Background and Purpose
The Nixon Administration issued 206 National Security Study Memoranda or NSSM between 1969 and 1974. These documents are formal directives issued by the President or the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (Henry A. Kissinger) that commission studies of particular issues relating to U.S. national security and foreign policy.
Often the memos instruct recipient agencies to address or to answer specific questions. The National Security Council and the Administration would then discuss these studies during the decision making process. Resulting policy decisions were often announced in the National Security Decision Memoranda (NSDMs). The wide range of topics covered by the NSSMs include: foreign relations, defense, intelligence, international economic policy, weaponry, and budgets.
Most documents are one to two pages long. Attachments have also been scanned if they relate directly to the content of the memo and are needed to understand the memo. NSSMs are arranged in numerical order, which roughly corresponds to the date issued.
Locating the original records
Unless otherwise noted below, all NSSMs were scanned from the original documents housed in the National Security Council Institutional Files, Box H-207. If an original memo did not appear in this box, the Nixon staff searched the other NSC files to find the most complete version available. Memos that are only partially declassified were scanned from reference copies provided by the NSC.
Asterisk key:
(None)= declassified and released in full
*(1 asterisk)= declassified and released in part
**(2 asterisks)= fully classified
To locate Institutional Files containing reports, memoranda, and correspondence related to an NSSM, note the number of the NSSM, then search for that number in the National Security Council Institutional Files. CTRL+F to assist your search.
For example, documents pertaining to NSSM 1 are located in boxes H-122 through H-126.
| Number | Subject | Date |
| NSSM 1 | Situation in Vietnam | January 21, 1969 |
| NSSM 2 | Middle East Policy | January 21, 1969 |
| NSSM 3 | U.S. Military Posture And Balance of Power | January 21, 1969 |
| NSSM 4 | U.S. Foreign Aid Policy | January 21, 1969 |
| NSSM 5 | Japan Policy | January 21, 1969 |
| NSSM 6 | Review of NATO Policy Alternatives | January 21, 1969 |
| NSSM 7 | U.S. International Monetary Policy | January 21, 1969 |
| NSSM 8 | Technical Issues Concerning U.S. Strategic Forces | February 3, 1969 |
| NSSM 9* | Review of the International Situation [note: large PDF file, 13.1MB] | January 23, 1969 |
| NSSM 10 | East-West Relations | January 27, 1969 |
| NSSM 11 | Nigeria/Biafra Relief | January 28, 1969 |
| NSSM 12 | Contingency Planning | January 30, 1969 |
| NSSM 13 | Position of Key Countries on the Non-Proliferation Treaty | February 5, 1969 |
| NSSM 14 | U.S. China Policy | February 5, 1969 |
| NSSM 15 | Review of U.S. Policy Toward Latin America | February 3, 1969 |
| NSSM 16 | U.S. Trade Policy | February 5, 1969 |
| NSSM 17 | Further Studies on Middle East Policy | February 6, 1969 |
| NSSM 18 | Review of U.S. Policy Toward Peru | February 7, 1969 |
| NSSM 19 | South Vietnam Internal Security Capabilities | February 11, 1969 |
| NSSM 20 | Resumption of the Eighteen-Nation Disarmament Committee | February 12, 1969 |
| NSSM 21 | Vietnam | February 13, 1969 |
