The Reagan Diaries

by Ronald Reagan

  [Thursday, September 27: meeting with President Fernando Belaúnde Terry of Peru, discussion of economic problems; Regan brought economic data; taped commercial; briefing for next day’s meeting with Andrei Gromyko; meeting with Representative Bob Michel (R-IL) regarding help for congressional candidates; with Foreign Minister Esmat Abdel Meguid of Egypt, with message from President Hosni Mubarak; noted that Jordan has signed treaty with Egypt; photo session and taping of commercials for candidates.]

  Friday, September 28

  The big day—Andrei Gromyko. Meeting held in Oval office. Five waves of photographers—1st time that many. I opened with my monologue & made the point that perhaps both of us felt the other was a threat then explained by the record we had more reason to feel that way than they did. His opener was about 30 min’s. then we went into dialogue. I had taken notes on his pitch & rebutted with fact & figure a number of his points. I kept emphasizing that we were the two nations that could destroy or save the world. I figured they nurse a grudge that we don’t respect them as a super-power. All in all—3 hrs. including lunch were I believe well spent. Everyone at our end thinks he’s going home with a pretty clear view of where we stand.

  [Spent afternoon negotiating position on Simpson-Maggli immigration bill; bill-signing ceremonies; drove to Camp David; studied for Mondale debate en route. Saturday, September 29–Sunday, September 30: quiet days by fire; prepared for debate; returned to W.H.]

  Monday, October 1–Wednesday, October 3

  Off to Detroit, Gulfport & Biloxi Miss., Corpus Christi, Brownsville & Houston Texas & back to W.H. In Detroit I addressed 1548 newly sworn in citizens of our country. It was a moving ceremony. Then in the same bldg. addressed (7000) a luncheon of the Ec. Club & the Women’s Ec. Club. Without naming him I laid into Mondale—1st time I’ve done that. Was very well received. Then it was on to Biloxi Miss. The Grand Jury handed down an indictment against Ray Donovan. The whole thing seems to smell a bit. Of course the press is drooling.

  [Rally in Mississippi. Tuesday, October 2: flew to Texas to campaign. Wednesday, October 3: returned to W.H.; bill-signing ceremonies; accepted endorsement of the VFW; meeting in Situation Room, noted, “We still don’t have quite enough info to OK an aerial strike against a terrorist center in Lebanon. It’s frustrating”; preparation for debate on Sunday; taped campaign ads.]

  Thursday, October 4

  Opened the day with briefing & rehearsal for debate. Then an East Room meeting with all our Congressmen & cands for Congress. It’s a campaign type of kickoff for them. Two yrs. ago we did it on the capitol steps. This time Tip O’Neill refused to allow it. It was a good affair & I think they go home all revved up.

  Two practice sessions for debate with Dave Stockman playing Mondale—Mondale should be so good. Viewed film of Mondale’s “primary” debates.

  Friday, October 5

  A brief NSC meeting—further intelligence that the Hezbollah terrorists are gearing up for more action—spell that murders. Then 2 session of debate rehearsal, a Cabinet meeting & Rose Garden ceremony honoring a dozen mil. & civilian defense employees who have played roles in uncovering waste & fraud. And off to Camp David where we saw Jessica Lange’s movie, “Country” which was a blatant propaganda message against our Agri. programs.

  Saturday, October 6–Sunday, October 7

  Sat. another rehearsal—the whole crew at Camp D. An afternoon ride & lots of cramming. Back to the W.H. Sunday morning & off to Louisville—the debate at 2:45 P.M. Well the debate took place & I have to say I lost. I guess I’d crammed so hard on facts & figures in view of the absolutely dishonest things he’s been saying in the campaign, I guess I flattened out. Anyway I didn’t feel good about myself. And yet he was never able to rebut any of the facts I presented & kept repeating things that are absolute falsehoods. But the press has been calling him the winner for 2 days now.

  Monday, October 8

  We left Louisville not feeling too bad. There was a rally at the hotel last night—1000’s of people who had all seen the debate & they thought I’d won. But now on to Charlotte, N.C. Sen. Helms & several candidates & Congressmen were on hand for a rally of more than 50,000 people. They had been there for hours but they were wildly enthusiastic.

  [Appearance in Baltimore; returned to W.H.; videotapings; reception for campaign steering committee.]

