Presidential Directive 59

Declassified text of PD-59, heavily redacted

Presidential Directive 59 (PD-59) was a top secret document titled "Nuclear Weapons Employment Policy" prepared by the Carter administration and dated 25 July 1980 that contained plans for carrying out an extended nuclear war.[1]

Carter's National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski described it as an addition to National Security Decision Memorandum 242, a Nixon administration document that it superseded.[2][3]

Parts of its contents were leaked shortly after its creation, causing a public furore about nuclear escalation.[4]

A redacted version of PD-59 has since been declassified and released publicly.

References

  1. ^ Schumann, Anna (2012-10-01). "Carter War Plan Released". Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  2. ^ "Memorandum for the President from Zbigniew Brzezinski" (PDF). U.S. National Archives. August 26, 1980. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  3. ^ Carter Presidential Directive 59, Nuclear Weapons Employment Policy
  4. ^ "Jimmy Carter's Controversial Nuclear Targeting Directive PD-59 Declassified". nsarchive2.gwu.edu. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
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