Series 4248
MX Coordination Office MX missile deployment and national defense issues subject files
Dates: 1978-1981.
2.00 cubic feet
These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.
Historical Note
An agency history is available.
Scope and Content
The series consists of various letters, memos, reports, notes, personal statements, and newsletters written by political leaders at all levels of government. Particularly well represented are reports and statements made by officials of the Carter administration, and hearings and reports made by various officials and committees of the U.S. Congress. A television script, from the Bill Moyers Journal program, in which MX issues were debated is included.
The Utah MX Coordination Office collected information to better help Utah officials study and evaluate the potential impact of MX missile deployment in the Great Basin, and these records were apparently acquired for and used in this effort. Information in this series essentially places the MX missile in the context of the larger national defense system. Conflicting opinions from both supporters and opponents of the project are well represented.
The general debate concerned deployment of the MX missile and whether it really contributed todefense of the nation. To a lesser extent the debate about the type and degree of expected environmental, economic, and social impacts of deployment can also be followed. Arguments were often very detailed. Proponents argued that:
(1) The initial cost of MX deployment would be less than alternative missile deployment systems, and that subsequent maintenance costs of the MX system would be comparable.
(2) Effects on the environment would be minimal, resulting in the closure of only approximately twenty-five square miles of land. The system would coexist harmoniously with communities, recreation, ranching, mining facilities, and wildlife.
(3) The MX system would be difficult to attack and eliminate through a first strike, making our other defense systems more secure.
Opponents argued that:
(1) Deployment of the MX would cause severe environmental, social, and economic problems.
(2) It would increase the arms race, so that national security would not really be enhanced.
(3) The MXmissile would not really be a mobile system, since each launch point would be fixed. It would also be extremely vulnerable while being built.
(4) Technological advances would make it possible for enemies to distinguish between live missiles and its decoys.
Access Restrictions
This series is designated as Public.
Reproduction and Use
These records are available for reproduction and use.
Related Records
Governor's MX missile correspondence from the MX Coordination Office, Series 4247, shows the evolution of local public opinion about these same issues.
MX missile news articles from the MX Coordination Office, Series 4249, contains unpublished documents that also express opinions about the role of the missile system in national defense.
Living facilities planning reports from the MX Missile Policy Board, Series 5646, consists of various letters, memos, reports, notes, personal statements, and newsletters written by political leaders at all levels of government concerning the MX issue.
Draft environmental impact studies from the MX Missile Policy Board, Series 5647, consists of various letters, memos, reports, notes, personal statements, and newsletters written by political leaders at all levels of government concerning the MX issue.
MX technical issues briefing transcript from the Governor's Office of Management and Budget, Series 11927, helps frame many of the larger issues, debates, and controversies concerning the MX proposal in Utah.
MX environmental technical reports from the MX Coordination Office, Series 17499, contains an assortment of collected records utilized by staff of the MX Coordination Office in their analysis and coordination efforts.
Indexing Terms
Intercontinental ballistic missile bases--Utah.
MX (Weapons system).
Nuclear arms control--Utah.
