Each of the 272 National Security Action Memoranda issued by John F. Kennedy or his National Security Adviser, McGeorge Bundy, is summarized here. We have linked to relevant digitized materials from the National Security Files (the primary foreign policy file maintained by John F. Kennedy’s National Security Adviser and National Security Council).
For more information please contact Kennedy.Library@nara.gov. Have a research question? Ask an Archivist.
Document | Description |
NSAM 1 | Separate Budgeting of Spending Abroad |
NSAM 2 | Development of Counter Guerilla Forces |
NSAM 3 | Bunkering of Free World Ships Under Communist Chinese Charter |
NSAM 4 | Purchase of Uranium from Foreign Countries |
NSAM 5 | Study of the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization |
NSAM 6 | Plan of Reorganization of the Foreign Program |
NSAM 7 | Re: Contracts to Small Business |
NSAM 8 | Re: State of Union Commitment and Negotiations with Poland |
NSAM 9 | Re: General Lansdale's Story of the Counter Guerilla Case |
NSAM 10 | Policy for Cuba |
NSAM 11 | Re: Information on the Progress of Negotiations with Germans on Increasing Their Part in Aid |
NSAM 12 | Re: Forces in Vietnam |
NSAM 13 | Re: Exchange of Persons Behind the Iron Curtain |
NSAM 14 | Financial Assistance for Brazil |
NSAM 15 | Legislation for Reallocation of Sugar Quotas |
NSAM 16 | Economic Support for Newly Independent Areas |
NSAM 17 | Various 2/13/61 |
NSAM 18 | Re: Reduction on the Amount a Tourist Can Bring into this Country Duty Free |
NSAM 19 | Re: Cutting Importations from Cuba to the US |
NSAM 20 | Re: Battle Act |
NSAM 21 | Re: Foreign Aid Bill |
NSAM 22 | Re: Fair Sharing in Foreign Aid and Military Partnership |
NSAM 23 | Questions Arising from Senator Smathers' Recommendation that Remaining Exports from Cuba to the US be Embargoed |
NSAM 24 | RB-47 Reconnaissance Flights |
NSAM 25 | Re: Recommendation As to Whether or Not President Should Send Letter to Iraq Government |
NSAM 26 | Re: Ambassador Timberlake's Notification to Turn Around Ships |
NSAM 27 | Overseas PX and Commissary Service |
NSAM 28 | Guerilla Operations in Vietnam Territory |
NSAM 29 | Re: Meeting with the President on South East Asia (Withdrawal sheet only) |
NSAM 30 | Agreement of Cooperation with Republic of Italy |
NSAM 31 | Memo of Discussion on Cuba |
NSAM 32 | US - USSR Commercial Air Transport Agreement |
NSAM 33 | Review of US Policy toward South Africa |
NSAM 34 | Memo on Moroccan Bases Dated 3/28/61 from Acting Secretary Bowles |
NSAM 35 | Deployment of IRBM's to Turkey 4/16/61 |
NSAM 36 | Improving the Security of Nuclear Weapons In NATO |
NSAM 37 | Saceur Procedures for Ordering use of Nuclear Weapons 4/16/61 |
NSAM 38 | Questions arising from CIA support of certain activities |
NSAM 39 | Re-Examination of Present NATO Stockpile Procedures |
NSAM 40 | Policy Directive Re NATO and the Atlantic Nations |
NSAM 41 | Military Planning for a Possible Berlin Crisis |
NSAM 42 | Assistance to Cuban Refugees |
NSAM 43 | Training of Cuban Nationals |
NSAM 44 | Caribbean Security Agency |
NSAM 45 | Coverage of Castro Activities in the US |
NSAM 46 | Attitude of Various Governments During the Cuban Crisis |
NSAM 47 | Soviet Assistance to Cuba |
NSAM 48 | "Level of US efforts Military, Foreign, Civil Defense, Paramilitary" |
NSAM 49 | Possible Presidential Contingency Freedom Fund |
NSAM 50 | Official Announcement of Launching into space systems involving nuclear power |
NSAM 51 | Safety of Nuclear Weapons and Weapons Systems |
NSAM 52 | Vietnam |
NSAM 53 | Problems Related to Private International Broadcasting |
NSAM 54 | Service of Cuban Volunteers in US Armed Forces |
NSAM 55 | Relations of the JCS to the President in Cold War Operations |
NSAM 56 | Evaluation of Paramilitary Requirements |
NSAM 57 | Responsibility for Paramilitary Operations |
NSAM 58 | Re: Berlin |
NSAM 59 | Berlin |
NSAM 60 | US Actions in Relation to Portuguese Territories in Africa |
NSAM 61 | "An Effective Counter Theme to 'Peaceful Coexistence'" |
