Center for Strategic and International Studies, timeline

This timeline records key events in the history of the CSIS, in particular from the period of its creation until it was removed from campus at Georgetown University in 1986.

1962

Georgetown University News Service, June 1962

June

• The announcement of the establishment of The Centre for Strategic (and International) Studies was made by Reverend E.B Bunn, President of Georgetown University on June 4 1962. Its stated aim was 'to coordinate and conduct studies related to the strategies by which free societies can utilise their total strength to preserve and further develop the values underlying Western civilisation.'
• Donald Sheehan of the University of Pennsylvania writes to Reverend Bunn on the 23 June 1962, expressing that he was 'impressed with the need for such an independent objective agency' and that 'a university provides an ideal setting for such an organisation as you have envisioned'.

1963

February

Courier article on the CSIS, Volume XI, No.5, February 1963

• CSIS' contribution to coordinating research and facilitating meetings between strategists and other key political actors receives press attention.

1964

Letter from Arleigh Burke regarding CSIS move, Feb 5 1964

February

• Arleigh Burke writes to Father Campbell on 5 February 1964 regarding CSIS' move of headquarters to 1717 Massachusetts Avenue, away from Georgetown University Campus.

September

• Response to Admiral Burke from Father Campbell regarding constitutional restructuring of CSIS and the Board of Director's approval on 11 September.

1966

April

• Letter from Admiral Burke dated 22 April 1966, regarding a grant from the Scaife Family Foundation to help retain Professors Garbuny and Sharabi from Georgetown.

September

• Admiral Burke writes to the CEO of the Automobile Manufacturers Association on 13 September 1966, asking that he sit as a member of the Executive Board.

December

• Student newspaper the HOYA outlining the achievements and publications of the Centre between 1962-1966 and its prominent role in US strategy formation.

The Hoya article on CSIS, December 1966

1967

April

• Stirrings of student activism at Georgetown: the student populous are 'bored, respectful, disappointed and mannerly'. There are small pockets of activism emerging such as Georgetown University Community Action Program or student paper the Hoya's criticism of Father Campbell for the lack of administrative coordination between staff and students.

October

• The Free University catalogue is published on 1 October by Georgetown University Students, modelled on the 40 or so other versions that had sprouted up on campuses around the country. The opening saw some 500 students join up to over 50 courses, taught by professors in their spare time and free of tuition fees.

1968

'A Dialogue of the Decision Makers', article on CSIS May 1968

April

• The Research Council is created under the chairmanship of Professor Mosely to meet for the first time on 1 November 1968.

May

• Praise is given to CSIS and it's use to the policy-practitioner in Washington, particularly to its work regarding the emerging Arab-Israeli conflict and an article in Georgetown's Alumni magazine quotes Admiral Burke as saying 'policy goes wrong becuase the alternatives are not understood at the time a decision is taken.'

December

• Letter from Arleigh Burke to Father Campbell from 4 December 1968 regarding the centre's name change from the Centre for Strategic Studies to the 'Centre for Strategic and International Studies' (CSIS). Father Campbell felt it important that the centre emphasise its international focus alongside that of strategy.

1969

Statement on CSIS by Father Henle, July 1969

July

• In a statement from July 1969, President of Georgetown Father Henle outlines some of the criticisms that have befallen the centre: it's research agenda had been claimed as 'biased' and 'propaganda for a conservative and militaristic viewpoint' and it had also come under fire for having 'compromising connections with government agencies and private interests'. Father Henle comes out in staunch defence of the centre, stating that 'the Center has been of considerable benefit to the students and faculty of the University by providing research, travel and publication support as well as Fellowships'.

August

• Memo to President Henle of Georgetown notifying him of CSIS' constitutional changes on 4 August outlining the name change to 'Centre for Strategic and International Studies' to imply that 'the Centre's efforts are not geared strictly to defence matters', the change of directorship to 'Chairman' to imply it's more administrative role and the central role of the Research Council in directing research,which replaced the Research Committee.

1970

Newsletter of April 1970 confirming new appointments

April

• Confirmation of David Abshire's appointment by President Nixon to 'Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations'. The role was designed to use Abshire's expertise to focus on the growing role of Congress in the formation of foreign policy.
• The newsletter also confirms the replacement of Abshire by Ambassador John Steeves as Executive Director of CSIS.

1971

Henle to Burke regarding Chair of Int Affairs, February 1971

February

• President of Georgetown Roger Henle writes to Admiral Burke on 25 February regarding a meeting with Ambassador Spruille Braden and the gifting of a Chair of International Affairs to the university.

1972

March

• Article in Georgetown Today, denoting CSIS' ability to shift British policy in the Gulf as well as US policy with Panama and the USSR. While revered internationally, among students the centre 'remains and enigma', and is charged by leftists (Students for Democratic Society for example) as being a front for the CIA and a conservative or militaristic disposition. Often referred to as the 'Cold War think tank' due to its ideological leaning.

'Intellectual Brokerage House' - Georgetown Today, March 1972

1974

Memo from Henry Kissinger regarding Latin American trade commitments, July 1974

January

• Letter from David Abshire to Father Henle dated 21 January regarding the separation of CSIS Chairman and Executive Director and appointment of former CIA operative Ray Cline to Executive Director of Studies.

July

• Memorandum from July 1974 from Henry Kissinger (Secretary of State) regarding the administration's trade commitments to Latin America, advising that where possible the US should intensify trade with the region. Serves as a good example of the prominent strategy formation the CSIS provided at the time.

1980

April

CIA/CSIS: A Pheonix Rising, April 1980

• Article from 1 April regarding close ties between Georgetown, the CSIS and the CIA, especially GU hospitals involvement in 'MKULTRA', which writer John Marks asserted was an attempt by the CIA to control human behaviour en masse through the use of mind-altering substances such as LSD. The article asserted that 'no one can doubt that limited manipulation effects aimed at winning public support for a strengthened CIA are emanating from GU/CSIS complex'.

July

• Georgetown Magazine issue featuring 'CSIS - Georgetown's think tank on the potomac' - 14 page spread including various scholarly extracts and emerging strategic issues as well as photographs of key players like Abshire and Laqueur.

Image of CSIS scholars, from Georgetown Magazine issue July/August 1980

1986

Confirmation of Board decision of separate incorporation, November 1986

October

• Letter from Tim Healy to Stanley Katz dated October 7 taking on board the recommendation of a separate incorporation of CSIS stating that 'we are proceeding to an orderly separation' and that he hopes 'to avoid any claims of rancour or displeasure.'

November

• Confirmation of the separate incorporation decision made by the Board. General Andrew Goodpaster, who sat on the committee of external evaluators, argued that independently both Georgetown University and CSIS can 'embellish the characteristic activities which make them so valuable.' The five-member committee of external evaluators was made up of Sir Michael Howard, Samuel P. Huntington, Stanley Katz and Jaroslav Pelikan, as well as Goodpaster himself.