Presidential Directive 59 Explained

Presidential Directive 59 (PD-59) was a top secret document titled "Nuclear Weapons Employment Policy" prepared by the Carter administration and dated 25 July 1980 that contained plans for carrying out an extended nuclear war.^[1]

Csrter's National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski described it as an addition to National Security Decision Memorandum 242, a Nixon administration document that it superseded.^{[2] [3]}

Parts of its contents were leaked shortly after its creation, causing a public furore about nuclear escalation.^[4]

A redacted version of PD-59 has since been declassified and released publicly.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Schumann . Anna . 2012-10-01 . Carter War Plan Released . 2024-04-27 . Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation . en-US.
2. Web site: August 26, 1980 . Memorandum for the President from Zbigniew Brzezinski . 2024-04-27 . U.S. National Archives.
3. Carter Presidential Directive 59, Nuclear Weapons Employment Policy
4. Web site: Jimmy Carter's Controversial Nuclear Targeting Directive PD-59 Declassified . 2024-04-27 . nsarchive2.gwu.edu.