# Memo Review Good policy memos are clear and concise. They use effective structure and well-conceived arguments. They are persuasive. Hitting all of these marks is a challenge for policy writers. In order to demonstrate best practices of policy writing, the blog posts below evaluate policy memos and consider both strengths, and areas for improvement. Sort & Filters close ## Filters Topics expand\_more - Audience (1) - Clarity (1) - Cohesion (2) - Compelling (1) - Concision (1) - Credible (1) - Economic Policy (1) - Environment (2) - Foreign Policy/National Security (5) - Persuasion (5) - Policy Problem (1) - Politics (1) Search Within Results Search Within Results search ## 25 results Show filters filter\_alt Sort by NewestOldestAlphabetical A-ZAlphabetical Z-APublish Date (DESC)Publish Date (ASC) sort list grid\_view ## 25 results [### Memo Review - Environmental Protection Agency Memo - High lead levels in drinking water in Flint, MI ](/news/2026/04/memo-review-environmental-protection-agency-memo-high-lead-levels-drinking-water-flint) April 03, 2026 One of the catalysts of the nationwide outrage around the Flint water crisis in Michigan was a memo written by Miguel Del Toral, an EPA regulations manager in Chicago. A local Flint resident contacted her regional EPA office and connected with Del Toral... ![Water coming from faucet](/sites/g/files/omnuum8096/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-04/bad%20water_0.jpg?itok=OjLrXvIg) [### Memo Review - International Policy Advice for the World Bank, November 2020 ](/news/2025/11/memo-review-international-policy-advice-world-bank-november-2020) November 21, 2025 Click to view memo being reviewed: Memorandum on International Policy Advice for the World Bank, To: The President of the World Bank, From: Pinelopi (Penny) Koujianou Goldberg, November 2020 Overall, Goldberg presents a persuasive advisory memorandum by... ![Image of world and different currencies](/sites/g/files/omnuum8096/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-11/Global%20Economy.png?itok=oBuY_5bd) [### Memo Review of President Reagan's memo to Domestic Policy Council Members, 06/25/1987 ](/news/2025/11/memo-review-president-reagans-memo-domestic-policy-council-members-06251987) November 21, 2025 Memo being reviewed - Memo from President Ronald Reagan to Domestic Policy Council Members, 06/25/1987 (PDF) In 1987, President Ronald Reagan wrote a memo to the Domestic Policy Council to provide direction on protecting the ozone layer ahead of... ![Photo of President Ronald Reagan](/sites/g/files/omnuum8096/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-11/Reagan%20cropped_3.jpg?itok=He_tZ28r) [### Memo Review of President Truman's Assistant, David Lloyd. Summary outline of discussion of long-term international problems for January 1950 ](/news/2025/11/memo-review-president-trumans-assistant-david-lloyd-summary-outline-discussion-long) November 15, 2025 Memo being reviewed: Summary Outline of Discussion of Long-Term International Problems for January 1950, by David Lloyd This review examines a memo by President Harry Truman’s assistant David Lloyd, who is providing policy options for foreign investment... ![Truman headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum8096/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-11/Truman%20headshot_0.jpg?itok=X1DZqqzE) [### Review of "Notes for Meeting with Dr. King on March 5th" ](/blog/review-notes-meeting-dr-king-march-5th) November 19, 2024 Memo reviewd by: Sasha Dierauf, MPAID, Nitin Ranjan, MPP, Lucas Schmuck, MPP, and Franklin Chen, MPP President Lyndon B. Johnson and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. meet in the White House Cabinet Room on March 18, 1966.Yoichi Okamoto/White House) The... ![LBJ MLK](/sites/g/files/omnuum8096/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/policymemos/files/mlk_and_lbj.jpg?itok=aP20dwjL) [### "Closure of ICE Detention Facilities," a memo to the Secretary of Homeland Security from members of the ACLU, 09/06/23 ](/blog/closure-ice-detention-facilities-memo-secretary-homeland-security-members-aclu) May 12, 2023 Memo reviewed by: Veronica Diaz, HKS MPA/ID, Paul Nolan, HKS MPP, Sima Thakkar MPA/MC, and Aleena Ali, MPP The memo reviewed, "Closure of ICE Detention Facilities," is a memo from the ACLU to Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, urging him... ![ICE Detention centers](/sites/g/files/omnuum8096/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/policymemos/files/ice_detention_centers_2.jpg?itok=UdL8l6Z7) [### Memo from the Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, "Next Steps on Suicide Prevention in the Military," 03/16/2023 ](/blog/memo-secretary-defense-lloyd-austin-next-steps-suicide-prevention-military-03162023) May 11, 2023 Memo reviewed by, Guido Torres, HKS NSF, Manual Ortiz-Senior, HKS MPA/MC, and Shivani Gupta, HKS MPA/ID The memo titled ‘Next Steps on Suicide Prevention’ serves to address the critical concern of suicides within the Department of Defense. The memo... ![Reach out a hand](/sites/g/files/omnuum8096/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/policymemos/files/reach_out_a_hand.jpg?itok=FcZDOhze) [### 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 ](/blog/joint-statement-between-us-department-homeland-security-and-ministry-interior-state) November 02, 2022 Memo reviewed by Tom Pesce, MPA 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... ![World Cup](/sites/g/files/omnuum8096/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/policymemos/files/world_cup.jpg?itok=ZGw6fUbo) [### Commissioner Hardesty Office Memo on Gun Violence in Portland ](/blog/commissioner-hardesty-office-memo-gun-violence-portland) November 02, 2022 Memo Review by Ashley Hong, MPP Memo: Commissioner Hardesty Office Memo on Gun Violence in Portland Links 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... ![Police Tape](/sites/g/files/omnuum8096/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/policymemos/files/police_tape.jpg?itok=i5gyz-na) [### Israeli Nuclear Program: Memo to President Nixon from Henry Kissinger, 7/16/69 ](/blog/israeli-nuclear-program-memo-president-nixon-henry-kissinger-71669) August 08, 2022 Memo Review by Alex Dubin, HKS MPP President Richard Nixon (center), Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir (left), and Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger (right), in the Oval Office. Memo: ... ![Pres. Nixon, Golda Meir and Henry Kissinger](/sites/g/files/omnuum8096/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/policymemos/files/president_richard_nixon_israeli_prime_minister_golda_.jpg?itok=JzP0wzUK) [### 1995 Moscow Summit, "Moment of Truth": Memo to President Clinton from Strobe Talbott, 4/15/1995 ](/blog/1995-moscow-summit-moment-truth-memo-president-clinton-strobe-talbott-4151995) June 22, 2022 Memo Review by Alex Dubin, HKS MPP 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... ![Clinton and Yeltsin, Vancouver April 1993](/sites/g/files/omnuum8096/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/policymemos/files/clinton_yelstin_first_summit_1993.jpg?itok=k_DpqGlb) [### LBJ's Conversation with Israeli Foreign Minister Abba Eban: Memo to President Johnson from Secretary of State Rusk, 05/26/1967 ](/blog/lbjs-conversation-israeli-foreign-minister-abba-eban-memo-president-johnson) June 13, 2022 Memo Review by Alex Dubin, HKS MPP 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... ![Abba Eban and LBJ](/sites/g/files/omnuum8096/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/policymemos/files/abba_eban_and_lbj.jpg?itok=_w3pGpbG) - Previous page chevron\_left - [1](?page=0 "Current page") - [2](?page=1 "Go to page 2") - [3](?page=2 "Go to page 3") - [ Next page chevron\_right ](?page=1 "Go to next page")