Grandma’s 1987 letter to Bob Packwood re disarmament. Text:
Dear Senator Packwood:
I was very sorry to read the other day that in order to get Pres. Reagan’s signature on the $9.4 billion spending bill two important arms control measures were dropped--the ban on all but the smallest nuclear tests and the requirement for resumption of compliance with the SALT II treaty.
I hope that some other bills will be rescued. Can you please use your influence to help bring to a vote the bill prohibiting anti-satellite weapons testing? The Soviets are ready for this, and why shouldn’t we also want to put a stop to tests that lead to an acceleration of an arms race in space?
I think also that it’s very important that Pres. Reagan be curbed in his desire to make his own interpretation of the ABM treaty. If he wants to re-negotiate it or take the matter before the Standing Consultative Commission, that is one thing. But to re-write it on his own is quite unacceptable in world law. Please support the effort to require a strict interpretation.
I appreciate your recent votes opposing production of nerve gas, and hope that you will work with Sen. Hatfield to get those funds revoked. It doesn’t make sense to rush ahead with production of a stockpile of something that is so unwelcome in Europe, and something that we are on the verge of outlawing. The ongoing negotiations on chemical weapons should succeed, since the Soviets have signified their willingness to accept whatever inspection is necessary for monitoring a ban.
One last thing--I have read about a plan being promoted by the Dept. of Defense and FEMA to build fall-out shelters for officials at state and local level so that they can “manage” things for any survivors of a nuclear attack. I wish you would ask them for me whether the families of those planners and managers will be in the shelters with them--or out on the streets with the rest of us dodging the radiation and fires.
Sincerely,
Mary E. Bolton