Richard B. Foster papers, 1955-1999

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Summary

Creators:
Foster, Richard B. and SRI International
Abstract:
The Richard B. Foster papers document the work of a leading American national security analyst in the Cold War period. In a career spanning three decades, Foster specialized in strategic forecasting, attempting to predict future military and political developments on the basis of existing trends. He conducted research and wrote about many aspects of American defense policy, especially in relation to the possibility of nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union. As the director of the Strategic Studies Center at SRI International (formerly Stanford Research Institute), Foster wrote or collaborated on numerous reports that addressed a wide range of national security issues, including military strategy, ballistic missile defense, arms control, and telecommunications. These reports comprise the largest part of the Foster collection. In addition, the collection contains a number of articles Foster wrote for various journals, as well as drafts of his unpublished study of the history of American strategic doctrine.
Extent:
87 manuscript boxes (34.8 Linear Feet)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Richard B. Foster papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

The Richard B. Foster papers document the work of a leading American national security analyst in the Cold War period. In a career spanning three decades, Foster specialized in strategic forecasting, attempting to predict future military and political developments on the basis of existing trends. He conducted research and wrote about many aspects of American defense policy, especially in relation to the possibility of nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union. As the director of the Strategic Studies Center at SRI International (formerly Stanford Research Institute), Foster wrote or collaborated on numerous reports that addressed a wide range of national security issues, including military strategy, ballistic missile defense, arms control, and telecommunications. These reports comprise the largest part of the Foster collection. In addition, the collection contains a number of articles Foster wrote for various journals, as well as drafts of his unpublished study of the history of American strategic doctrine.

The SRI reports dealing with nuclear warfare include speculation as to how such a conflict might unfold, presenting various scenarios of destruction and possible recovery from a nuclear exchange. Other reports in the collection focus on the military power of the Soviet Union and what Foster and other SRI analysts perceived to be Soviet attempts to achieve strategic superiority vis-a-vis the United States. There are also analyses of various issues pertaining to American diplomacy, including relations with China and Europe. These include a number of studies authored by Foster that assess the implications of changes in American foreign policy during the Nixon administration.

The collection also contains copies of lectures given by Foster at Georgetown University and the Catholic University of America, as well as some correspondence and memoranda pertaining to Foster's work at SRI International. There are also materials relating to Foster's service on the board of directors of Freedom House, including reports on various human rights issues. The printed matter in the collection is largely concerned with military policy and diplomatic history.

Biographical / historical:
Biography
Date Event
1916
Born, Springfield, Washington
1938
Awarded bachelor's degree, University of California at Berkeley
1954
Joined Stanford Research Institute (later SRI International) as manager of Air Defense Evaluation Program
1965-1984
Director, Strategic Studies Center, SRI International
1978
Founding editor, Comparative Strategy
1980s
Taught courses on strategy at Georgetown University and Catholic University of America
1999
Died
Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 2004.
Arrangement:

Materials that are listed under the same headings in the finding aid are sometimes located in more than one range of boxes within the collection. Stanford Research Institute and SRI International reports are found in boxes 1-39 and boxes 64-79. Speeches and writings are in boxes 40-54 and boxes 80-82. Printed matter is located in boxes 60-64 and boxes 84-86.

Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Richard B. Foster papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
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