The Reagan Diaries

by Ronald Reagan

  George S. came in. He gave me a T-shirt from Grenada—crossed flags & a line “Thank you America for saving Grenada.” He says they are selling like hot cakes. It seems Dick Stone (our roving Ambas. in Latin Am.) & Tony Motley can’t get along—Dick is resigning. We’ll try to find another spot for him—he’s a good man. They both are.

  Meeting with Paul Volcker. I think we have him on course with money increase matching growth so as to keep the recovery going without a return to inflation.

  [Attended fund-raiser arranged by Maureen in celebration of Susan B. Anthony Day; Thursday, February 16: staff meetings; meeting of Emergency Committee for American Trade (against protectionist trade bills); lunched with Vice President Bush and Bud McFarlane, “a good gabfest about Soviets, arms reductions etc. & how to get moving again on ‘START’ talks”; Cabinet Council meeting on trade, effort to stop tariff bill on wine; visit from Simon Wiesenthal; honored by Muscle Training Magazine as best physically conditioned president in history; inducted as a member of the National Press Club; photo session and videotapings.]

  Friday, February 17

  Dropped by a briefing for press correspondents re the budget & other things mainly having to do with issues on women’s problems—most of the scribblers were women. Before that, however, I went to the cabinet room to greet 3 from “Human Events”—Alan Ryskind, Stan Evans & Tom Winter. H. E. had done a feature indicating I was a bigger spend thrift than Jimmy Carter. Dave S. & Ed M. had invited them over to get the real figures—which refute their story very definitely.

  At 11 A.M. down to the situation room for a briefing on a possible covert operation (C.I.A.) in El Salvador involving a C-130 gun ship which we’d provide for strikes against Rebels. I’m afraid since it would require Congressional Committee support we’d blow our whole aid program to El Salvador. But I was tempted. It was the kind of mission that could break the rebels back.

  [Lunch arranged by Maureen for Republican women office holders; ambassadorial formalities; greeted royal family of Monaco, staying as guests.]

  Saturday, February 18

  A beautiful day with a touch of Spring. Not so beautiful in Beirut. It looks very much as if everything is falling apart. Some Christians are exploring partition—a Christian state including W. Beirut & the area immediately to the North. Syria indicates it won’t accept the Saudi proposal which was probably Gemayal’s last chance at putting together a coalition. Behind all the villany is Syria.

  The big gala fundraiser for the Princess Grace Foundation was a great success. There were some moments. When I returned to the table after proposing a toast to Grace I found Princess Caroline, her daughter, quietly crying.

  [Sunday, February 19: Rainiers left; quiet day at home; desk work. Monday, February 20: flew to Iowa for campaign, good reception, called it “an adrenalin shot”; returned to Washington.]

  Tuesday, February 21

  Met with Repub. Cong. leadership. To my surprise—back from their 10 day recess they were all cooled down about Lebanon. When they left town they thought Lebanon was the biggest issue on hand. When I suggested doing a TV speech to explain it they said no, let it lay.

  [Received an award for peace efforts; issues lunch; report from Commission on Security and Economic Assistance; two-hour practice session for press conference; Mrs. Reagan in New York.]

  Wednesday, February 22

  George S. & I met & discussed mainly the Soviets & how we should react to Chernenko’s mild sounding talk with George B. I have a gut feeling I’d like to talk to him about our problems man to man & see if I could convince him there would be a material benefit to the Soviets if they’d join the family of nations etc.

  We don’t want to appear anxious which would tempt them to play games & possibly snub us. I have our team considering an invitation to him to be my guest at the opening of the Olympics—July in L.A. Then he & I could have a session together in which we could start the ball rolling for outright summit on arms reductions, human rights, trade etc. We’ll see.

  [Rehearsed for press conference; Mrs. Reagan returned; staged conference.]

  Thursday, February 23

  One of those days—when one thing ran into another—still it was pleasant. Met with Nat. leaders re School Discipline. I assured them I’d keep hammering on the subject. Went over to E.O.B. & spoke briefly to about 200 representatives of our Asian Americans. They are good people & sound Americans. Back to the Oval office & lunch with about 40 publishers of leading national magazines. Strange—some of their mags. kick my head off in the current issues but these publishers are all gung ho for me & what we’re doing. I wish they’d talk to their writers.

