NSC 68

(noun)

National Security Council Report 68 (NSC-68) was a 58-page top secret policy paper issued by the United States National Security Council on April 14, 1950, during the presidency of Harry S. Truman. It was one of the most significant statements of American policy in the Cold War. NSC-68 largely shaped U.S. foreign policy in the Cold War for the next 20 years, and involved a decision to make containment of Communist expansion a high priority. The strategy outlined in NSC-68 achieved ultimate victory, according to this view, with the collapse of the Soviet power and the emergence of a "new world order" centered on American liberal-capitalist values. Truman officially signed NSC-68 on September 30, 1950.

Related Terms

Examples of NSC 68 in the following topics:

  • The Military Implementation of Containment

    • In his autobiography, President Truman acknowledged that fighting the invasion was essential to the American goal of the global containment of communism as outlined in the National Security Council Report 68 (NSC-68).

  • Containment

    • Completed in April 1950, it became known as NSC 68.

  • Containment in Foreign Policy

    • Truman approved a classified statement of containment policy called NSC 20/4 in November 1948, the first comprehensive statement of security policy ever created by the United States.
    • Completed in April 1950, it became known as NSC 68.

  • The Cold War Begins

    • One month later, Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947, creating a unified Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and the National Security Council (NSC).

  • The Transformed National Economy

    • From 1869 to 1879, the U.S. economy grew at a rate of 6.8% for real GDP and 4.5% for real GDP per capita, despite the panic of 1873.

  • The Election of 1828 and the Character Issue

    • Jackson won everything else, however, capturing 56 percent of the popular vote and 68 percent of the electoral vote and resulting in an overwhelming victory over Adams.

  • Women's Rights

    • After two days of discussion and debate, 68 women and 32 men signed a "Declaration of Sentiments," which outlined grievances and set the agenda for the women's-rights movement.

  • African Americans in the Military

    • The USCT suffered 2,751 combat casualties during the war, and 68,178 losses from all causes.

  • The Election of 1976

    • The states that ultimately secured Carter's victory were Wisconsin (at a 1.68% margin) and Ohio (at a .27% margin).

  • Policy in the Middle East

    • In February of 2013, Obama said the U.S. military would reduce the troop level in Afghanistan from 68,000 to 34,000 U.S. troops by February 2014.