| NSSM 22 | Contingency Plans for Vietnam | February 13, 1969 |
| NSSM 23 | Amendments to FY 70 Defense Budget | February 20, 1969 |
| NSSM 24 | U.S. Military Posture Review | February 20, 1969 |
| NSSM 25 | Cape Keraudren Nuclear Excavation Project And Limited Test Ban Treaty | February 20, 1969 |
| NSSM 26 | Military Supply Policy in South Asia | February 21, 1969 |
| NSSM 27 | Interagency Planning-Programming-Budgeting Study for Korea | February 22, 1969 |
| NSSM 28 | Preparation of U.S. Position for Possible Strategic Arms Limitation Talks | March 6, 1969 |
| NSSM 29 | Papers for Vietnam Negotiations | March 12, 1969 |
| NSSM 30 | Water Development and Middle East Policy | March 19, 1969 |
| NSSM 31 | U.S. Policy Toward Malaysia And Singapore | March 19, 1969 |
| NSSM 32 | United States Policy Toward Cuba | March 21, 1969 |
| NSSM 33 | Contingency Planning for the Middle East | March 21, 1969 |
| NSSM 34 | Contingency Planning for Korea | March 21, 1969 |
| NSSM 35 | U.S. Trade Policy Toward Communist Countries | March 28, 1969 |
| NSSM 36 | Vietnamizing the War | April 10, 1969 |
| NSSM 37 | Vietnam | April 10, 1969 |
| NSSM 38 | Post-Vietnam Asian Policy | April 10, 1969 |
| NSSM 39 | Southern Africa | April 10, 1969 |
| NSSM 40 | Israeli Nuclear Weapons Program | April 11, 1969 |
| NSSM 41 | Treaty for Nuclear Arms Control of the Seabeds | April 11, 1969 |
| NSSM 42 | Peru | April 11, 1969 |
| NSSM 43 | Implementation of the President's Proposals to the NATO Ministerial Meeting | April 15, 1969 |
| NSSM 44 | U.S. Positions for NATO Nuclear Planning Group (NPG) | April 19, 1969 |
| NSSM 45 | U.S. Foreign Aid | April 21, 1969 |
| NSSM 46 | Spain | April 21, 1969 |
| NSSM 47 | Military Relations With France | April 21, 1969 |
| NSSM 48 | Tariff Preferences for Less Developed Countries | April 24, 1969 |
| NSSM 49 | U.S. Trade Policy in the 1970's | April 24, 1969 |
| NSSM 50 | A Review of U.S. Naval Forces | April 26, 1969 |
| NSSM 51 | Program Analysis of Thailand | April 26, 1969 |
| NSSM 52 | Military Aid Policy Toward Greece | April 26, 1969 |
| NSSM 53 | Korean Contingency Planning | April 26, 1969 |
| NSSM 54 | A Review of U.S. Naval Shipbuilding Capabilities and Requirements | April 29, 1969 |
| NSSM 55 | United States Policy Toward Post-de Gaulle France | April 30, 1969 |
| NSSM 56 | Uranium Enrichment Facilities | May 14, 1969 |
| NSSM 57 | Review of U.S. Civil Defense Policies | May 23, 1969 |
| NSSM 58 | Planning Assumptions for Civil Emergency Preparedness | May 26, 1969 |
| NSSM 59 | U.S. Policy on Chemical and Biological Warfare and Agents | May 28, 1969 |
| NSSM 60 | United States Policy Toward Post-de Gaulle France | May 29, 1969 |
| NSSM 61 | Review of U.S. Policy Toward Indonesia | June 23, 1969 |
| NSSM 62 | Follow-on to NSSM 28 (SALT) | July 2, 1969 |
| NSSM 63 | U.S. Policy on Current Sino-Soviet Differences | July 3, 1969 |
| NSSM 64 | U.S. Strategic Capabilities | July 8, 1969 |
| NSSM 65 | Relationships Among Strategic And Theater Forces for NATO | July 8, 1969 |
| NSSM 66 | Policy Toward the Persian Gulf | July 12, 1969 |
| NSSM 67 | Program Analysis of Brazil | July 12, 1969 |
| NSSM 68 | Report on Military and Church in Latin America | July 12, 1969 |
| NSSM 69 | U.S. Nuclear Policy in Asia | July 14, 1969 |
| NSSM 70 | Haiti | July 22, 1969 |
| NSSM 71 | Advanced Technology and National Security | August 14, 1969 |
