441 Freedom Parkway NE Atlanta, GA 30307 http://www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov Zbigniew Brzezinski Collection: A Guide to His Papers at the Jimmy Carter Library Collection Summary Creator: Brzezinski, Zbigniew K., 1928- Title: Zbigniew Brzezinski Collection Dates: 1972-1981 Quantity: 17 linear feet, 42 containers Identification: Accession Number: 92-03 National Archives Identifier: 1104 Scope and Content: These papers consist of memoranda, reports, correspondence, cables, minutes of meetings, speeches, charts, and maps. Portions of the material relate to the conception and work of the Trilateral Commission in 1972 until after the end of the Carter Administration in 1981. The Trilateral Commission files consist of copies provided to the Carter Library by the Trilateral Commission at the request of Dr. Brzezinski. The majority of the papers relates to Brzezinski’s position and work as President Carter’s Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. The selections of materials represented in the collection were used by Brzezinski to write his memoir Power and Principle: Memoirs of the National Security Adviser 1977-1981. Creator Information: Zbigniew Brzezinski Zbigniew K. Brzezinski was born on March 28, 1928 in Warsaw, Poland. He earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees from McGill University in 1950. In 1953, Brzezinski immigrated to the United States and earned his Ph.D from Harvard University. From 1953-1956, he was an Instructor of Government and research fellow at the Russian Research Center at Harvard. He authored The Permanent Purge: Politics in Soviet Totalitarianism in 1956. From 1956-1960, Brzezinski was an Assistant Professor of Government and Research Associate, Russian Research Center and Center of International Affairs at Harvard. In 1960, he authored The Soviet Bloc: Unity and Conflict followed by Ideology and Power in the Soviet Union in 1962, Alternative to Partition in 1965, Between Two Ages: America in the Technetronic Era in 1970, and The Fragile Blossom: Crisis and Change in Japan in 1972. From 1960-1977, Brzezinski worked at Columbia University as an Associate Professor and Professor of Public Law and Government and the Director of the Research Institute on International Change. Among political scientists, Brzezinski was an early supporter of the concept of Trilateralism as an important aspect for progress in advanced and developing countries. From 1973-1976, Brzezinski served as Director of the Trilateral Commission, a private organization founded to promote closer cooperation among North America, Western Europe and Japan. As conceived by David Rockefeller and other eminent private individuals, the Commission had three general purposes: 1) help leaders in the three regions to come to a better understanding of each other’s problems, 2) issue reports on significant international topics with specific recommendations for action, 3) inform citizens and influence governments in three regions. As director, Brzezinski supervised the work of the various Task Forces founded by the Commission; worked with regional chairmen to identify and invite relevant participants and experts from each region to join the Commission; and directed the publicity campaign for the Commission, especially in Europe and Japan. He presided over the Executive Committee meetings and coordinated the first full Commission meeting in Kyoto, Japan in May 1975. Concurrent with directing the Trilateral Commission, Brzezinski continued his association with the Council on Foreign Relations, Freedom House and Amnesty International; published articles in Foreign Policy, Journal of International Affairs, and Studies in Comparative Communism. He participated in several conferences and lectures at various organizations and college campuses and appeared before the Congressional Commission on the Organization for the Conduct of Foreign Policy and before Governor Nelson Rockefeller’s Committee on Critical Choices. By 1975, Brzezinski had returned to his teaching career at Columbia University and reduced his work at the Trilateral Commission to part-time. In December 1976, President-elect Jimmy Carter, who met Brzezinski while a member of the Trilateral Commission, chose him to be his Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Brzezinski served in this position until the end of the Carter Administration in 1981 and was instrumental to the President throughout the four years of service as an advisor on all international relations issues. In 1981, Brzezinski returned to Columbia University as a Professor within the School of Government. He continued to author books during his post-White House career including his memoir, Power and Principle: Memoirs of the National Security Adviser 1977-1981, in 1983. Restrictions: Restrictions on Access: These papers contain documents restricted in accordance with applicable executive order(s), which governs National Security policies, applicable statutes/agency restrictions, and material which has been closed in accordance with the donor’s deed of gift. Terms Governing Use and Reproduction: Copyright interest in these papers has been donated to the United States Government. Some of the records may be subject to Zbigniew Brzezinski Collection 2 copyright restrictions (i.e. newspapers, publications, etc.). Researchers should contact the publisher for further information. Related Material: Related materials in this repository: White House Central File, Subject File, Federal Government/Organization 6-1-1/ Brzezinski, Zbigniew; Records of the Office of the National Security Advisor (Carter Administration), 1977-1981; White Burkett Miller Center oral history and Exit Interview Project oral history Related materials in other repository: Zbigniew Brzezinski Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Index Terms: Limited to major topics under each category Persons: Brzezinski, Zbigniew; Smith, Gerard Organizations: Trilateral Commission, Office of the National Security Advisor, National Security Council, National Security Staff Subjects: National security; international relations; international economic relations, arms control, trade Places: China, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Japan, USSR, Russia, Soviet Union Types of Material: Memoranda, reports, correspondence, cables, minutes of meetings, speeches, charts and maps Administrative Information: Preferred citation: [Type of Document], [Names of Sender and Recipient or Title of Document], [Date], [Collection Title], [Series Title], [Folder Title], [Box Number], Jimmy Carter Presidential Library. Acquisition information: These donated historical materials were received under provisions of the instrument of gift of Zbigniew Brzezinski signed February 7, 1992. Processing information: The first series of the collection was opened in 1993. Subsequent series in the collection were opened in 1994. The open dates are indicated in the series descriptions. System of Arrangement: Arrangement Note: The Trilateral Commission File consists of four subseries. The documents pertaining to Brzezinski’s White House service are comprised in the final two series. The records of the Zbigniew Brzezinski Papers are divided into six series: Zbigniew Brzezinski Collection 3 Series Title National Archives Identifier Trilateral Commission Correspondence Files 152225 Gerard Smith’s Trilateral Commission Files 152230 Zbigniew Brzezinski’s Trilateral Commission Chronological 152263 Files Zbigniew Brzezinski’s Trilateral Commission 152224 Correspondence Files Zbigniew Brzezinski’s Geographic Files 152300 Zbigniew Brzezinski’s Subject Files 152392 Detailed Description of the Collection Trilateral Commission Correspondence Files Scope and Content: Container 1. This series was opened in July 1993. This series contains internal memos between Zbigniew Brzezinski, Gerard Smith, and David Rockefeller as well as correspondence with other members of the Trilateral Commission. These materials cover international issues addressed by the Trilateral Commission including energy, trade, North-South relations, monetary reform, political relations, and the oceans. Arranged chronologically. Gerard Smith’s Trilateral Commission Files Scope and Content: Containers 1-4. This series was opened in July 1993. These materials include memoranda, letters, reports, minutes of meetings, and articles relating to the activities of the first Chairman of the North American Commission. The files contain information on such activities as inviting members, recruiting experts to write the Task Force reports, and setting up meetings of the North American Executive Committee. Arranged alphabetically by folder title. Zbigniew Brzezinski’s Trilateral Chronological Files Scope and Content: Containers 5-6. This series was opened in July 1993. This series includes memoranda, letters, reports and articles, which document Brzezinski’s role in setting up the Commission and his various activities as director. The Chron File also contains correspondence from Deputy Director Christopher J. Makins to Brzezinski. There is a gap in this file between the dates January 4, 1974 and January 1, 1975. Arranged chronologically and there under alphabetically by folder title. Zbigniew Brzezinski’s Trilateral Commission Correspondence Files Scope and Content: Containers 7-8. This series was opened in July 1993. This series includes correspondence between Dr. Brzezinski, members of the Commission, and outside groups and individuals. Also contained in this series are progress reports from the three regional chairmen to the director