Political Warfare Timeline 1977

Notes towards a chronology of the modern history of covert action with particular reference to the role of the Lovestoneite movement.

January

• 10 - Henry Kissinger states "I do not believe the Soviet Union is achieving military superiority over the United States", contradicting Team B analysts.
• 19 - Outgoing US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld claims, in line with Team B analysis, that Soviets appear to be aiming at war-fighting rather than deterrence.
• 30 - Publication of a report by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, criticising Team B's charges. New York Times reports that Carter administration will nominate Paul Warnke to direct the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. A memo opposing Warnke by Penn Kemble and Joshua Muravchik of the Coalition for a Democratic Majority will begin to circulate anonymously around this time.

February

• 7 Paul Nitze writes to Senator John Sparkman criticising Warnke nomination.
• 8-9 Senate Foreign Relations Committee holds hearings on Warnke nomination. Nitze testifies that the Soviets look on "weakness as weakness and not be respected."
• Following the Warnke hearings, the Emergency Coalition Against Unilateral Disarmament is formed to oppose the nomination, bringing together supporters of the Coalition for a Democratic Majority with activists from the New Right.