The Reagan Diaries

by Ronald Reagan

  A short day in the office but a long afternoon in my study. Don Regan called re the International Monetary Fund (I.M.F.) Jack Kemp who told me he couldn’t vote for it but wouldn’t actively oppose is working his head off to torpedo it. Tip O’Neil is licking his chops. He’s told Don Regan that if we can’t deliver 80 Repubs. he’ll take it off the calendar so that Repubs. will take the blame for it’s failure. I’m about as mad as I’ve been in these 2½ yrs. P.M. Thatcher & Chancellor Kohl have both succeeded in getting it through their Parliaments & here I am threatened with defeat by my own party.

  Had a meeting with some of our leaders but honestly don’t know that we did any good.

  Top two men in V.F.W. came by. We’ve fixed the “snafu” about speaking to their convention—I’ll be on hand in New Orleans August 15 at 10 AM. I’m glad that’s fixed—they’ve been very supportive & to be turned down by our schedules was a great mistake. They were just back from El Salvador & Nicaragua & are now totally in agreement with what we’re trying to do.

  Thursday, July 28

  Jack Kemp now knows I’m mad. He’s against us on the IMF increase but promised he wouldn’t work against us. He’s been working his head off.

  [Telephoned W.H. electrician whose baby daughter received liver transplant; noted that previous week’s radiocast mentioned need for organ donors; established crime commission.]

  Met with Minister Shamir & Arens of Israel. I believe they will endorse calling their redeployment the 1st phase of total withdrawal of forces from Lebanon. Lunch with Cabinet Council on the pleas for protectionism in steel & textiles. We just can’t give in without setting off a wave of retaliation.

  [Received visits from Eureka fraternity brother, from mother who adopted handicapped Vietnamese baby, from Mr. and Mrs. Red Skelton; received $100,000 donation for Statue of Liberty from American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association; visit from cook from Eureka college days; addressed National Council of Negro Women, commented, “I believe I’ve found friends to counter Ben Hooks”; farewell party for Edwin Harper, assistant to the President for Policy Development.]

  Friday, July 29

  Brkfst. with McLaughlin TV cast—Pat Buchanan, Bob Novak, Georgie Anne Geyer, Jack Germond & of course John McLaughlin. It was a freewheeling & on the record. Most of it had to do with Central Am. It was interesting to see their show on Sat. & hear them discuss the breakfast. Pat (to my surprise) & Bob did seem to remember things in a different way from how I’d said them. Georgie Anne brought them up several times with on the nose corrections.

  N.S.P.G. meeting on possible covert operations […] in Central Am. They’ll need further discussion.

  [Appeared before Future Farmers of America.]

  Dick Wirthlin with some poll results. We’re not getting across our Central Am. position. House voted against covert aid but I think Senate will kill their bill—if not, I’ll veto.

  [Spoke to elementary and secondary school principals; off to Camp David. Saturday, July 30: radiocast; ride and swim. Sunday, July 31: report from Bill Clark that Libyan forces entered Chad civil war on the side of the anti-government rebels, noted, “We’re trying to get France to move. They’ve let us know Chad is in their sphere of influence.” Back to the W.H.]

  Monday, August 1

  Off to Atlanta & the Am. Bar Assn. Before I left got word things are looking up in Chad. Just in case, we are conducting air drills from 2 carriers in the Gulf of Sidra off Libya. One of them was supposed to be on its way to the Naval exercises off El Salvador.

  [Addressed American Bar Association; met with party leaders in Georgia.]

  Back at the W.H. by 2:45 & a meeting with Sam Pierce. Sam once again is demanding an appointment of his choice over someone we’ve picked & who we feel is better for a top spot at H.U.D. I overruled him.

  Five P.M. in the study met with Ambas. John Louis. He’s upset because we want to replace him. I explained it’s part of a general shuffle & not due to any failure on his part. He’ll stay on til Nov. 7. I would have preferred he go earlier but I’d also like to have no wounded feelings.

  Tuesday, August 2

  Where do these days come from—hardly a minute between gatherings. G.O.P. Cong. leadership to start with—mostly on Central Am. I think we won some points. A little time on I.M.F. & Jack Kemp now knows I’m teed off with him. A briefing by Joint Chiefs of Staff again on Central Am. They had a captured map—the kind that’s done in the field for a particular mission. It was the map the Guerillas had for the action that resulted in the execution of 34 El Salvador soldiers/prisoners. Significant however was the fact that the symbols used on the map were those the Soviets use.