NSAM 62 | Berlin |
NSAM 63 | Policy Guidelines and Preemption of US Government Controlled Broadcasting 7/24/61 |
NSAM 64 | "Memo for the Secretary of State from the President re: Need for Improving our Machinery for World-Wide Consultation, as hinted in the last letter from De Gaulle" |
NSAM 65 | Joint Program of Action with the Government of Viet Nam |
NSAM 66 | Re: Guidance and Welfare of Foreign Students in this Country |
NSAM 67 | Iran |
NSAM 68 | Task Force on Ryukus 8/11/61 |
NSAM 69 | Intelligence Aspects of Nuclear Testing 8/15/61 |
NSAM 70 | Requesting Report on Commitments from our NATO to Increase Their Forces |
NSAM 71 | Cyprus |
NSAM 72 | Civil Defense Progress |
NSAM 73 | Saudi Arabian Arms Request |
NSAM 74 | Selection of Polish Exchange Students |
NSAM 75 | Polish Government Taxes on Relief Packages |
NSAM 76 | UK Membership in Common Market |
NSAM 77 | Use of American Made Arms in Angola |
NSAM 78 | Berlin |
NSAM 79 | Economic Negotiations with Poland |
NSAM 80 | Meeting on Southeast Asia |
NSAM 81 | US Gold Positions |
NSAM 82 | Allied Military Buildup |
NSAM 83 | New Embassy Building in Dublin |
NSAM 84 | Specific State Visits |
NSAM 85 | State Visits |
NSAM 86 | Command and Control Task Force |
NSAM 87 | Memorandum of Decisions (re Testing) |
NSAM 88 | Training for Latin American Armed Force |
NSAM 89 | Soviet Training of Ghanaian Troops |
NSAM 90 | Release of Melekh |
NSAM 91 | Expediting Publications in Foreign Relations |
NSAM 92 | Increase of Forces in Europe |
NSAM 93 | Berlin Build-up |
NSAM 94 | Steinstueken and Friedrichstrasse Crossing Point |
NSAM 95 | Renegotiation of Panama Canal Treaty |
NSAM 96 | Volta Project-Ghana |
NSAM 97 | Use of US Fighter Aircraft in the Congo |
NSAM 98 | Ref: NSAM 71 - Cyprus |
NSAM 99 | Military Exercise |
NSAM 100 | Contingency Planning for Cuba |
NSAM 101 | "Follow-up on the President's Speech to the United Nations General Assembly on September 26, 1961" |
NSAM 102 | U.S. Policy Concerning Bases in Morocco |
NSAM 103 | Deployment of U.S. Military Forces |
NSAM 104 | Southeast Asia |
NSAM 105 | Policy Toward Egypt and Syria |
NSAM 106 | Request for Report on Proposal to Establish a U.S. Police Academy |
NSAM 107 | Friedrichstrasse Crossing Point |
NSAM 108 | Barter Program for Congolese Industrial Diamonds |
NSAM 109 | U.S. Policy on Military Actions in a Berlin Conflict |
NSAM 110 | NSAM 56 - Evaluation of Paramilitary Requirements |
NSAM 111 | First Phase of Viet-NAM Program |
NSAM 112 | Atmospheric Testing Policy |
NSAM 113 | Further Instructions - Atmospheric Testing Policy |
NSAM 114 | "Training for Friendly Police and Armed Forces in Counter-Insurgency, Counter-Subversion, Riot Control and Related Matters" |
NSAM 115 | Defoliant Operations in Viet-NAM |
NSAM 116 | Instructions from President as a result of Nov. 30 meeting re atmospheric testing |
NSAM 117 | Contingency Planning on Berlin |
NSAM 118 | Participation of US and Latin American Armed Forced in the Attainment of Common Objectives in Latin America |
NSAM 119 | Civic Action |
NSAM 120 | Intelligence on Operations in the Congo |
NSAM 121 | Program to Aid Moroccan Air Force |
NSAM 122 | "re: Norstad's response to President's request for his views on command and control procedures, etc." |
NSAM 123 | Policy Toward Yugoslavia |
NSAM 124 | Establishment of the Special Group (Counter-Insurgency) |
NSAM 125 | Pakistan Consortium |
NSAM 126 | Review of Principles and Policies Guiding the Stockpiling of Strategic Materials |
NSAM 127 | Emergency Planning for Continuity of Government |
NSAM 128 | Responses to Soviet Action Regarding Air Corridors |
NSAM 129 | U.S. - U.S.S.R. Cooperation in the Exploration of Space |
NSAM 130 | Terms of AID Development Loans |
NSAM 131 | Training Objectives for Counter Insurgency |
NSAM 132 | Support of Local Police Forces for Internal Security & Counter-Insurgency Purposes |
NSAM 133 | Ryukyus Action Program |
NSAM 134 | Report on Internal Security Situation in South America |
NSAM 135 | British Guiana |
NSAM 136 | U.S. Internal Security Programs |
