Browse oral history

Interview with Saunders, Harold*

Date

February 12 and 27, April 8, May 1, 1987

Location

Washington, D.C.

Interviewer

Burr, William

Language

English

Abstract

NSC under Kennedy and Johnson; influence of Robert Komer and Ken Hansen on Iran policy in the early 1960s; role of Military and Economic Assistance in US-Iran relations; importance of oil; importance of Iran-Israel relations; The White Revolution; Ruhollah Khomeini in 1963; Shah, Nixon, Kissinger in Tehran in 1972; evolution of US-Iran relations under Nixon; relations under Carter; the Vance-Brzezinski conflictual effect on policy coherence; George Ball’s role; US and Khomeini; on Ambassador Sullivan.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Transcripts

Harold-Saunders-Vol-I Harold-Saunders-Vol-II Harold-Saunders-Vol-III Harold-Saunders-Vol-IIII Harold-Saunders-Vol-V

Contents

153 pp + Summary + Biographical Note + Index

About the interviewee

Saunders, Harold*

CIA Junior Officer Trainee, 1958-1961; National Security Council (NSC)Staff, 1961-1974; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, 1974-1975; Director of Intelligence and Research, 1975-1978; Assistant Secretary of State for Near East and South Asia, 1978-1981.