| NSSM 72 | International Space Cooperation Committee | September 4, 1969 |
| NSSM 73 | Revisions in U.S. Military Bases and Agreement with the Philippines | September 16, 1969 |
| NSSM 74 | Planning for Laos | September 17, 1969 |
| NSSM 75 | Program Analysis of Turkey | September 23, 1969 |
| NSSM 76 | Planning for Laos | September 27, 1969 |
| NSSM 77 | Program Budgets | October 8, 1969 |
| NSSM 78 | Review of U.S. Deferment and Exemption Policy | October 8, 1969 |
| NSSM 79 | U.K. Accession to European Community | October 13, 1969 |
| NSSM 80 | The President's Annual Review of American Foreign Policy | October 27, 1969 |
| NSSM 81 | U.S. Arms Transfer Policy Toward Israel | November 6, 1969 |
| NSSM 82 | U.S. Economic Assistance Policy Toward Israel | November 6, 1969 |
| NSSM 83 | U.S. Approach to Current Issues of European Security | November 21, 1969 |
| NSSM 84 | U.S. Strategies and Forces for NATO | November 21, 1969 |
| NSSM 85 | U.S. Policy on Toxins | December 31, 1969 |
| NSSM 86 | Panama Canal | January 2, 1970 |
| NSSM 87 | Trends and U.S. Options in North Africa | January 22, 1970 |
| NSSM 88 | US Policy on Italy and the Northern Mediterranean | February 12, 1970 |
| NSSM 89 | U.S. Policy for Southwest Africa | February 12, 1970 |
| NSSM 90 | US Interests in and Policy Toward the Mediterranean Area | February 26, 1970 |
| NSSM 91 | EC Preferential Trade Arrangements | March 27, 1970 |
| NSSM 92 | Mutual and Balanced Force Reductions Between NATO and the Warsaw Pact (MBFR) | April 13, 1970 |
| NSSM 93 | The Arab-Israel Military Balance | April 13, 1970 |
| NSSM 94 | Diplomatic Initiatives on Indo-China | May 25, 1970 |
| NSSM 95 | U.S. Policy Objectives in Indo-China | June 6, 1970 |
| NSSM 96 | U.S. Policy Toward a Peace Initiative in Laos | July 23, 1970 |
| NSSM 97 | Chile | July 24, 1970 |
| NSSM 98* | Further Review of Israeli Arms Requests | August 10, 1970 |
| NSSM 99 | U.S. Strategy for Southeast Asia | August 17, 1970 |
| NSSM 100 | Military Cooperation with France | September 1, 1970 |
| NSSM 101 | Review of Security Requirements regarding Uranium Enrichment Technology | September 14, 1970 |
| NSSM 102 | The President's Annual Review of American Foreign Policy | September 21, 1970 |
| NSSM 103 | Future Options in the Middle East | September 26, 1970 |
| NSSM 104 | Soviet and Friendly Naval Involvement in the Indian Ocean Area, 1971-1975 | November 9, 1970 |
| NSSM 105 | Addendum to NSSM 103 | November 13, 1970 |
| NSSM 106 | China Policy | November 19, 1970 |
| NSSM 107 | Study of Entire UN Membership Question: U.S.-China Policy | November 19, 1970 |
| NSSM 108 | Review of U.S. Policy Toward Latin America | December 10, 1970 |
| NSSM 109 | Policy Study on South Asia | December 19, 1970 |
| NSSM 110 | Follow-on Study of Strategy Toward the Indian Ocean | December 22, 1970 |
| NSSM 111 | Study of Four Power Negotiations on Berlin And Implications of Ostpolitik | December 29, 1970 |
| NSSM 112 | U.S. Post-Vietnam Policy on Use of Riot Control Agents and Herbicides in War | January 7, 1971 |
| NSSM 113 | Procedures for Declassification and Release of Official Documents | January 15, 1971 |
| NSSM 114 | World Oil Situation | January 15, 1971 |
| NSSM 115 | Horn of Africa | January 25, 1971 |
| NSSM 116 | Policy Toward Greece | January 26, 1971 |