NSAM 137 | Restrictions on East German Athletes |
NSAM 138 | Dean Ryerson's Recommendations re the South Pacific Comm |
NSAM 139 | Military Aid Program for Greece |
NSAM 140 | Participation of US and Latin American Armed Forces in Attainment of Common Objectives in Latin America |
NSAM 141 | Analysis of Frondizi's Political Reserves |
NSAM 142 | Re: Stockpile Committee Report |
NSAM 143 | Nuclear Weapons for NATO Forces |
NSAM 144 | Assignment of Highest National Priority to the APOLLO Manned Lunar Landing Program |
NSAM 145 | New Policy for the US trust Territory of the Pacific Islands |
NSAM 146 | Improvement of Police Training and Equipment in Newly Emerging Countries |
NSAM 147 | NATO Nuclear Program |
NSAM 148 | Guidance of US Nuclear Assistance to France |
NSAM 149 | Withdrawal of Certain Military Units from Forward Position in Laos |
NSAM 150 | Using US Military Engineers as Contracting Agents on AID Projects |
NSAM 151 | Re: Impasse between Japan & South Korea over issues long discussed |
NSAM 152 | Panama Canal Policy & Relations w/ Panama |
NSAM 153 | Policy Statement on Dominican Republic |
NSAM 154 | US NATO Alert Procedures |
NSAM 155 | Emergency Medical Program for Vietnam |
NSAM 156 | Re: Negotiations on disarmament and peaceful uses of outer space |
NSAM 157 | "Presidential Meeting on Laos, May 24, 1962" |
NSAM 158 | Contingency Plans for Berlin |
NSAM 159 | Methods for Improving the Coordination of Economic and Military Aid Programs |
NSAM 160 | Permissive Links for Nuclear Weapons in NATO |
NSAM 161 | U.S. Internal Security Programs |
NSAM 162 | Development of U.S. and Indigenous Police. Paramilitary and Military Resources |
NSAM 163 | Training Objectives for Counterinsurgency |
NSAM 164 | Re: Panama |
NSAM 165 | Assignment of Additional Responsibility to the Special Group |
NSAM 166 | Report on Emergency Plans and continuity of the Government |
NSAM 167 | Harassment of Autobahn Convoys |
NSAM 168 | Comparison of US and USSR Atomic Energy |
NSAM 169 | Maintaining Momentum of Makarios Visit |
NSAM 170 | Intelligence Collection through Audio Surveillance |
NSAM 171 | Dept. of Defense Actions to Reduce Its Overseas Expenditures |
NSAM 172 | Bilateral Talks Concerning US-USSR Cooperation in Outer Space Activities |
NSAM 173 | Interdepartmental Field Visits |
NSAM 174 | Re: Ability to detect small underground shots |
NSAM 175 | DOD - State Concept for Communication between National Leaders |
NSAM 176 | Release of Public Information Concerning Soviet Nuclear Tests |
NSAM 177 | Police Assistance Programs |
NSAM 178 | Destruction of Mangrove Swamps in South Vietnam |
NSAM 179 | U.S. Policy Toward Indonesia |
NSAM 180 | Membership of the Special Group |
NSAM 181 | Cuba |
NSAM 182 | Counterinsurgency Doctrine |
NSAM 183 | Space Program for the United States |
NSAM 184 | Countries under the Cognizance of the Special Group |
NSAM 185 | Approval of Additional Nuclear Tests |
NSAM 186 | Countries under the Cognizance of the Special Group |
NSAM 187 | The Barter Program |
NSAM 188 | Limited Benefits of Bases in Japan |
NSAM 189 | Presidential Meeting on Laos |
NSAM 190 | Approval of STORAX II |
NSAM 191 | Assignment of Highest National Priority to Project DEFENDER |
NSAM 192 | "Re: ""A Separate Arms Control Measure for Outer Space""" |
NSAM 193 | Re: Foreign Weapons Evaluation Group |
NSAM 194 | Policy Toward Non-Bloc Ships in Cuban Trade (State Memo of 10/2/62) |
NSAM 195 | U.S. Policy Toward Indonesia |
NSAM 196 | Establishment of an Executive Committee of the National Security Council |
NSAM 197 | Improved Procedure -- Communication to Other Countries of RD on Nuclear Weapons -- Approved Determinations |
NSAM 198 | Presidential Authorization for KINGFISH |
NSAM 199 | Loading of SACEUR Land-Based Alert Strike Aircraft |
NSAM 200 | Acceleration of Civil Defense Activities |
NSAM 201 | Establishment of Subcommittees on Communications |
NSAM 202 | AEC Procurement Policy for Domestic Uranium through 1962 |
NSAM 203 | Responsibility for Port Security |
