Letter from the Senate to the President

United States Senate
Office of the Republican Leader
Washington, DC 20510-7010

May 2, 1995

The President
The White House
Washington

Dear Mr. President:

We are writing in advance of your summit meeting in Moscow to reiterate our strenuous
objections to any action which would politically strengthen the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM)
Treaty, expand its scope, increase the number of signatories, or otherwise add impediments to the
development and deployment of effective U.S. theater missile defenses. On four separate
occasions — January 17, February 6, March 8, and April 6 — Senate Republicans have written to
you on this critical issue, indicating our opposition to such efforts and underscoring our position
that any such treaty changes would be subject tot he advise and consent of the Senate.
Unfortunately, there are indications that your administration has not been dissuaded from
pursuing a course which would place serious new constraints on our ability to pursue effective
missile defenses.

The threat posed by the proliferation of ballistic missile technology and weapons of mass
destruction grows daily. We had a close look at this threat during the Gulf War. The next time a
conflict arises, our troops and our allies could face a greater threat, as terrorist regimes like Iran,
bent on acquiring missile technology, nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction
move closer to that goal. The Russians’ intent to follow through with a reactor deal that would
add to Iran’s nuclear know-how only makes the situation more urgent.

As such, we are deeply troubled by indications that you intend to proceed, in face of clearly stated
Congressional opposition, to make commitments in Moscow that would impede U.S. efforts to
provide American troops overseas and allies with effective protection against missile attack. We
find particularly troubling press reports describing the draft communique language being
developed for that meeting. Furthermore, we note that in January 1992, Russian President Boris
Yeltsin proposed not only deeper offensive force reductions, but collaboration with the United
States on a joint “Global Protection System” of anti-missile defenses. This would be a much more
appropriate and constructive avenue for your discussions with President Yeltsin.

Failing to get Russia to back down on its nuclear reactor deal with Iran, while simultaneously
acting to severely limit our ability to protect U.S. forces, allies, and American citizens would be
inexcusable. Should this be the outcome, we want you and the Russians to be fully aware of our
determination to prevent the creation of new impediments to missile defenses.

Sincerely,

Robert Dole
Spencer Abraham
John Ashcroft
Robert Foster Bennett
Christopher S. Bond
Hank Brown
Conrad Burns
Ben Nighthorse Campbell
Daniel R. Coats
Thad Cochran
William S. Cohen
Paul Coverdell
Larry E. Craig
Alfonse D’Amato
Mike DeWine
Pete V. Domenici
D.M. ‘Lauch’ Faircloth
Bill Frist
Slade Gorton
Phil Gramm
Rodney Grams
Charles Grassley
Judd Allan Gregg
Orrin Hatch
Jesse Helms
Kay Bailey Hutchison
James M. Inhofe
Dirk Kempthorne
Jon L. Kyl
Trent Lott
Richard Lugar
Connie Mack
John McCain
Mitch McConnell
Frank Murkowski
Don Nickles
Bob Packwood
Larry Pressler
William W. Roth
Rick Santorum
Richard Shelby
Alan K. Simpson
Robert Smith
Olympia J. Snowe
Arlen Specter
Ted Stevens
Craig Thomas
Fred Thompson
Strom Thurmond
John W. Warner