FROM: NSSIT --CPUA  TO: NSREL --CPUA              08/19/86 23:18:40
To: NSREL --CPUA  NSKED --CPUA
    NSWRP --CPUA  BOHN  --VAXB
    NSSIT --CPUA
         
                         -- SECRET --

NOTE FROM: SITUATION ROOM WATCH OFFICER
SUBJECT: MEMORANDUM TO VADM POINDEXTER FROM BOB LINHART
         
I received a call from Tom Simons (State's Bureau of European and
Canadian Affairs) who said the Wall Street Journal obtained access
to the President's letter  to Gorbachev.
         
The NSDD containing the letter was distributed to Agency principals
only yesterday.
         
According to Simons, the Wall Street Journal will delay publication
of the letter until representatives of the newspaper talk with you
tomorrow.
         
I have notified NSC Secretariat and plan to have deGraffenreid
engage the FBI tomorrow.
THANK YOU,


FROM: NSREL --CPUA  TO: NSJMP --CPUA              08/20/86 16:01:03
To: NSJMP --CPUA

*** Reply to note of 08/20/86 13:09

NOTE FROM: ROBERT E. LINHARD
Subject: MEMORANDUM TO VADM POINDEXTER FROM BOB LINHART
THE PACKAGE THAT WAS RELEASED INCLUDED 2 NSDDs.  NSDD 232
(INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARATION FOR NEXT ROUND -- WHICH WAS BASED ON
THE LETTER) AND NSDD 233 (CONSULTATIONS ON A RESPONSE TO GENSEC
GORBACHEV -- WHICH HAD THE EARLIER DRAFT TEXT OF THE LETTER).  NSDD
233 WAS DISTRIBUTED UNDER THE EXPLICIT GUIDANCE THAT IT WAS TO BE
RESTRICTED TO "AGENCY PRINCIPALS ONLY" -- YET AT LEAST AT STATE IT
WAS WIDELY DISTRIBUTED.  THIS MAY HAVE CAUSED THE LEAK.

ADDITIONAL DATA:  THE REPORTER WHO GOT THE INFORMATION IS JOHN
WOLCOTT.  HE HAD LUNCH YESTERDAY AFTERNOON WITH NORM CLYNE OF
NITZE'S SHOP.  NORM CALLED ME TO TELL ME ABOUT THIS LUNCH AND TO
ENSURE THAT I KNEW "THAT HE WAS NOT THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK."

HOW DID YOUR CONVERSATION WITH THE WALL ST JOURNAL GO?  DID THEIR
SENIOR EDITOR CALL?  SHOULD WE ANTICIPATE THE STORY TOMORROW?

cc: NSWRP --CPUA  NSKED --CPUA
    NSSFK --CPUA  NSDAM --CPUA


FROM: NSJMP --CPUA  TO: NSREL --CPUA              08/20/86 16:23:51
To: NSREL --CPUA

*** Reply to note of 08/20/86 16:01

                         -- SECRET --

NOTE FROM: JOHN POINDEXTER
Subject: MEMORANDUM TO VADM POINDEXTER FROM BOB LINHART
I haven't talked to anybody from WSJ management yet. I will
probably talk to one of them this afternoon. I did have an
interview with Jane Mayer, their WH correspondent. She indicated
they had a lot of detail. I refused to be drawn into a confirmation
or denial of the details that she asked about. I talked about
process and referred to previous Presidential positions on
elimination of nuclear weapons, sharing of SDI, and the importance
of SDI. I couldn't tell from her questions whether they actually
have a copy of letter or just a lot of detail. She asked whether
the idea about elimination of ballistic missiles came from
President or somebody else. I just referred to previous positions
of the President about having long range objective of the
elimination of nuclear weapons. I doubt that I will be able to turn
them off, but maybe get them not to specifically reference the
letter if they actually have it.