  Tuesday, October 9

  A brief meeting with Bill Smith re the Immigration bill now in conference committee. Decided we could not accept a couple of amendments of Dem. origin—so bill will probably die. Too bad, too because we’ve lost control of our borders. Did a couple of bill signings in the office—one on Fire Prevention Week & the other on some child abuse legislation.

  Then it was time for P.M. Peres & F.M. Shamir of Israel. We had a good meeting & on through a working lunch. He has a tremendous ec. problem & we are trying to be of help. I think he is the most flexible & reasonable Israeli P.M. that I’ve known since I’ve been in office.

  A Cabinet Council meeting. One part had to do with a vast reduction in the agencies regulating financial inst’s. There is great duplication. I approved the action. The rest was an ec. report by Niskanen which we couldn’t finish because I had a signing ceremony in the Rose Garden of the Older Americans Act of 1985. Then an interview with U.S. News & World Report. A reception for the leaders of the Nat. Fraternal Congress of America.

  Wednesday, October 10

  [Flew to Michigan to visit Catholic high school and to attend rally.]

  Both the luncheon which featured the ethnic Am. groups was a pol. rally itself. Then the big one at the college. I’m feeling humbled by the affection these crowds show. Over & over I hear them shouting that they love me. Back to the W.H. The press is beating the drums about Mondale winning the debate—but the polls still have me out in front as a candidate.

  Thursday, October 11

  [Staff and NSC meetings; bill-signing ceremony; gathering of minority entrepreneurs.]

  Lunch with George Bush—his office. He’s a little uptight—tonite he debates Ferraro in Phil. Then an afternoon of taping—1st with about 2 dozen Congres. candidates & then campaign commercials. Tony Quinn & his wife stopped by. He presented me with 2 sculptures of his doing—one bronze, one marble. He’s d--n good & his art work is getting great acclaim.

  [Friday, October 12: flew to Ohio for whistlestop tour by train; noted, “I called Margaret Thatcher from the train re the I.R.A. bombing at Brighton which almost got her”; returned to Washington and then on to Camp David. Saturday, October 13: riding. Sunday, October 14: called Queen Elizabeth, wrapping up a vacation in Wyoming. Monday, October 15: flew to Alabama for campaign appearances; returned to W.H.]

  Tuesday, October 16

  [Flew to Illinois to campaign.]

  Second stop was at Bolingbrook High School—1700 students. I spoke & then took several questions. They asked good ones which allowed me to refute Mondale’s charges re Social Security, Arms limitations & Environment. It was a stimulating affair. Last stop was at Du Page College—a political rally & again an overwhelming crowd very much on our side. Gov. Jim Thompson & Sen. C. Percy were on hand. It was a good day. Back in Wash. had to resolve an issue whether to sign or veto a bill letting western states lumber co’s. off the hook for contracts made to buy timber from the govt. at prices based on the Carter inflation rates. They were going broke with prices down. I signed. I believe it was best for the ec. recovery & also that govt. had to share the blame for letting the ec. get out of hand as it did in 1979 & 1980.

  Wednesday, October 17

  Arch. Arietta of Costa Rica came by. He’s a very fine man who is totally aware of the evil of the Sandinistas. From then on the subject was debate—some interruptions of course. Out on the South Lawn a ceremony recognizing the Young Astronauts program. Little Drew Barrymore—the child in “E.T.” was one of the children. She’s a nice little person. Then a signing of a consumer bill that makes it possible to recall dangerous toys as adult products can be recal
led. Over to E.O.B. for a debate practice session. It went pretty well. Since the 1st debate I’m a little edgy about letting myself get bogged down in specifics. I did better today. Then a double session of TV tapings; some spots for candidates & then some lengthy visuals for a Navy League Dinner, a Boy Scout award to Maude Chasen, The Nat. Elec. Contractors, Intenational Police Chiefs etc.

  Thursday, October 18

  [Rehearsed for debate; met Portuguese Olympic marathon winner.]

  Then it was off to N.Y. for the Al Smith dinner. Henry Kissinger came by the hotel, we had a good session. He feels my firmness about the Soviets has worked & that if I’m elected they’ll want to get together on arms talks.

  Sonny & Leah Werblin came by—he is Toastmaster for the dinner. Then Arch. Bishop O’Connor came to escort us to the reception. It is a tradition of the affair that there be a receiving line. We must have shaken more than 1000 hands (1 hour, 15 min.). Mondale sent regrets which was taken as quite an affront by the people of N.Y. Nancy stayed over & I came back to the W.H.