| NSSM 117 | Review of U.S. Policy in the Caribbean Area | February 16, 1971 |
| NSSM 118 | Contingency Study on Pakistan--Addendum to NSSM 109 | February 16, 1971 |
| NSSM 119 | US-Soviet Incidents at Sea | February 19, 1971 |
| NSSM 120 | United States Policy on Peaceful Applications of Atomic Energy | February 19, 1971 |
| NSSM 121 | June NATO Ministerial Meeting | April 13, 1971 |
| NSSM 122 | Policy Toward Japan | April 15, 1971 |
| NSSM 123 | US-UK Nuclear Relations | April 17, 1971 |
| NSSM 124 | Next Steps Toward the People's Republic of China | April 19, 1971 |
| NSSM 125 | U.S. Ocean Policy | April 21, 1971 |
| NSSM 126 | Continuity of Government | April 22, 1971 |
| NSSM 127 | Policies Toward Australia and New Zealand | May 27, 1971 |
| NSSM 128 | Review of Nuclear Test Ban Policy | June 4, 1971 |
| NSSM 129 | US Policy and Post-Tito Yugoslavia | June 15, 1971 |
| NSSM 130 | Cyprus Planning | June 18, 1971 |
| NSSM 131 | U.S. Policy in Cases of Expropriation | June 23, 1971 |
| NSSM 132 | Soviet Proposal for Five-Power Nuclear Conference (Revised) | June 28, 1971 |
| NSSM 133 | Contingency Planning on South Asia | July 2, 1971 |
| NSSM 134 | Policy Toward Iceland | July 15, 1971 |
| NSSM 135 | Policy Toward Malta | July 17, 1971 |
| NSSM 136 | Berlin Negotiations | July 30, 1971 |
| NSSM 137 | The President's Annual Review of American Foreign Policy | September 22, 1971 |
| NSSM 138 | European Security Conference | October 2, 1971 |
| NSSM 139 | Policy on Sale or Release of U.S. Components for Incorporation in Military Equipment Sales to Third Countries | November 3, 1971 |
| NSSM 140 | US-Soviet Talks on Preventing Incidents at Sea - II | November 11, 1971 |
| NSSM 141 | Implications for U.S. Policy of the Participation of the People's Republic of China in Multilateral Diplomacy | November 12, 1971 |
| NSSM 142 | Rhodesia | November 19, 1971 |
| NSSM 143 | Review of US-Soviet Negotiations | December 15, 1971 |
| NSSM 144 | Soviet Naval Deployments to the Caribbean | January 14, 1972 |
| NSSM 145 | US-Soviet Trading Relationships | January 17, 1972 |
| NSSM 146 | US Policy Toward the GDR | February 17, 1972 |
| NSSM 147 | U.S. Strategy and Projection Forces | March 4, 1972 |
| NSSM 148 | US-PRC Exchanges | March 9, 1972 |
| NSSM 149 | US-PRC Trade | March 10, 1972 |
| NSSM 150 | U.S. Policy on Transfer of Highly Enriched Uranium | March 13, 1972 |
| NSSM 151 | Vietnamese Air Force Capabilities | March 15, 1972 |
| NSSM 152 | Cambodia Assessment | March 27, 1972 |
| NSSM 153 | Laotian Force Structure | April 5, 1972 |
| NSSM 154 | U.S. Policy Concerning the Korean Peninsula | April 6, 1972 |
| NSSM 155 | U.S. Policy Toward the Philippines | June 28, 1972 |
| NSSM 156 | Indian Nuclear Developments | July 5, 1972 |
| NSSM 157 | Review of United States Position on Chemical Weapons Prohibitions | July 28, 1972 |
| NSSM 158 | Review of U.S. Policy Toward Peru | August 13, 1972 |
| NSSM 159 | U.S. Counterinsurgency Support for Thailand | September 9, 1972 |
| NSSM 160 | Policy Toward Morocco | September 14, 1972 |
| NSSM 161 | The President's Annual Review of American Foreign Policy | September 25, 1972 |
| NSSM 162 | US Position on the Soviet UN Proposals for Non-use of Force and Prohibitions of the Use of Nuclear Weapons | October 3, 1972 |
| NSSM 163 | Economic Policies for the Eastern European Countries | October 27, 1972 |