  Dick Wirthlin came in with latest pollings. I can only say I wish the election was tomorrow.

  [Cabinet Council meeting on management, ways to modernize and increase efficiency; made a member of the Purple Heart organization; visit from West Point cadets; life member of the Variety Club; received lithograph from Olaf Wieghorst; met the head of Independent business group.]

  Lew Lehrman came by with some disturbing info about Paul Volcker & his strong belief that we should slow our business growth. Paul is obsessed with a fear of returning inflation & according to Lew would seek to use the Fed. to slow our recovery. Finally home & mother.

  Friday, February 24

  [Visit from Prime Minister Robert Muldoon of New Zealand.]

  An hour of NSC. Our Marines will be out by Sunday. We are all agreed our training units with the L.A.F. should stay where they are on shore.

  Camp David—a beautiful afternoon. I got some backlog of mail answered.

  Saturday, February 25–Sunday, February 26

  Sat. rain in the morning & gray & windy in the P.M. More desk work. Called R.N. [Richard Nixon]—told him about letter rcv’d. from Chernenko. I think he’s made it easier for us to approach him about a meeting. Sunday bright & beautiful. Bud MacFarlane called—our 16 inch guns silenced batteries in Syria occupied Lebanon. They had loosed heavy fire against one of our recon planes (no damage to plane). Back to W.H. for dinner tonite with Gov’s. of the 50 states. The dinner was very pleasant & everyone seemed to have a good time. Bob Newhart entertained & was very funny.

  Monday, February 27

  A short night & now a long day—but it was one of those days when everything seemed to go right. N.S.C. briefing was on Chernenko’s letter. We’re agreed we are going to make our plans for response with George B., George S., Bud, Cap & me—no bureaucracy.

  [Appearance before governors; met with secretary of Agriculture on finding a way to use surplus food to help starving people in Africa; lunch with Vice President Bush regarding USSR and politics, commented, “He’s carried the ball in N.H.”; National Security Planning Group (NSPG) meeting in which Casey reported on worldwide covert actions; interviewed by military journalists; ambassadorial formality; photo sessions, including newly retired baseball player Carl Yastrzemski; videotapings. Tuesday, February 28: visit by President Rudolf Kirchschlager of Austria, commented, “I think we made him & his Ministers understand our situation in Central Am.”; cabinet meeting on containing “Beltway Bandits,” advisory and consulting groups gaining unnecessary government contracts; greeted actress Shelley Long; state dinner, entertainment by Mel Tormé and Peter Nero.]

  Wednesday, February 29

  A short day thank Heaven because it was a short night. N.S.C. was about Jeanne Kirkpatrick’s need for guidance in the U.N. Security Council on a Lebanon resolution. She’s been battling the Soviets who want a resolution calling for the M.N.F. & the Israelis to leave Lebanon but no word about Syria leaving. I think we came together on some wording to correct that. Otherwise it would be—veto.

  [Budget meeting on position regarding spending cuts; met with Trent Lott and supportive members of Congress; addressed National Alliance of Senior Citizens; meeting with Dutch foreign minister Hans van den Broek to press for stronger stand on Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) deployment; meeting with Shultz on answer to Chernenko’s le
tter; greeted Olympic team.]

  Thursday, March 1

  N.S.C. brief—said goodbye (I hope temporarily) to Dick Stone. He’s been doing a great job as a roving Ambas. in Central Am. Friction developed—a personality clash with another good man in State Dept. Dick has resigned. I hope we can find another spot for him.

  [Addressed the American Legion’s Women’s Auxiliary.]

  Had lunch with Bud, Mike D. & Mrs. Massie—just back from Russia. She’s a remarkable woman with some great insight on the Russians. She reinforced my gut feeling that it’s time for me to personally meet with Chernenko.

  [Cabinet Council on Economic Affairs, favored proposal for lower minimum wage for teenagers; rejected congressional job plan for youth; visit from leader of VFW; new members of W.H. press corps; school prayer group; “a womans org. with more members than N.O.W.”; athletes in favor of prayer in school; Latin American journalists; leaders of Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program.]

  Friday, March 2

  Wasn’t the longest day but it got to be the busiest. It got busy beginning with the N.S.P.G. meeting in the situation room. This had to do with several pieces of legis. we’re putting together to enable us to have a program for anti-terrorism.