  Friday, October 19

  A bill signing—anti-terrorism legislation. Two hours of debate briefing. Then NSC meeting re the terrorist targets in Lebanon. We have one in the Bekaa Valley we are convinced is a training center. My decision, in view of the threats hanging over us for the next several days (the anniversary of the Marine holocaust) is to be ready with an air strike if they attempt another attack. To strike now & then to have them attack would look like it was a reprisal for our raid.

  A long afternoon of working on a closing statement for the debate.

  Saturday, October 20

  The radio program & then I can sum the day up in one sentence. I’ve been working my tail off to master the 4 min. closing statement I want to make in the debate tomorrow night.

  Sunday, October 21–Wednesday, October 24

  Off to K.C. for debate Number 2—on Foreign Policy. The consensus seems to be that I won although some want to call it a tie. A rally before the debate was a little like the Homecoming bonfire before the big game. I felt fine—certainly different than I felt in Louisville.

  The next morning we parted company—Nancy off on a campaign trip by herself & me off to Calif. Ron & Doria had surprised me by showing up in K. C. for the debate. I was quite touched. They rode A.F.1 back to Calif. with us. My 1st stop in Calif. was at Palmdale for the view of a B.1. bomber. Some 10,000 U.A.W. members in a giant hangar & as enthused as the G.O.P convention. Then onto San Diego for an open air rally. Again a great turnout of young people. Next an airport rally at Medford, Oregon—18,000 people. We went on to Portland, Oregon for overnight. The day was a great one & there were more to follow. Tues. morning the rally was at Portland U. A small group of hecklers gave me a chance for a little repartee which went over big with the students & others. We left immediately for Seattle & another giant rally. Then on to Columbus Ohio for the night. Wed. morning a brief talk to a local broadcasters convention. Then to Ohio St. U. for a giant rally. The O.S.U. students were on fire. Another small heckler group only added to the fun. By this time I was so in love with young Americans I was all choked up. For lunch we went to the Teke house (T.K.E.), my fraternity. These have been the greatest four days I can remember. Mondale dug up a letter I wrote to Nixon in 1960 & had tried to say I likened him to Marx & Hitler. Now the press is after me because of a little band of clerics who charge that I’m basing my policies on the expectation of Armageddon. Mr. Mondale is desperate.

  [Ceremony for medical students rescued on Grenada; Mrs. Reagan expected imminently. Thursday, October 25: briefing for supporters; honored in Sportscasters Hall of Fame and in poll of high school students; photo session and taping of campaign commercials; interviewed by Knight Ridder reporters and then by Newsweek; dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wicks and Charles Price. Friday, October 26: flew to New York for speech at Jewish Temple, commented, “I believe I settled for them the issue of separation of church & state”; helicoptered to campaign rallies in Connecticut and New Jersey; returned to Washington and went to Camp David with Mrs. Reagan.]

  Saturday, October 27–Sunday, October 28

  A beautiful summer like week-end & back to W.H.

  Monday, October 29

  Off to Lancaster & Media, Pa. & Parkersburg, W.Va. A good day! Lancaster rally was at Millersville College in the gym. As always with the students—joined by several thousand adults it was a great reception. Then we helicoptered—after having had lunch at 11:30 A.M. at the college, on to Media, Pa. for an outdoor rally—again a great reception. A.F.1 to Parkersburg, W.Va. & a rally in the H.S. gym—an even bigger crowd heard the speech by loud speaker outdoors. Back to the W.H.

  Tuesday, October 30

  Kind of hard to change tempo & get back to the office routine. I phoned a little speech to the U.S. League of Savings institutions convention. Then a couple of taped phone calls for the get out the vote drive. Met with a group of Dems. for Reagan leaders including such individuals as Willy Mays, Don Newcomb, Rosy Grier, et al. A bill signing in the Rose Garden—the omnibus trade bill. Spent much of the afternoon in an interview by Wm. R. Hearst & about 20 of his editors from all over the country. Another one with 3 from Time mag. Then an NSC meeting on where we go from here on Nicaragua & finally upstairs. Nancy due home from her 2 day trip West any minute.

  Wednesday, October 31

  Don Regan came by—he believes the economy is in a lull & the Fed. holds the key. The Fed. has pulled the string on money supply & it’s down to ½ the rate of growth in the ec. Don is trying to goose Paul V. into a little action before he brings on more of a lull.