NSAM 204 | Special Group (Counter Insurgency) |
NSAM 205 | Nuclear Testing |
NSAM 206 | Military Assistance for internal Security in Latin America |
NSAM 207 | Assignment of Highest National Priority to Project CENTAUR |
NSAM 208 | Cuban Overflights |
NSAM 209 | Actions on South Asia |
NSAM 210 | Underground Nuclear Tests |
NSAM 211 | U.S. Policy Toward Algeria |
NSAM 212 | U.S. Policy Toward Yugoslavia |
NSAM 213 | Interdepartmental Organization for Cuban Affairs |
NSAM 214 | Participation of U.S. and Latin American Armed Forces in the Attainment of Common Objectives in L.A. |
NSAM 215 | Inclusion of Tactical Weapons in the Para 6 Force |
NSAM 216 | Study of Disclosure to Russians of U.S. Satellite Reconnaissance Capability |
NSAM 217 | Official Visits to South Vietnam |
NSAM 218 | Implementation of the Nassau Agreements |
NSAM 219 | Requesting continuing effort to assemble information on France-Soviet discussions and negotiations |
NSAM 220 | U.S. Government Shipments by Foreign Flag Vessels in the Cuban Trade |
NSAM 221 | U.S. Policy Toward Algeria |
NSAM 222 | Security Aspects of Using Submarines in a Multilateral Force |
NSAM 223 | Appraisal of Sino-Indian Situation |
NSAM 224 | Coordination of U.S. Efforts Under the Trade Relations Act |
NSAM 225 | Re: Balance of Payments |
NSAM 226 | Directive Relating to Transmittal of Information to the Watch Committee of the USIB |
NSAM 227 | "Decisions Taken at President's Meeting on Yemen Crisis, 25 February 1963" |
NSAM 228 | Review of Iranian Situation |
NSAM 229 | Pacific Trust Territories |
NSAM 230 | Assignment of Highest National Priority to Project PAL (Permissive Link for Nuclear Weapons in NATO) |
NSAM 231 | Middle Eastern Nuclear Capabilities |
NSAM 232 | Follow-up on King Hassan's Visit |
NSAM 233 | MLF and IANF Developments |
NSAM 234 | Canada Government |
NSAM 235 | Large-Scale Scientific or Technological Experiments with Possible Adverse Environmental Effects |
NSAM 236 | Sales of Military Spare parts to Yugoslavia |
NSAM 237 | Project MERCURY Manned Space Flight (MA-9) |
NSAM 238 | Atmospheric Testing 1964 |
NSAM 239 | U.S. Disarmament Proposal |
NSAM 240 | MLF (Multilateral Force) |
NSAM 241 | Report on French Gaseous Diffusion Plant |
NSAM 242 | Australian Procurement of French Mirage Aircraft and Possible future military purchases by Australia from the US |
NSAM 243 | Survey Mission for the U.S. Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands |
NSAM 244 | The Future of the World Sugar Market |
NSAM 245 | High Yield Nuclear Weapons |
NSAM 246 | Future Policy Toward Haiti |
NSAM 247 | U.S. Policy Toward Spain |
NSAM 248 | Dispersal Plan for NORAD Aid Defense Squadrons |
NSAM 249 | Laos Planning |
NSAM 250 | Contingency Plan for Dealing with Possible Low-Yield Soviet Atmospheric Tests |
NSAM 251 | Estimate of Greek Political Outlook |
NSAM 252 | Establishment of the National Communications System |
NSAM 253 | Multilateral Force |
NSAM 254 | Re: Test Ban Agreement |
NSAM 255 | Instructions Governing in Use of the Direct Communications Link Between Washington and Moscow |
NSAM 256 | Laos planning |
NSAM 257 | Aide Memoire for Greece |
NSAM 258 | Assignment of Highest National Priority to Program 437 |
NSAM 259 | Aid Program for Laos |
NSAM 260 | "Restudy of the International Passamaquoddy Tidal Power Project and the Hydroelectric Potential of the Saint John River, Maine" |
NSAM 261 | Assignment of Highest National Priority to Project FOUR LEAVES |
NSAM 262 | Yemen Disentanglement |
NSAM 263 | South Vietnam |
NSAM 264 | Multilateral Force |
NSAM 265 | Treatment of Soviet Bloc Fishing Vessels |
NSAM 266 | New Action Program for Cyprus |
NSAM 267 | Disaster Assistance for Skopje |
NSAM 268 | Report of the Survey Mission to the Trust Territories of the Pacific |
NSAM 269 | Procedures for Approval of Certain Nuclear Tests |
NSAM 270 | "Meeting with the President, 10/24/63, 10:30 a.m. re European Matters" |
NSAM 271 | Cooperation with the USSR on Outer Space Matters |
NSAM 272 | Safety Rules for Nuclear Weapons Systems |