The Reagan Diaries

by Ronald Reagan

  Met with Sen. leaders who are beginning to panic on taxes. They want us to raise or impose new ones. I’m resisting. D--n it our program will work & it’s based on reduced taxes.

  [Saturday, December 19: lunch with Senator Paul Laxalt (R-NV); visit with Henry Kissinger; report that Polish ambassador to U.S. defected.]

  Sunday, December 20

  First thing this A.M. a message from Israel—an angry denunciation of us with charges of betrayal & anti-semitism. Obviously it is intended for the public to arouse our own Jewish community against us. We’ll meet tomorrow on this but I’m trying to put together a possible, personal letter to Begin.

  [Reception with entertainment by young opera singers, taped for PBS.]

  Dinner then back down for the Senior Staff party. It was a fun time. Mike D. teamed up with the piano player and we had a 2 piano concert & sang Christmas Carols.

  Monday, December 21

  Another non-stop day with virtually no time between meetings. Most important was NSC meeting re Poland. I took a stand that this may be the last chance in our lifetime to see a change in the Soviet Empire’s colonial policy re Eastern Europe. We should take a stand & tell them unless & until martial law is lifted in Poland, the prisoners released and negotiations resumed between Walesa (Solidarity) & the Polish govt. We would quarantine the Soviets & Poland with no trade, or communications across their borders. Also tell our NATO allies & others to join us in such sanctions or risk an estrangement from us. A TV speech is in the works.

  We also touched on Israel. There are signs Begin went too far both here & at home. His country is divided (even the Cabinet) on his berating of us. And here the Jewish community is resentful of what he’s done.

  There were budget meetings. We’re coming down to the wire although there is wide disagreement on what kind of deficits we forecast for 5 yrs. ahead.

  [Farewell party for Max Friedersdorf, counsel to Bahamas.]

  Tuesday, December 22

  I think we’re packing everything we’ve missed into these last several days of the year. By the end of the 1st meeting I was half an hour behind & it stayed that way all day.

  A budget meeting. We’ve finally come together on the cuts—probably won’t get all we ask for from Congress. They’re so used to spending (for votes) they’re getting edgy with ’82 being an election year.

  The recession has worsened, throwing our earlier figures off. Now my team is pushing for a tax increase to help hold down the deficits. I’m being stubborn. I think our tax cuts will produce more revenue by stimulating the economy. I intend to wait and see some results.

  Met with the Polish Ambassador & his wife. It was an emotional meeting. They have asked for asylum here. He is defecting because of what the Polish govt. (ordered by the Soviets) are doing to the Polish people.

  An NSC meeting on what we are going to do about the situation. I go on TV tomorrow nite 3 networks. It’s supposed to be a Christmas message but I intend to deliver a message to the Soviets & the Pols. We can’t let this revolution against Communism fail without our offering a hand. We may never have an opportunity like this one in our lifetime.

  We have just learned we have to make public every gift we’ve received—even from friends we’ve exchanged gifts with for years—the price & who gave them. A little inheritance from J.C. and a d--n gross invasion of privacy.

  Wednesday, December 23

  Meetings, pictures & year end interviews—one with Roger Mudd who gave a biased account of my last press conference. I was a good boy though & didn’t ding him.

  In NSC worked out final touches for speech tonite on all networks. OK’d letters to Brezhnev & Jaruzelski. Said more in the letters than I will in the speech.

  Speech went OK—about 14 minutes. First ½ hour calls at W.H. running about 6 to 1 in favor.

  Thursday, December 24

  Christmas Eve.—Ron & Doria arrived in time for lunch—the others later in the day. To the Wicks for dinner at Watergate & a typical Wicks Xmas Eve. Lots of singing—carols, etc.

  Friday, December 25

  [Opened gifts in the morning.]

  Tonite the Wicks & Ruges came here. It was a wonderful Christmas dinner. Earlier a letter arrived from Brezhnev. It seems we’re intervening in Poland and he’s upset about it. I’ve suggested that in our reply we remind him that we are only suggesting the Polish people be allowed to have a voice in the kind of govt. they want. Under the Yalta Pact the Soviets agreed they & others would be allowed to do this. The Soviets have never honored that promise. We should also agree—we won’t intervene if they won’t.