  To the India Embassy to express condolences of the death of P.M. Indira Ghandi. Then over to Reagan-Bush H.Q. for a tour & to thank the volunteers. They were an inspiration—an attractive gang of mainly young people—heart & soul into the campaign. Back at the Rose Garden the 10 surviving Cong. Medal of Honor—(Hispanic Am.) medalists on hand for a ceremony unveiling the very beautiful stamp commemorating the heroism of Hispanics. A routine session with John H. approving appointments. A meeting with Geo. S. & Bud—subject negotiations, whether arms or Latin Am. or what our overall policy should be. I declared that no more agreements just to get an agreement. They would have to accomplish our goal. In the oval office I video-taped the half hour speech to be played on election eve. It went well. Then I taped the Sat. radio speech cause we’ll be on the campaign trail. A haircut—a pile of paperwork & home & Mother. The elec. polls are holding up but I’m still edgy—what happens if our people look at the polls & decide their vote isn’t necessary?

  Thursday, November 1

  Off to Boston, Rochester, N.Y., & Wayne Co., Michigan.

  This was last campaign swing before election. An outdoor rally in front of Boston City Hall (foreign territory for me). Hopes were high we could elect Ray Shamie to the Sen. but it wasn’t to be. Then on to Rochester, N.Y. for an indoor rally & on to Wayne Co., Michigan & a Shopping Center (outdoor) rally. It had been raining on the crowd for 3 hours but when I suggested I cut my remarks down the crowd screamed no—so we all got wetter. Then to the hotel for dinner & overnight.

  [Friday, November 2: hopscotched by plane to rallies in Saginaw, Michigan; Cleveland, Ohio; Springfield, Illinois; and Little Rock, Arkansas. Saturday, November 3: flew to Des Moines and then Winterset, Iowa, noted, “After the rally I visited the John Wayne birthplace. Two of his daughters were on hand”; flew to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and met Mrs. Reagan; campaign rallies.]

  Sunday, November 4

  We penciled in a stop in Minn. for a press conference in Mondale’s home state. Even with no advance notice there was a big crowd at the airport.

  Then resumed the schedule in St. Louis Mo. in the biggest rally of all at the St. Louis Arch. Back on the plane & on to Chi. where we met up with the Bushes at a rally in the Rosemont Horizons Arena. George introduced me then I excused him because he & Barbara were due at a rally in Houston, Texas. At 4:40 we were back on the plane & headed for Sacramento California
& the Red Lion Inn. Our suite was quite luxurious including having the bed on a raised platform. At 3:30 A.M. Nancy took a header off that d--n platform when she got up to get an extra blanket. She got an egg sized lump on the left side of her head. We tried ice water packs […].

  Monday, November 5

  Nancy needed help walking. I was scared—she was really wobbly. The doctor said it was to be expected & that there was no serious or lasting damage. We went over to the Capitol where Gov. Deukmejian unveiled a picture of me & a plaque naming the Cabinet Room the Ronald Reagan Room. Then out to the West Steps to address a huge crowd where twice before I’d been sworn in as Gov. We went on to L.A. for a rally in the Pierce College F.B. stadium—about 35,000 people. Back on the plane & on to San Diego to close out the campaign where I’d closed the ’80 campaign. A huge crowd. Then back to L.A. & the Century Plaza—Nancy still unsteady.

  Tuesday, November 6

  The great day! We helicoptered to Solvang to turn in our absentee ballots—a beautiful day. We flew right over the ranch. Back at the hotel I had interviews with Lou Cannon, Newsweek Mag. & Time. That evening our traditional dinner with our friends at the Jorgensons. It was really great to be with our friends. While there Mondale called to concede. There were also calls from P.M. Mulroney of Canada, King Fahd of Saudi Arabia & Pres. Pia of Pakistan. Finally the get-together with all our workers at the Hotel & the evening was over.

  Wednesday, November 7

  Well 49 states, 59% of the vote & 525 electoral votes. A short press conf. The press is now trying to prove it wasn’t a landslide or should I say a mandate?

  Then to the ranch on a beautiful day.

  Thursday, November 8–Saturday, November 10

  Beautiful weather every day. One night 3 inches of badly needed rain but clear & bright by morning. I rode all 3 days—Nancy didn’t but by Sun. she was OK except for soreness where the bump was. Barney, Dennis & I spent the afternoons cutting up a couple of downed Oak trees & splitting the wood. I bought a wine closet & we hauled wine down from the barn. We found a few other chores that needed doing so all in all it was a happy time.