(page 1)

MEMORANDUM
June 24, 1987

To: Senator Dole

From: Dave Smith

Subject: strategy on the Levin-Nunn amendment

Mr. Carlucci may raise this issue at your 2:30 meeting today. A small tempest is raging about how to deal with the Defense Bill. Apparently, Senators Warner and Gramm have arranged a meeting with Senators Nunn and Levin to discuss potential solutions. In view of last week's SASC Republican meeting at which members (including Gramm) told Warner (who finally agreed) that we should not seek any compromise at this time, it is unclear what Warner and Gramm are up to. Apparently, Warner's staff has asked the NSC to prepare options, and Carlucci has received several conflicting phone calls from SASC Republicans.

We don't need to deal with the Defense Bill until after the July 4 recess. Some non-SASC Republicans are interested in some form of compromise, so we cannot hold out forever doing nothing. Therefore, exploring options makes sense. However, this process must involve you, then the White House, and only lastly, Nunn. If the NSC starts preparing options, it will signal that the White House is about to cave, and a real tempest will ensue.

Of course, if Nunn makes an offer, we should consider it.


(page 2)

MEMORANDUM

June 23, 1987

To: SENATOR DOLE

From: AL LEHN

Subject: CONTRA AID MEETING WITH CARLUCCI, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2:30 PM

BACKGROUND/PARTICIPANTS. The meeting was requested by the White House, to sound out key Republicans on contra aid prospects and strategy.

Will attend: SIMPSON, STEVENS, MCCAIN, MURKOWSKI, TRIBLE.

Not yet responded: HELMS, KASTEN, KASSEBAUM, LUGAR.

Declined: COHEN, RUDMAN (attending Iran-contra hearing.)

WHITE HOUSE PLANS. The word I get, confirmed now in some press accounts, is that the White House intends to name a "Central America czar," to sit in the White House and carry the ball on contra aid. One possible candidate: Don Rumsfeld. Elliot Abrams would sit out the whole effort.

The Administration is looking for ways to emphasize its good-faith interest in a negotiated settlement, without being backed into accepting an unacceptable plan, such as the one Arias has offered.

IDEAS FOR YOU TO RAISE. I have floated the first two of these ideas privately in the Administration, to mixed reactions. The third item is basically a "flag," not a proposal.

(1) Senate observers of Central America negotiations. The idea would be for a small ((handwritten) 5-5) bipartisan group of Senators to tour the Central American capitals pre-Esquipoulas (now scheduled for August 6). The hope: they would issue a report saying the Administration is facilitating the talks; the democracies are serious; but the Sandinistas are stonewalling on the democracies' legitimate concerns and

(handwritten vertical line and unintelligible handwriting to side of paragraph)


(page 3)

-2-

offering unacceptable proposals/conditions to an agreement.

(2) Conditioning continued contra aid on objective criteria. The idea is to counter the arguments that our goals are unclear and "contra aid is not a policy." We would set out criteria such as: the removal of offensive weaponry (our list) and foreign military advisers from Nicaragua; the opening of talks among all political elements in Nicaragua (wording to include contras); Sandinista agreement to security guarantees proposed by Central America democracies. If those criteria are met -- as affirmed by Congressional approval of a resolution, with set wording -- contra aid would be terminated.

(3) Reauthorization and reconfiguration of a Central America Commission. Personally, I don't see much utility to this, but Byrd may push it -- so we better be ready with a configuration that meets our needs.

(handwritten on right side of text) in (unintelligible) what McCain is (unintelligible)


(page 4)

MEMORANDUM OF CALL

TO: (blank)

YOU WERE CALLED BY- (blank)
YOU WERE VISITED BY- (blank)

OF (Organization)

(blank checkbox) PLEASE CALL (arrow pointing right) PHONE NO. CODE/EXT. (blank)
(blank checkbox) WILL CALL AGAIN
(blank checkbox) IS WAITING TO SEE YOU
(blank checkbox) RETURNED YOUR CALL
(blank checkbox) WISHES AN APPOINTMENT

MESSAGE

RECEIVED BY (handwritten unintelligible mark) DATE (handwritten) 6-23 TIME (blank)


(page 5)

(all handwritten)

Senators:

Dole
Trible
Murkowski
McCain 
Kasten 
Lugar
Helms
Simpson
Pressler
Mr. Carlucci

(circled) 2:30

Staff

Al Lehn
Dave Smith
Simpson Pressler
Tom Carter
Pam Turner
(unintelligible) Ball
Ed Fox

16

Allan took photos