DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12958, Sect. 3.6

By CCO NARA, Date 5/27

TELECON

Caspar Weinberger

8/5/71 11:13 a.m.

K: I am running into a massive Defense Department stonewall on this defense missions thing.

W: Oh really?

K: I just wanted you to know I am going to be brutal at the meeting this afternoon. I am saying I am ordered by the President not to accept this approach, that he wants alternative missions and wants to know what can be cut and what can't. I would appreciate it if you would say you were at the meeting -- which you were . . .

W: Yes.

K: . . . and if you would back me up.

W: Yes sir, delighted. Are you going into the one-third, one-third, one-third rule?

K: Yes, that and the general problem . . . There will be no strategy associated with most of this.

W: I was horrified when Admiral Moorer asked what was meant by 90-day war.

K: It's a disgrace. But have you been to any of these meetings where anyone asked an intelligent question?

W: No.

K: Take that war strike situation. Why do I have to ask the question?

W: Right.

K: And they were all happy because it was 30 days of German expenditures and 80 days of ours . . . I was satisfied until I thought about it.

W: Your questions are the only ones that bring them up short. It scared the hell out of you.

K: I just wanted to make sure you were behind me.

W: Completely.

K: Is George going to be there?