Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

Document title: Memorandum from J. D. O’Connell, Special Assistant to the President for
Telecommunications and Director of the Office of Telecommunications Management, to
the Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Commerce, Administrator,
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and Chairman, Federal Communications
Commission, “Policy Concerning U.S. Assistance in the Development of Foreign
Communications Satellite Capabilities,” September 17, 1965, with attached: National
Security Action Memorandum 338.
Source: Record Group 273, Records of the National Security Council, Archives II,
National Archives and Record Administration, College Park, Maryland.
An interim International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT) was created in
1964 with the understanding that after five years there would be negotiations to create a more permanent
organizational structure for international telecommunications via satellite. Comsat was the
manager of the interim INTELSAT system, and its structure institutionalized U.S. dominance of the
organization’s operations and hardware procurement. The United States hoped to maintain that dominant
position for as long as possible. The White House appointed a Special Assistant to the President,
General James O’Connell, to further that objective. This national security directive reflects O’Connell’s
efforts to restrict U.S. assistance to other countries that desired to develop their own communications
satellite capability.
[no pagination]
September 17, 1965
MEMORANDUM TO: Secretary of State
Secretary of Defense
Secretary of Commerce
Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Chairman, Federal Communications Commission
SUBJECT: Policy Concerning U.S. Assistance in the Development of
Foreign Communications Satellite Capabilities
The attached policy statement concerning U.S. assistance in the development of foreign
communications satellite capabilities is promulgated in accordance with the approval
of the President, as noted in [handwritten underlining] National Security Action
Memorandum 338, dated September 15, 1965. This statement was transmitted to the
President by my memorandum dated August 25, 1965.
As noted in NSAM 338, my office will keep the subject policy under constant review.
The cooperation and suggestions of the departments and agencies concerned are invited.
Information copies:
EXPLORING THE UNKNOWN 91
[hand-signed “J. D. O’Connell”]
Special Assistant to the President
for Telecommunications and
Director of Telecommunications Management