NSC-68: National Security Council Paper Number 68
In 1950, the National Security Council needed a solution to the rising Communist scare, as in September, 1949, the Soviet Union had just successfully detonated their first nuclear bomb. In a joint effort between the Defense Department, the State Department and the CIA, they combined to write National Security Council Paper Number 68. NSC-68 states that “containing” the growth and expansion of Communism is the US’s top priority and the United States should spend $50 billion dollars on military, up from $13 billion, to help “increase military aid to US Allies” and to “achieve more effect means in retaining US goals” in containing Communism. President Truman was hesitant to sign the document because of the costs, but when the Korean War broke out in July, he immediately changed his mind. This policy dictated most of the US actions late into the Cold War, remaining significant until the late 1970’s and was the foundation of later documents.