Blog

"Closure of ICE Detention Facilities," a memo to the Secretary of Homeland Security from members of the ACLU, 09/06/23

Memo reviewed by: Veronica Diaz, HKS MPA/ID, Paul Nolan, HKS MPP, Sima Thakkar MPA/MC, and Aleena Ali, MPP

ICE Detention centers

The memo reviewed, "Closure of ICE Detention Facilities," is a memo from the ACLU to Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, urging him to close Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities. From start to finish, the memo excels at crafting a tone that is respectful yet assertive. The author opens with an olive branch to the Secretary—thanking him for the “continued concern for the dignity, safety and human rights” and recent action to close substandard detention facilities. ... Read more about "Closure of ICE Detention Facilities," a memo to the Secretary of Homeland Security from members of the ACLU, 09/06/23

Memo from the Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, "Next Steps on Suicide Prevention in the Military," 03/16/2023

Memo reviewed by, Guido Torres, HKS NSF, Manual Ortiz-Senior, HKS MPA/MC, and Shivani Gupta, HKS MPA/ID

Reach out a hand

The memo titled ‘Next Steps on Suicide Prevention’ serves to address the critical concern of suicides within the Department of Defense. The memo effectively grabs the reader's attention. It emphasizes the importance of the Department's most precious resource - its people. However, the content and writing of the memo could use some work.... Read more about Memo from the Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, "Next Steps on Suicide Prevention in the Military," 03/16/2023

Joint Statement Between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Ministry of Interior of the State of Qatar to Secure World Cup Qatar 2022

Memo reviewed by Tom Pesce, MPA

World Cup
 

The memo I reviewed is a Joint Statement between the US DHS and the Qatar Minister of the Interior , regarding security measures for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. In general, the memo's aim is to announce the partnership between the DHS and Qatar to ensure safety at the World Cup, and to define the specific measures being taken for this purpose.
... Read more about Joint Statement Between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Ministry of Interior of the State of Qatar to Secure World Cup Qatar 2022

Commissioner Hardesty Office Memo on Gun Violence in Portland

Memo Review by Ashley Hong, MPP

Police Tape

Memo: Commissioner Hardesty Office Memo on Gun Violence in PortlandLinks to an external site.

This is a public memo from the Policy Director of Portland's Commissioner to the Mayor's Office of Portland. In advance of an upcoming City Council Work Session, the author argues that public interest in reinstituting the city's Gun Violence Reduction Team is not based on data and that, historically, the initiative disproportionately overpoliced Black Portlanders. The purpose of this memo was not to offer a discrete policy solution, but request Councilmembers seriously consider implications related to reinstating the Team.... Read more about Commissioner Hardesty Office Memo on Gun Violence in Portland

Israeli Nuclear Program: Memo to President Nixon from Henry Kissinger, 7/16/69

Memo Review by Alex Dubin, HKS MPP

Pres. Nixon, Golda Meir and Henry Kissinger
President Richard Nixon (center), Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir (left), and Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger (right), in the Oval Office.

Memo: https://www.nixonlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/virtuallibrary/documents/mr/071969_israel.pdf

            Israel is thought to have developed its nuclear program over time in the 1950s and 1960s, likely with the capability to build weapons by the late 1960s.[1] The Israeli government had maintained a policy of secrecy over its nuclear program, pursuing a policy of nuclear ambiguity. It was widely believed to have between 90-200 weapons,[2] although Israel had never officially tested a nuclear weapon.... Read more about Israeli Nuclear Program: Memo to President Nixon from Henry Kissinger, 7/16/69

Insight from Jasjeet Ajimal, Former Senior Advisor and Director to Canadian Provincial Cabinet Minister

Jasjeet Ajimal

What is your current title and your most recent title as a policy practitioner?

I am currently the co-chair of the Save Afghan Minority Project with the Manmeet Singh Bhullar Foundation and continue to advise the private sector on public-private-community partnerships, policy improvements, and strategic project delivery.... Read more about Insight from Jasjeet Ajimal, Former Senior Advisor and Director to Canadian Provincial Cabinet Minister

Insight from recent graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School National Security Fellow Program, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Figueroa

Edward Figuero Cropped

What is your current title and your most recent title as a policy practitioner?

Recent graduate of the National Security Fellow program at Harvard Kennedy School. My follow on assignment will be in Stuttgart, Germany serving at U.S. European Command as...

Read more about Insight from recent graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School National Security Fellow Program, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Figueroa

1995 Moscow Summit, "Moment of Truth": Memo to President Clinton from Strobe Talbott, 4/15/1995

Memo Review by Alex Dubin, HKS MPP

Clinton and Yeltsin, Vancouver April 1993

            The end of the Cold War and the disintegration of the Soviet Union generated an enormous peace dividend and left the U.S. as the world’s sole superpower. However, the question of how to effectively engage with post-Soviet Russia loomed large over U.S. policytowards Europe.... Read more about 1995 Moscow Summit, "Moment of Truth": Memo to President Clinton from Strobe Talbott, 4/15/1995

LBJ's Conversation with Israeli Foreign Minister Abba Eban: Memo to President Johnson from Secretary of State Rusk, 05/26/1967

Memo Review by Alex Dubin, HKS MPP

Abba Eban and LBJ

In this 1967 policy memo, Secretary of State Dean Rusk writes a concise and compelling memo to President Lyndon Johnson, which includes talking points for an upcoming meeting during a tense period just before the Six Day War. Although Rusk’s solution ultimately did not prevent the outbreak of the war, his writing is an excellent example of understanding and supporting an audience composed solely of a critical decisionmaker.... Read more about LBJ's Conversation with Israeli Foreign Minister Abba Eban: Memo to President Johnson from Secretary of State Rusk, 05/26/1967

U.S. and Soviet Anti-Satellite Capabilities: Memo to President Ford from National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft, 07/24/1976

Memo Review by Alex Dubin, HKS MPP

President Ford and Brent Scowcroft
President Gerald Ford and National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft. The U.S. National Archives

The Space Race began in October 1957 when the Soviets shocked the United States by launching Sputnik 1 into orbit. The U.S. soon followed with a satellite of its own, eventually overtaking and beating the Soviets by landing humans on the Moon in 1969. The Space Age, however, was beginning to create a nascent infrastructure of satellites in space, the capabilities of which the U.S. and world were increasingly relying on.... Read more about U.S. and Soviet Anti-Satellite Capabilities: Memo to President Ford from National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft, 07/24/1976