How Reagan Became a Believer

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Had Clark and McFarlane run the scheme through the orthodox interagency review process, immediate objections would have either slowed its progress or stopped the plan altogether. Instead, the ideas discussed Feb. 11 were translated into firm policy on a "close-hold" basis inside the White House. It was only in mid-March that Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger and Secretary of State George Shultz were fully informed about what was coming next. There was no real policy debate.

Even inside the White House, there was uncertainty about when to announce the new scheme and how vigorously to push it. McFarlane urged a go-slow approach, but Reagan's political advisers wanted the President to express a large, fresh idea in his next defense policy speech. Thus the President unveiled Star Wars in a televised address on March 23. Reagan's science adviser, George Keyworth II, excluded from the loop until five days before the speech, now talks with relish about the bureaucracy's "surprise, if not shock, at this demonstration of top-down leadership."

For Reagan's part, he was eager to spread the word. What he enjoyed most, his intimates say, was describing "a vision of the future that offers hope." Reagan's enthusiasm eventually silenced doubts down the chain of command. He was now personally engaged in nuclear affairs as never before. In the six weeks between the J.C.S. meeting and his televised speech, he had drastically changed U.S. strategic policy.