  Saturday, December 26

  Dick & his family left this morning. Doug & C.Z. came over for lunch. Patti & Peter leave tonite. I believe, Ron & Doria in the morning. We leave for Calif. at 11 AM. We were all in the gym exercising this A.M.

  Sunday, December 27–January 3, 1982

  I won’t do a day by day but it was a wonderful trip. Our first few days at the Century Plaza. On Mon. Barney & I went up to the ranch. It was a beautiful day. Most of our time was spent cutting up fallen limbs for firewood & brush to burn. That night at the hotel—dinner with Patti, Maureen & Dennis.

  There was some work of course—bill signings, intelligence reports etc. To Palm Springs on the 30th. Went by Marine 1. The whole holiday season there was great—all our friends for a wonderful New Year’s Eve—then the same group for 2 additional parties. Golf in the mornings & on New Year’s Day football on TV all day. Met with Al Haig, Bill Clark, Mike Deaver. I think Bill will come over as National Security Chief. The problem is how to treat the Allen problem so as not to hurt him. He has good offers in the private sector but I don’t want to leave him with any onus. The press has really been a lynch mob & I don’t think they’ll stop which is why he can’t be back in N.S.C.

  Left Sunnylands on Jan. 3rd—took A.F.1 out of Palm Springs. Learned before leaving that “Little Man” may have a fractured skull. Vet has him for a few days of observation. Evidently he’s in bad shape. Is it the end of an era? His mother became mine in ’46—then I rode his half sister Nancy D & now him—last of the line.

  We’re back in the W.H. and the whole trip seems like a beautiful dream from which we’ve just awakened.

  CHAPTER 2

  1982

  Monday, January 4

  An easy day except for the Allen case. Dick has been cleared. He came in & of course said he’d like to continue. Ed has already told him as I had to that we’ve learned the press is not going to let up if he’s in that job and some Dem. Congressional committee chairmen are ready to start investigations—make that lynchings. He agreed to resign—we at same time will make him a consultant to P.F.I.A.B. and look for other assignments.*

  Tuesday, January 5

  Helmut Schmidt arrived. We did a last minute switch in what to say based on his remarks to Al & Don R. last nite on arrival. Our press had distorted Germany’s & for that matter NATO’s position with regard to our sanctions against Soviets & Poland. While they might not be able to join us in canceling their own trade they openly support us & will not undercut our sanctions. It was a good day. Helmut wants me to meet Brezhnev. He says he is very curious about me & doesn’t know what to expect. Also says B. truly fears war. Maybe our disarmament talks might work after all.

  An N.S.C. meeting to confirm our actions & some photos by Bachrach & Karsh. Why do I hate photo sessions—I always did even when I was in movies.

  Wednesday, January 6

  An easy day—gave Al H. his way on Stoesell [Stoessel] as replacement for Bill Clark. Some staff objections on grounds it should be a pol. appt instead of career. I’ve given my word to Al.

  [Meeting with productivity task force; photo session.]

  Rumor that Gen. Dozier has been killed—no confirmation.

  Thursday, January 7

  Dispatched (top secret) a specialist mil. team at Italian’s request. Has to do with a possible informer regarding whereabouts of Gen. Dozier.

  Laid d
own the law to Cabinet on leaks. Had Ed M. tell press my decision to extend draft registration—that leaked before he got to the press at 4:30 P.M. to tell them.

  We have a drastic plan to phase a transfer over years of most of our grant programs to the states & local govts. along with a transfer of several excise taxes to fund them. It will be the biggest turn around in govt. since Wash. started usurping local & state rights.

  [Visited with L.A. county supervisor, a supporter.]

  Met with Paul Nitze & Eugene Rostow who are here for a few days before going back to the arms reduction talks in Geneva. I told them even 1 nuclear missile in Europe was too many and that if anyone walked away from the table it would have to be the Soviets.

  Friday, January 8–Sunday, January 10

  [Complains of leak to press about secret meeting on Federalism.]

  A team is off to Peking to tell them at 1st hand we’re going to sell F5E’s & some F104’s to Taiwan. We’re softening things a little. Taiwan really wants the more advanced F5G’s—They’ll have to come later.

  Off to Camp David where it was only 8 degrees. We ran an old movie, “One Way Passage.”—Kay Francis, Wm. Powell. It was wonderful. Sat. took a long walk in a snow storm then spent the afternoon getting a lot of mail done & tidying up a speech.