  [Issues lunch with report of Grace Commission on reforms to save an estimated $300 billion over three years; met with Cabinet Council on crime issues; photo session; met with an epileptic man who walked across the country; with executives of Mars candy, supporters of Olympics; met Miss Teenage America; received gift of gratitude from Cardington, Ohio, which received federal aid after tornado damage; met with Senate Republican Steering Committee.]

  The real happening of the day was when I learned that hundreds of members of the International Fed. of Business Women (56 countries) had been scheduled to tour the W.H. & some bureaucratic bungle denied them entrance. I called their Am. Pres. Polly Maddonwald & told her I was going to jump off the roof. I’m going to their convention in the A.M. & apologize.

  Wednesday, August 3

  Went to the International Fed. of Businesswomen with our apology. They were wonderful. I was warmly received & left to quite an ovation. Then came an aftermath. Back in the office a few hours later I was handed a press release given out by Polly Maddonwald. She opened it by accepting my apology in a ho hum way & then took off on me as being lighthearted about the problems of women, not serious about them & that they should remember in November etc. I guess taking her at face value was a mistake. She really convinced me she was legit.

  Met with about 90 men & women & many of them old friends who are here because of Jack Hume’s idea for organizing movers & shakers in every Cong. District to carry the word about what we’re really doing here—which the Nat. press does not do.

  From there to lunch with the top 20 or so people in Aero-Space for a work session on how to get the private sector involved in the space program on a solid commercial basis. The whole concept is very exciting.

  Dick Stone came in to report on Central Am. He’s very upbeat & says the tide has turned in El Salvador & that means improvement in Nicaragua.

  Tonite dinner here at the W.H. with the Shultz’s & Regans. The TV evenings news played up the episode of my apology but refused to show the applause I received & played it as a great embarrassment for me.

  Thursday, August 4

  The morning papers were worse than the TV news. I reached the boiling point. Then as the day wore on I received a wire from the Pres. Maxine Hayes, who had so graciously introduced me. She apologized for her colleague & said the women were honored to have me & appreciated my coming to apologize. About that time word came that a local radio station was polling its listeners on the incident & the great majority came down on my side.

  [Briefing on November trip to Asia; met with President Joseph Mobutu of Zaire, noting, “He’s very impressive”; lunch with Vice President Bush; met with congressmen from steel-manufacturing districts; with Lieutenant Governor Bob Cashell (D-NV), who had decided to switch parties; with Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and thirteen-year-old boy from Utah who formed a public library; with student athlete; with representative of U.S. Marshals; with Industrial Competitiveness Commission; reception for recipients of Reagan Scholarship to Eureka College.]

  Friday, August 5

  N.S.C.—Gen. Rowny came by to report on “Start” talks—not much movement on part of Soviets but believes this is due to their preoccupation with the I.N.F. talks.

  [Signing ceremony for National Child Support Enforcement Month; met with Shultz and Weinberger on affairs in East Asia,
commented, “We are all agreed that much of the future lies out across the Pacific”; lunch in State Dining Room with Hispanic leaders from all over the country; in-depth briefing on Soviet Union; photo session; met with Congressman Henry Hyde (R-IL), a supporter of administration’s Central America policy; left for Camp David.]

  Saturday, August 6

  A day by the pool but also a call on the secure phone. We are sending Awacs & fighter escorts to Sudan. Awacs will keep tabs on Libyan planes in Chad. French asked for this presumably because they are going to give help to govt. of Chad. They’ve been pretty fuzzy on this even though they claim Chad as a former colony is in their sphere of interest.

  Sunday, August 7

  A day in the sun & back to the W.H. Bill C. came over to deliver a reply from Andropov to my handwritten letter. Expressed a desire to continue communicating on private basis & wants to talk about main issues.

  Monday, August 8

  Congress has gone home—it was a pleasant & unhurried day. NSC to start the day—subject Chad. Our AWAC’s & fighter cover are in the Sudan—but no French A.F. in Chad. Same time however the Libyan planes seem to have stopped bombing. It’s possible the French quietly made a deal. Of course, the Press now portrays us as having sent combat air forces to intervene in Chad but the French refused to intervene.