| NSSM 164 | United States Relations with Europe | November 18, 1972 |
| NSSM 165 | Standby Draft | December 3, 1972 |
| NSSM 166 | Review of US-French Bilateral Issues | December 26, 1972 |
| NSSM 167 | Preparations for the International Conference on Indochina | January 30, 1973 |
| NSSM 168 | U.S. NATO Policies and Programs | February 13, 1973 |
| NSSM 169 | U.S. Nuclear Policy | February 13, 1973 |
| NSSM 170 | Offsetting the Costs of U.S. Forces in Europe | February 13, 1973 |
| NSSM 171 | U.S. Strategy for Asia | February 13, 1973 |
| NSSM 172 | U.S. Policy Toward Japan | March 7, 1973 |
| NSSM 173 | U.S. Policy Toward Latin America | March 7, 1973 |
| NSSM 174 | National Security and U.S. Energy Policy | March 8, 1973 |
| NSSM 175 | US Nuclear Defense Policy Toward France | March 13, 1973 |
| NSSM 176 | Review of US-Soviet Bilateral Issues | March 13, 1973 |
| NSSM 177 | Military Missions Involving Naval Forces | March 16, 1973 |
| NSSM 178 | Program for National Net Assessment | March 29, 1973 |
| NSSM 179 | U.S. Policy Toward Spain | April 9, 1973 |
| NSSM 180 | U.S. Policy in Southeast Asia in the Light of the Southern Philippines Muslim Insurrection | May 1, 1973 |
| NSSM 181 | U.S. Policy in the Arabian Peninsula and the Persian Gulf | May 10, 1973 |
| NSSM 182 | Implication for U.S. Policy of Probable Lines of Soviet Strategy and Policy in the Eastern Mediterranean, Near East, Arabian Peninsula, and South Asia | May 10, 1973 |
| NSSM 183 | Principles for a Declaration on Atlantic Relations | May 10, 1973 |
| NSSM 184 | Horn of Africa | May 24, 1973 |
| NSSM 185 | Policy Toward Libya | June 5, 1973 |
| NSSM 186 | National Net Assessment of the Comparative Costs and Capabilities of U.S. and Soviet Military Establishments | September 1, 1973 |
| NSSM 187 | International Cooperation in Agriculture | September 5, 1973 |
| NSSM 188 | The President's Annual Review of American Foreign Policy | October 24, 1973 |
| NSSM 189 | Azores Base Agreement Negotiations | November 14, 1973 |
| NSSM 190 | Diplomatic Initiatives in Korea | December 31, 1973 |
| NSSM 191 | Policy for Acquisition of U.S. Nuclear Forces | January 17, 1974 |
| NSSM 192 | Chemical Weapons Policy | February 7, 1974 |
| NSSM 193 | U.S. Policy Toward Spain | February 15, 1974 |
| NSSM 194 | Review of Certain Conventional Weapons | February 15, 1974 |
| NSSM 195 | Nuclear Test Ban Policy | February 20, 1974 |
| NSSM 196 | Overseas Military Base Structure | February 25, 1974 |
| NSSM 197 | Critical Imported Commodities | March 5, 1974 |
| NSSM 198 | Joint U.S.-Saudi Economic, Military and Technological Cooperation | March 12, 1974 |
| NSSM 199 | Indian Ocean Strategy | March 14, 1974 |
| NSSM 200 | Implications of Worldwide Population Growth for U.S. Security and Overseas Interests | April 24, 1974 |
| NSSM 201 | Military Assistance and Arms Policy in Black Africa | April 25, 1974 |
| NSSM 202 | Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty | May 23, 1974 |
| NSSM 203 | Review of U.S. Policy Toward Venezuela | June 10, 1974 |
| NSSM 204* | U.S. Policy Toward Australia | July 1, 1974 |
| NSSM 205 | U.S. Policy Toward Indonesia | July 20, 1974 |
| NSSM 206 | Relations with Canada | July 29, 1974 |
| Location of original record copies: |
NSSM 9: NSC Reference Copies All other NSSMs were scanned from the original documents housed in Box H-207. |