  I’ve learned there is a China Lobby and it has its moles in the State Dept. The Post had a story on why we should cling to the P.R.C. & never mind Taiwan. A cartoon carried out the same theme. The timing is amazing because no word has been spoken about plans & I’ve told no one what my decision will be.

  Sun. a short walk—with wind chill it was 52 degrees below zero.

  Monday, January 11

  Repub. House leaders came down to the W.H.—Except for Jack Kemp they are h--l bent on new taxes & cutting the defense budget. Looks like a heavy year ahead.

  Al Haig seems to have won a moral victory in Brussels on NATO vs. Poland & the Soviets.

  Press running wild with talk that I reversed myself on Taiwan because we’re only selling them F5E’s & F104’s. I think the China Lobby in State Dept. is selling this line to appease the P.R.C. which doesn’t want us to sell them anything. The planes we’re offering are better than anything the P.R.C. has. Later on if more sophistication is needed we’ll upgrade & sell them F5G’s.

  [Reception for the Hoover Institute board of governors.]

  Tuesday, January 12

  A busy day mainly of meetings including a working lunch & the cabinet. In the afternoon had some desk time. Met with Senators about legislation re tax exemption for schools practicing segregation. I’ve had complaints because the I.R.S. passed its own civil rights regulations & began harassing schools & colleges that didn’t segregate but simply on the grounds of the I.R.S. wasn’t satisfied with the number of minority students they had. In my view it was a classic case of bureaucracy pre-empting the function of Congress. So we shut I.R.S. off with the intention that Cong. would amend the tax laws. The press has carried on that I was reversing the govts. stand on civil rights. When we announced we wanted Cong. to handle it the press announced that as a retreat under fire. I’m burned up.

  Wednesday, January 13

  [Troubled by leak regarding possible shipment of jet fighters into Cuba by USSR; telephoned Senator Barry Goldwater (R-AZ) regarding Taiwan; received gift of drawings by editorial cartoonists.]

  At 3:45 pm a 737 with about 70 people aboard crashed into the 14th Street bridge taking off from Nat. airport in a blinding snow storm. I’ve been watching the rescue efforts on TV. The plane crushed several cars then sank leaving some passengers in the ice filled Potomac. What tragedy.

  I’ve called Pres. Cheek of Howard U. & Ralph Abernathy about our Civil Rights situation. They were very understanding.

  Thursday, January 14

  Flew over the scene of the crash (Marine 1). Cranes & barges on hand—no evidence they’ve raised the fuselage which is in 25 ft. of water.

  [Trip to New York City in support of civic-business partnership program.]

  Met new Sec. Gen. of U.N. from Peru and then home—landed at Andrews in a blinding snow storm. This morning before leaving had an N.S.C. meeting on planes in Cuba—no decision. I lean toward a giant propaganda campaign aimed at the Cuban people urging them to disavow Soviet U. and become once again a part of the Latin Am. community.

  Jeanne [Jeane] K. tells me a Soviet ship designed to neutralize efforts to detect presence of Soviet Nuclear Subs has reached Cuba. First time such a ship has ever been in Am. waters. This definitely is an offensive weapon—thus a violation of the ’62 agreement.

  Friday, January 15

  An N.S.C. meeting re Cuba. My own thought is that we should create a plan to urge Cuba & yes Castro to come back into the orbit of the Western Hemisphere. Castro is in trouble—his popularity is fading, the ec. is sinking and Soviets are in no position to help. We could start a campaign to persuade him & the disenchanted Cubans to send the Russians home & once again become a member of the Latin Am. community.

  Met with Repub. Sen. leadership. They are uptight about budget, taxes, etc.

  Wm. Raspberry & J. J. Kilpatrick both took me on in their columns re the I.R.S. tax exemption decision. But they came at me from opposite sides. I called each of them & think I defanged them. The most famous & best loved entertainer in the Black community—name of Brown came to see me. To my surprise he is a devoted follower & pledges his all out support.

  Wash. is beautiful today—everything covered with several inches of fresh snow & a bright sun & blue sky.