  [Lunch arranged by Maureen with female Republican elected officials; meeting with Shultz on personnel changes at State; Weinberger report on his meeting with Prime Minister Thatcher, learned “She’s forgiven us completely for Grenada.”]

  Then into the Treaty Room for a top level & secret meeting with Ambas. Hartman (Moscow), Bill Casey, Bud McF., Geo. B., Mike & Jim & Gen. Vessey. Subject was a plan to move into communications with the Soviets. I’m convinced the time has come for me to meet with Chernenko along about July. We’re going to start with some ministerial level meetings on a number of substantive matters that have been on ice since the KAL 700 shoot down.

  [Senator Howard Baker (R-TN) and other senators discuss upcoming vote on school prayer amendment; dinner with the Conservative Political Action Committee. Saturday, March 3: radiocast; quiet day with desk work.]

  Sunday, March 4

  Our 32nd Wedding Anniversary. We spent it at home. The wife of the Pres. of Israel & the Emperor of Japan helped me with my gift buying. Under the law gifts from people like that are not ours but we are allowed to buy them if we want. Two such gifts—a gold & diamond pin & a beautiful jewel box I knew were much admired by Nancy so I bought them for Nancy.

  More homework & then a delightful evening with the Laxalts & Wicks—just the 6 of us. It was a happy anniversary.

  Monday, March 5

  A typical Mon.—no breathing room & a stack of memos plus things to sign—which I didn’t get to until later afternoon. Helmut Kohl arrived (W. Ger. Chancellor). We had a good meeting thru lunch. He confirmed my belief that Soviets are motivated, at least in part by insecurity & a suspicion that we & our allies mean them harm. They still preserve the tank traps & barbed wire that show how close the Germans got to Moscow before they were stopped. He too thinks I should meet Chernenko.

  [Met with Senators Howard Baker (R-TN) and Paul Laxalt (R-NV) regarding negotiating with Democrats over a program for reducing deficit; addressed National League of Cities; brief meeting with officers of U.S. League of Savings Institutions, commented, “They are very supportive of us”; photo session with tennis player John Newcombe; videotapings; reception for campaign advance workers.]

  Tuesday, March 6

  This modern age! Spent half a day in the office then by mid afternoon I was addressing the Nat. Assn. of Evangelicals in Columbus Ohio, then at Dinner in N.Y., a Repub. $1000 a ticket fundraiser & went to bed in the W.H.

  Before flying to Columbus, met with Sens. Bill Cohen & Joe Biden. They’ve been to Russia & are all wrapped up in “Arms Reductions.” I suspect that at least one of them (J.B.) doesn’t believe I’m sincere about wanting them. We had an N.S.C. meeting & then I was off on A.F.1. The Evangelicals were most warm & cordial. I had 4 standing ovations. The group in N.Y. was also receptive. I met Nancy in N.Y. & we came back to Wash. together.

  Wednesday, March 7

  We had a meeting with our Deficit Downpayment Negotiating group. I’m afraid I blew my top at one point. It seemed to me they are willing to let the Dems. run with the ball because they don’t think we can stop them. I told them before we do that, it’s time for us to agree on our position & then let me take it to the people (TV) & smoke them out. The way we’re going we’re not exerting any leadership. Besides—our position is on the side of the Angels & leaves the Dems. the wrong side of the debate.

  [Spoke briefly to state agricultural directors; lunch with editors of business magazines, regarded as “very supportive of our programs etc.”]

  George S. & I met. Our plans about the Soviet Union are going forward. He’s giving Ambas. Dobrynin my letter for delivery to Chernenko.

  Then upstairs for afternoon of homework.

  Thursday, March 8

  Charlie Price came by our N.S.C. briefing with some input about England’s cautious attitude about the Persian Gulf if Iran should try to close the Straits of Hormuz. No real problem—they’ll line up with us to keep it open.

  Met with Repub. Sen. leaders on the budget. I’m convinced we must take the lead & wait no more on the Democrats for a bi-partisan approach to the deficit. They think they have a campaign issue. They’ve been in charge of the Cong. for 45 years & for 45 years they’ve run up deficits. Now they want to hang the present deficit on us & yet they’ve only given us half the spending cuts we asked for. We are all agreed now on the tactic but haven’t reached agreement on the amount we propose for Defense spending. Some—like Hatfield & Domenici want to cut it too much. We’ll meet tomorrow to settle it. We took up another item, an emergency appropriation to keep El Salvador’s Army running until the budget is passed—they are about out of ammunition.

