter to him of August 7 on the important subject of our strategic forces I should like to assure you that all programs supported by the Defense Department and the Administration are consistent with the defense policies which the President and I as Secretary of Defense have enunciated in numerous authoritative statements In particular response to your letter I would like to assure you that there will be no decisions by this Administration in regard to our strategic forces that would involve either superfluous or provocative programs The sole goal of the Administration is to ensure that we have a responsible and sufficient defense posture which safeguards our security in the years ahead We are at the same time determined to make the most serious effort to build on the strategic arms limitation agreements signed in Moscow last May and now before the Congress Our defense policies while taking account of requirements presented by the programs of the other side will be consistent with that effort With warmest personal regards Sincerely The Honorable Edward W Brooke United States Senate Washington D C I