  Saturday, January 16

  Al Haig home with bad news about the middle east. It’s possible Mubarak will abandon the Camp David Accords & settle down with his Arab brothers once he gets the Sinai back. At the same time Begin may renege on the Sinai although he swears he won’t. Sharon is the bad guy who seemingly looks forward to a war. Al will be going back.

  On Cuba we’re sending Gen. Walters in to open talks with Castro. It’s just possible we could talk him into moving back in to this hemisphere. His ec. is flat and he’s losing popularity.

  [Attended banquet. Sunday, January 17: slept late, quiet day.]

  Monday, January 18

  [Met with representatives of Fellowship of Christian Athletes; conference with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Michael Mansfield and Japanese trade minister.]

  Then the day turned bad. Lt. Col. Ray, our attaché in Paris was gunned down & killed as he left for work. I called Mrs. Ray—but what can one say? The other attaches & their wives were with her. I told her we were meeting with the French govt. to see if we couldn’t provide some kind of security & we’re reviewing our own efforts.

  A Tex Saunders called—said he’d been a grip on some of our “Death Valley Days” shows. He’s in town for his son’s funeral. His son is an A.F. Lt. who was knocked off the bridge and killed by the 737 that crashed in the Potomac. I talked to his widow.

  [Report of Air Force. Thunderbirds training accident; mix-up in date for dinner with Frank Reynolds and his wife.]

  Tuesday, January 19

  Most of the day was spent in preparing for the 2 PM press conference. It’s always an experience to walk into the East room jammed to the walls with the press corps. The questions covered a wide range. I’d been told they were surly and wanted blood. I think it was my day though.

  [Taped appearances for various groups; phone call from son Mike, whose mother-in-law died.]

  Wednesday, January 20

  [First anniversary of inaugural; received mementoes from friends.]

  The day however was a tough one. A budget meeting and pressure from everyone to give in to increases in excise taxes tied to Federalism program. I finally gave in but my heart wasn’t in it.

  [Banquet to celebrate anniversary.]

  Thursday, January 21

  Supposed to helicopter to Baltimore for some appearances & lunch re the enterprise zone program. Baltimore on its own had done a remarkable job combining city, state & private effort. Trip c
ancelled—no fly weather. The Mayor and his group drove here for lunch.

  Early in day met with U.S. Chamber group. They made an impassioned plea that I not raise any taxes. They were touching a nerve when they said I would look as if I were retreating from my own program. That’s exactly how I feel. After meeting told Ed, Jim & Mike we had to go back to the drawing board. I just can’t hold still for the tax increases. We’ll go at it again in the morning.

  At N.S.C. meeting we decided to go back to the law of the sea negotiations but make it plain we could not accept their proposals on sea bottom mining, etc.

  Friday, January 22

  Lyn N. & his staff came over for a farewell picture. I told him not to go too far away.

  I told our guys I couldn’t go for tax increases. If I have to be criticized I’d rather be criticized for a deficit than for backing away from our Ec. program.

  Left for Camp David to work on the St. of the U. speech. Saw an old movie “Adam’s Rib.”—Hepburn & Tracy.

  [Saturday, January 23: worked on speech, watched 1932 movie Grand Hotel; Sunday, January 24: watched Walter Wriston, a member of the president’s Economic Policy Advisory Board, and Senator Howard Baker (R-TN) on television shows, and the Super Bowl. Monday, January 25: met with small-business representatives; looked over comments on speech by cabinet members; dinner with congressional leaders, with entertainment by Vince Dowling.]

  Tuesday, January 26

  Have been getting calls from Al Haig in Geneva. Gromyko declares he won’t talk about Poland. Al says that’s what he’s going to talk about. Last call came after 7½ hour meeting. Al says Gromyko is more nervous than he’s ever seen him. He talked arms limitation. Al talked Poland & Cuba. Gromyko tried to play down the big arms buildup they are doing in Cuba.

  [Met with Republican congressional leaders on returning programs to state and local governments.]

  At noon a working lunch with the Cabinet. They now know what’s in the St. of the U. address (I’m writing this before leaving for the Capitol). I wonder if I’ll ever get used to addressing the joint sessions of Cong.? I’ve made a mil. speeches in every kind of place to every kind of audience. Somehow there’s a thing about entering that chamber—goose bumps & a quiver. But it turned out fine—I was well received & I think the speech was a 4 base hit. We’ll know more tomorrow.