BOX | FOLDER | DESCRIPTION |
1 | 1 | Ballistic Missile Defense Program |
1 | 2 | Bill Moyer's Journal-MX Debate |
1 | 3 | Bill Moyer's Journal-MX Debate (Cont.) |
1 | 4 | Bill Moyer's Journal-MX Debate (Cont.) |
1 | 5 | Bill Moyer's Journal-MX Debate (Cont.) |
1 | 6 | Bill Moyer's Journal-MX Debate (Cont.) |
1 | 7 | Bill Moyer's Journal-MX Debate (Cont.) |
1 | 8 | Bill Moyer's Journal-MX Debate (Cont.) |
1 | 9 | Bill Moyer's Journal-MX Debate (Cont.) |
1 | 10 | Bill Moyer's Journal-MX Debate (Cont.) |
1 | 11 | Bill Moyer's Journal-MX Debate (Cont.) |
1 | 12 | Bill Moyer's Journal-MX Debate (Cont.) |
1 | 13 | Bill Moyer's Journal-MX Debate (Cont.) |
1 | 14 | Chief of Staff General Lew Allen |
1 | 15 | Commander in Chief General Richard Ellis-Strategic Air Command |
1 | 16 | Congressional Record |
1 | 17 | Congressional Record (Cont.) |
1 | 18 | Congressional Record (Cont.) |
1 | 19 | Congressional Record (Cont.) |
1 | 20 | Congressional Record (Cont.) |
1 | 21 | Congressional Record (Cont.) |
1 | 22 | Congressional Record Report |
1 | 23 | Congressional Record Report (Cont.) |
1 | 24 | Congressional Record Report (Cont.) |
1 | 25 | Cruise Missile Flight Tests |
1 | 26 | Defense Analyst Articles |
1 | 27 | Defense Analyst Articles (Cont.) |
1 | 28 | Defense Analyst Articles (Cont.) |
1 | 29 | Defense Analyst Articles (Cont.) |
1 | 30 | Defense Analyst Articles (Cont.) |
1 | 31 | Defense Analyst Articles (Cont.) |
1 | 32 | Defense Analyst Articles (Cont.) |
1 | 33 | Defense Analyst Articles (Cont.) |
1 | 34 | Defense Analyst Articles (Cont.) |
1 | 35 | Defense Analyst Articles (Cont.) |
1 | 36 | Defense Analyst Articles (Cont.) |
1 | 37 | Defense Analyst Articles (Cont.) |
1 | 38 | Deployment Management Plan |
1 | 39 | Deployment Management Plan (Cont.) |
1 | 40 | Deputy Undersecretary of Defense |
1 | 41 | Ellsworth Air Force Base Tour |
1 | 42 | Environmental Impact Analysis Process |
1 | 43 | Great Basin Reaction to the MX Proposal |
1 | 44 | Horizontal Dash System |
1 | 45 | Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Program |
1 | 46 | Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Vulnerability |
1 | 47 | MX Information Center |
1 | 48 | MX Facts and Figures |
1 | 49 | MX Missile System Basing Act |
1 | 50 | MX Missile System and the Environment |
1 | 51 | MX Newsletter |
1 | 52 | MX Questions and Answers |
1 | 53 | Proposed Deployment Hearings |
1 | 54 | Nevada Governor Robert List |
1 | 55 | Nevada Governor Robert List (Cont.) |
1 | 56 | Nevada Governor Robert List (Cont.) |
1 | 57 | Nevada Governor Robert List (Cont.) |
1 | 58 | Nevada Governor Robert List (Cont.) |
1 | 59 | Nevada Governor Robert List (Cont.) |
1 | 60 | President Carter - News Release |
1 | 61 | Public Service Communications |
1 | 62 | Secretary of Defense Harold Brown |
1 | 63 | Senate Armed Services Committee Hearings |
2 | 1 | Strategic Air Command |
2 | 2 | Submarine Based Missiles |
2 | 3 | Technical Issues |
2 | 4 | Town Meetings in Utah |
2 | 5 | Under Secretary of the Air Force |
2 | 6 | Under Secretary of Defense |
2 | 7 | Underground Missile Basing Mode |
2 | 8 | Underground Missile Basing Mode (Cont.) |
2 | 9 | Underground Missile Basing Mode (Cont.) |
2 | 10 | Underground Missile Basing Mode (Cont.) |
2 | 11 | U.S. Air Force Contractor's Addresses |
2 | 12 | U.S. Air Force Fact Sheets on MX Missiles |
2 | 13 | U.S. Air Force News Releases |
2 | 14 | U.S. Senate and House of Representatives |
2 | 15 | U.S. Senate and House of Representatives (Cont.) |
2 | 16 | U.S. Senate and House of Representatives (Cont.) |
2 | 17 | U.S. Senate and House of Representatives (Cont.) |
2 | 18 | U.S. Senate and House of Representatives (Cont.) |
2 | 19 | U.S. Senate and House of Representatives (Cont.) |
2 | 20 | Utah Governor Scott Matheson |
2 | 20 | Utah Governor Scott Matheson (Cont.) |
2 | 20 | Utah Governor Scott Matheson (Cont.) |
2 | 20 | Utah Governor Scott Matheson (Cont.) |
2 | 20 | Utah Governor Scott Matheson (Cont.) |
2 | 20 | Utah Governor Scott Matheson (Cont.) |
2 | 26 | Utah State Senator Francis Farley |
2 | 27 | Utah State Senator Francis Farley (Cont.) |
2 | 28 | Utah State Senator Francis Farley (Cont.) |