  [Latest poll numbers reflect no response to the U.S. fleet presence in Nicaraguan waters.]

  Had a briefing on the Soviets & Space. There is no question but that they are working (twice as hard as us) to come up with a military superiority in outer space.

  Had an interview with a young lady from M Magazine. She seemed very nice—now we’ll see if she really was when the article comes out in Sept.

  [Plans for ranch improvements; rise in prime interest rate.]

  Tuesday, August 9

  Had a new briefing NSC on upcoming meeting with Pres. of Mexico. La Paz is about 110 degrees this time of year—happily he & I have come to agreement we’ll wear the traditional Mexican shirt & slacks—no coats. We’ll have lots to talk about. They are in an economic tailspin—we’ve been helping & will do more but they must tidy up their own kitchen. The Pres. is trying with some austerity moves that are not being well received. I’ll try to strengthen his hand.

  An Ec. briefing about our own problems. The banks just raised the “prime” to 11%. The stock mkt. nose dived. The Fed. had let monetary growth get a little out of hand—now they are trying to level off. I’ve suggested to Don R. that he have a little talk with the chairman.

  [Lunch with Hispanic leaders concerned over administration’s immigration bill and unemployment along the Texas border; staff meeting ended with decision to send a team to Texas to direct employment programs; met with new members of W.H. press corps and with W.H. Fellows; haircut.]

  Wednesday, August 10

  I’m alone. Nancy left this morning for Denver, Phoenix & the ranch. I’ll catch up with her there on Monday. I go by way of Tampa, El Paso, La Paz Mexico, New Orleans.

  Well Faza Largeau in Chad has fallen to the rebels & Quadafi’s forces. France who says Chad is her special interest did nothing. A squadron of planes could have made the difference.

  [Lunch with President Abdou Diouf of Senegal, who made a positive impression.]

  A brief one on one after the Diorf lunch with Geo. Shultz. He’s been taking a vicious beating in the press. He & I are going to have regular meetings every week. Part of the press attack is to the effect that he has lost standing with me. The h--l he has.

  A cable from Lebanon tells us the Druze are shelling the Beirut Airport where our Marines are based—no casualties. The world must have been simpler in the days of gunboat diplomacy.

  I don’t like an empty W.H.

  Thursday, August 11

  The situation in Chad worsens. Faza Largeau has definitely been taken by the rebels & the Libyans. The French have sent 500 paratroopers to the capitol of Chad. Still no French air power leaving the air to the Libyans. They may be talking a “deal” with Quadafi—Libya is a big customer of France.

  [Met with U.S. ambassador to Romania over problems with State Department.]

  Met with our Hispanic appointees. They are a great gang & it was a good meeting. I think they’ll do something to rebut the misinformation being peddled to Hispanics.

  First meeting with our Commission on Central Am. I’m very hopeful about this group.

  [Signed proclamation for celebration on October 3 of the two-hundredth anniversary of the Signing of the Paris Peace Treaty; photo session; received St. John Neumann Award.]

  Some tapings—United Way, Willy Mays Day, Pete Wilson etc. Then questioned by F.B.I. re the Carter papers.

  I’m packed & ready to head west tomorrow. First will have a big meeting on our I.N.F. strategy. Some want us to make some new movements just for the P.R. of it. I think to h--l with that—let’s settle on the bottom line & fight it out.

  Friday, August 12

  Off to California by way of Tampa, El Paso, La Paz Mexico, New Orleans.

  Made it all the way then back to Wash.—3 days early.

  Friday, September 2

  In Tampa 3 wks. ago the Hispanic Business People were wonderfully warm in their reception. In El Paso the same was true of the Hispanic veterans even though the Gov. of Texas & others tried to steam them up to give me trouble. A good meeting in La Paz with Pres. de La Madrid. I left some powerful briefing material with him & hope he will see the Sandinista regime in Nicaragua more clearly. Then back to New Orleans for a speech to the V.F.W. convention the next day. On to the ranch & joined Barney & Dennis in building our new fence. It turned out great.

  [Ranch work and relaxation for six days; to L.A. for five days, including day trip to Seattle to address American Legion convention; party fund-raiser, also speech in San Diego before convention of Republican women; public contretemps regarding Justice Department official who spoke out against administration policy regarding women’s rights; returned to ranch; report of two Marines killed in Beirut.]

