War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Interview with Harold Brown, 1987 [1]
Description:
Harold Brown is an American scientist who served as Director of Defense Research and Engineering from 1961-1965 and the Secretary of Defense from 1977-1981. In the interview he discusses the ICBM modernization debate during the Carter Administration, which occurred concurrently with the SALT II ratification process. He explains that the urgency of the ICBM modernization, particularly the MX missile, was in response to the Soviet buildup and increased accuracy, which was not sufficiently limited by SALT II, and therefore left America potentially vulnerable. He goes into the military's position during this debate, as well as the views of specific members of the Carter administration, including Zbigniew Brzezinski and Cyrus Vance. He describes Carter's personal reluctance to approve nuclear weapons programs, but his overall recognition of the strategic situation. He also explains the purpose of PD-59. Additionally, he describes the evolution of the U.S.'s relations with China, particularly in terms of military cooperation.
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