  Hatfield is chmn. of the appropriations committee. He engineered the defeat (by 1 vote) of amending it to a sure thing bill on energy. We’ll try again next week but I’m frustrated as h--l. With some of our friends we don’t need enemies.

  [Report in Cabinet Council on future demographics of U.S.; photo sessions; met young hero of a fire; signed proclamation for Red Cross; reception for smaller newspapers, commented, “Unlike the Wash. Post & others they are very supportive of our admin.” Friday, March 9: cancellation of NSC meeting to prepare for visit by President François Mitterrand of France; brief meeting with Senate leadership on defense budget; signing of transportation grant bill; discussion with Shultz, who reported that Anatoly Dobrynin, Soviet ambassador to the U.S., was “very interested in getting some talks going on cultural exchange, consultants in N.Y. & Kiev etc.”; went to Camp David. Saturday, March 10–Sunday, March 11: deep snow; desk work; returned to W.H.; Maureen and Dennis house guests. Monday, March 12: met with Republican House leadership on budget; visited local elementary school; another lunch organized by Maureen with a group of women Republican elected officials; interview with reporters from southeastern states; photo sessions; Mrs. Reagan was in Arizona. Tuesday, March 13: spoke to United Jewish Appeal at Hilton, used entrance that was the scene of assassination attempt in 1981, security had constructed a housing around it; met Mr. and Mrs. John Walsh, parents of kidnapped boy, who were starting a new program for missing children; swearing-in for Maureen Corcoran as General Counsel for Department of Education; ambassadorial formalities.]

  Wednesday, March 14

  P.M. Soares of Portugal was our visitor. He’s most impressive. He is a Socialist but he’s seeking private investment in Portugal’s industry & is as rabid an anti-communist as you can find. He’s a great supporter of our country & the West. We had good & fruitful meetings. Then we had another meeting with the Sen. leadership on the deficit. I got a little worked up & made a speech. I think we have a deal. They are working on the figures & we’ll know tomorrow.

  Then upstairs to make phone calls rallying support for the school prayer amendment & doing mail.

&nbs
p; Thursday, March 15

  [Met with Republican leadership in Congress, formed agreement on proposed deficit package.]

  Jeanne Kirkpatrick came in to tell me we lost a Poland Human Rights bill in the U.N. Security Council—2 votes against us—Soviet U. & Jordan. King Hussein has turned on us & blasted me personally in a N.Y. Times interview. I don’t know that he’s left any room for coming back & he’s already flirting with the Soviet Union. Jeanne is also worried about what the Congress is doing to us on El Salvador & Nicaragua & so am I. Dick Walters came in—what a man he is. He has averaged 1000 miles travel a day for the past year. […]

  [Spoke to Puerto Rican American leaders; appearances at meeting of National Alliance of Businessmen and at National Federation of Press Women; photo sessions; announcement of GOP plan for deficit reduction; Mrs. Reagan returned from West (“Nancy is home—hooray!”).]

  Friday, March 16–Sunday, March 18

  Phoned Bishop John J. O’Connor who is to replace Cardinal Cooke. This will be a good relationship—Pope John Paul has chosen well.

  [Met with unidentified senators on school prayer amendment, uncertain of effect.]P.M. Fitzgerald of Ireland was our visitor. He’s a fine man. I think we gave him some different insights on Central Am. He’s very brave & outspoken about the terrorism in N. Ireland. We held a St. Patrick’s Day lunch which was great fun with many old friends such as Maureen O’Hara, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Merv Griffin, Eva Gabor & Ginger Rogers on hand.

  Geo. Shultz & I then huddled on Angola & the Middle East. I had a photo with our Ambas. & wife to Lebanon (the Reginald Bartholomews). They should both have medals for bravery. Our embassy has been under artillery fire off & on for months. They never flinched. Then it was off to Camp David—with a brief case full of homework. Weather was fair but chilly—most of snow gone. Now we’re back at the W.H. Mubarak has asked for A.W.A.C.’s which we’ve provided in response to an unprovoked bombing of Sudan by Libya.