  Then as the week went by the Soviets shot down a Korean Airliner with 269 passengers—53 of them Americans including Congressman Larry McDonald. The traffic in conference calls got heavy. We were due to return to Wash. on Labor Day but realized we couldn’t wait so we left on Fri. It was heartbreaking—I had really looked forward to those last 3 days. When we got in Fri. I went directly to an N.S.C. meeting re the Soviet affair. We’re going to try & persuade our friends to join us in banning Aeroflot flights & in demanding reparations for the victim’s familys.

  I’ve overlooked the trip down to Santa Barbara to Fess Parker’s ranch where we entertained the press. I’ve also failed to mention the death—a real loss—of Scoop Jackson.

  Saturday, September 3

  An NSC meeting, this time on Beirut. Bud MacFarlane is back. His report held out some hope but there would be more if we could persuade the Israelis to stay several days longer in the “Shuf.” Gemayal has finally, officially asked Syria to leave Lebanon. So I called Begin, he switched us to Defense Minister Arens. No soap. It was too late—the Israelis are already on the move.

  We’ve held the carrier Eisenhower off Beirut & brought 2000 Marines from Egypt to standby—off shore as protection for the M.N.F. in Beirut. The Lebanese force trained by us has done a d--n good job in quieting things in Beirut but are still needed there & can’t be pushed into the Shuf just yet. The Druse have already massacred about 40 men, women & children & we fear there may be more when the Israelis pull out. Paul Nitze is off tomorrow for Geneva & a resumption of the I.N.F. talks.

  Sunday, September 4

  To the Oval Office for a meeting with Congressional leadership—Dems. & Repubs. Met with our team at 9:30 A.M.—general meeting at 10 A.M. Meeting was very good—ran til 1 P.M. Dealt 1st & longest with Korean plane. Ran a tape of conversation between 2 Soviet pilots including the one who stated he had locked on his radar guided air to air missiles, launched them & “target destroyed.” I’m going on air 8
P.M. tomorrow night to tell the story & announce our plans. Strom Thurmond made a great suggestion. We know the whereabouts of many K.G.B. agents […]. We’re looking into the practicality of this. […] That would be shooting our selves in the foot.

  Second half of meeting was on Lebanon. I believe we have Dem. support for what we’re doing there. We may be on the verge of showing the world a truly united front.

  Monday, September 5—Labor Day

  Only thing scheduled for the day was lunch at the pool with the Wicks & at 8 P.M. a TV speech on the Korean airliner massacre. Well I put on my trunks but the speech draft arrived at 9:30 A.M.—in fact 2 drafts. I didn’t like either one so I spent the day til 5:15 P.M. rewriting. It turned out OK & everyone seems to think it was A. O.K. I spent the day in my trunks sitting on a towel in my study but changed into a blue suit for the speech. It went well & everyone seemed pleased.

  Tuesday, September 6

  N.S.C. meeting with Geo. S. to discuss his meeting with Gromyko. Some are opposed but I think George is right—he should see Gromyko & eyeball him on the Korean plane shoot down. There were 61 Americans on that plane. This could be the 1st time Grimace has been put on the defensive.

  A 2nd & larger NSC meeting discussed whether we should give a little on our position in the MBFR. force negotiations in Vienna. I think there is a better option but now is not the time to switch. Lebanon was next on the agenda. We lost 2 more Marines last night in Beirut. The Civil War is running wild & could result in collapse of the Gemayal govt. & the stuff would hit the fan. I called the parents of the 2 Marines—not easy. One father asked if they were in Lebanon for anything that was worth his son’s life.

  [Issues lunch; meeting with CEO of B. Dalton booksellers regarding adult literacy; meeting with leaders of United Jewish Appeal; appearance at birthday party for Deputy Counselor to the President Jim Jenkins.]

  Wednesday, September 7

  N.S.C. briefing: George S. is working on foreign ministers in Madrid—re the KAL shoot down. More on Lebanon—we have to show the flag for those Marines. I can’t get the idea out of my head that some F14s off the Eisenhower coming in at about 200 ft. over the Marines & blowing hell out of a couple of artillery emplacements would be a tonic for the Marines & at the same time would deliver a message to those gun happy middle east terrorists.