The Reagan Diaries

by Ronald Reagan

  Friday, February 8

  We had a meeting on putting together a program to help our Central Am. neighbors develop energy supplies. Right now they are dependent on imported oil which impoverishes them & holds back the possibility of ec. development. There is a potential in that area of hydro & geothermal, etc.

  Mayor Buck Rinehart of Columbus Ohio came in. What a breath of fresh air he is. With other Mayors belaboring us as to how our budget cuts will put them in a hole he has launched a local program to help us cut. One feature is a gift catalogue given to his citizens which contains everything the city has to buy—from light bulbs to fire engines & asks his citizens to give gifts of these things to the city. The take so far is almost $5 mil.

  [Hosted seventy-fifth-anniversary lunch for the Boy Scouts; meeting with Shultz on variety of minor matters; went to Camp David. Saturday, February 9–Sunday, February 10: one brief walk; desk work; returned to W.H.; anticipating state visit by King Fahd of Saudi Arabia.]

  Monday, February 11

  The big day, King Fahd arrived—the weather was unbelievably nice, clear sky & sunshine. Everything went well in the morning meetings. In afternoon an interview—me & the N.Y. Times. I think I did well even though they (4 of them) were pitching curves. The State dinner was a success. Everyone seemed to have fun. His Majesty is a really shy man & I’m convinced he felt he had been befriended. I invited him to come to the W.H. for breakfast.

  Tuesday, February 12

  Brkst. was a big plus. We talked of our mid east peace plan. He is agreeable to backing King Hussein & I think he sees merit in our proposals. He’s also going to increase the funding he is secretly giving the Contras in Nicaragua.

  [Luncheon for scientists from various disciplines.]

  Cabinet Council took up matter of what our alternatives are in cleaning up toxic waste dumps. Some would have us use the Superfund to do any & everything with regard to environment. That could become a giant boondoggle. I favor a fund of about $1.1 Bil. a year strictly for the toxic waste dumps. Presented a citizens medal to John Rogers—youngest man ever to serve on W.H. exec. staff. He’s done a fantastic job on refurbishing the E.O.B. & the W.H. among other accomplishments. Dick Wirthlin came by with new figures—they hold up well although there has been some slippage in areas where media & opponents have been propagandizing.

  Just saw a fund-raising letter signed by Tip O’Neill for Dem. Cong. Committee. It is the most vicious pack of lies I’ve ever seen. It’s aimed at Sr. Citizens & has me out to destroy Medicare & Soc. Security. We can’t let him get by with this. Tomorrow off to Calif.

  [Wednesday, February 13: left for California; interviewed by Santa Barbara newspaper en route; met Mrs. Reagan at airport and went to the ranch.]

  Thursday, February 14 (Valentine’s Day)–Sunday, February 17

  [Weather was hot and clear; much ranch work.]

  There were a few duties—phone call to King Fahd. Cap. W. says King told him our meeting was best he’s ever had with a Head of State. Newsman Levin, one of hostages held in Lebanon by terrorists escaped & was taken in by […]. He’s home in U.S.A. now. I called Pres. Assad (Syria) to thank him. He says he’s trying to arrange return of the other 4. We’ll see. Now we’re back in Wash. with a holiday (Presidents Day) then back to work.

  Monday, February 18

  [Telephoned young cancer survivor.]

  I made another call on my own to a young lady in Reseda, Calif. I’d read a news story about her grandfather, 84 yrs. old—his mind getting a little dim but he believes in our admin. Every time he got one of those computerized fund raising letters he contributed until he’d given his total savings of $4200 away. Then crying he called his granddaughter because he couldn’t give me more. I asked these magic working W.H. operators if they could get this young lady on the phone. All they had to go by was her name. They got her. I told her I wanted to talk to her grandfather to thank him but then to tell him about computer mail & that he must throw any more letters in the waste basket. He’s just been put in a nursing home & she didn’t know the phone number. She’ll get it & send it to me.

  [Tuesday, February 19: met with staff; presented National Technology Awards; NSC meeting to prepare for upcoming Canadian trip; visit from Marines who landed on Iwo Jima in 1945.]

  Wednesday, February 20

  Margaret Thatcher day. A good visit & meeting covering all the subjects from currency to arms control. We do have a close alliance on this the 200th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the U.K. & the U.S.

  Before she arrived I saw a secret film of one of our cruise missiles from its launch by Sub. from beneath the Pacific […].

  Then a pre-press conference briefing & some more wood-shedding until time to leave for the British Embassy to dinner with the P.M. It was a very nice evening & only emphasized how firm is the friendship between our countries & with the P.M.

  Thursday, February 21

  [Spoke briefly to leadership at National Conference of State Legislators; lunch with Vice President Bush.]

  The press conf. went well although I thought the questions were rather pedestrian & didn’t make for much news. All this time a blackmail attempt was being made in the Sen. by Democrats trying to link Ed Meese’s confirmation to a costly bailout for the farmers. Bob Dole stood firm in the face of their filibuster.

  Friday, February 22

  Morocco’s foreign minister came by for an early morning visit. Mission was to determine if our friendship for King Hassan was still on firm footing. I believe I convinced him it is. Truth is I do like the King.

  Later I did about 10 minutes of Q&A with 27 editorial writers from all over the country. Some revealed some deep biases, particularly regarding the Nicaragua situation.

  Then an interview with “Business Week” & a reception in the Roosevelt Rm. for Bill Smith. Ed’s confirmation still hanging fire. I’ll take 2 versions of my radio broadcast to Camp David—one for if he’s confirmed before noon Sat. & the other if he isn’t.

  [Photo sessions, military groups and little girl who brought a puppy named Lucky as a gift.]

  Saturday, February 23–Sunday, February 24

  Did the “no-confirmation” script. The weather was like Spring. We lunched outdoors—took a walk & then came the phone call—Ed was confirmed 63 to 31. Our side had won & Bob Dole has proved his right to be Leader of the Senate. Weather still great & back to the W.H. for dinner hosting the Nat. Gov.’s Conference. It was a nice dinner even though some of the Governors have been a little partisan—sniping at us mainly over the farm issue. They want more money at the same time they complain about the deficit.

  [Monday, February 25: meeting with governors, main concern was distressed farmers; follow-up with Grace Commission on implementation of recommendations; interviewed by Jack Germond and Jules Witcover who were writing a book on the 1984 campaign; photo session with beauty pageant winners.]

  Tuesday, February 26

  A 9:30 meeting with our Repub. Congressional leadership. They are determined we are going to have to cut deeply into the Defense budget or we won’t get support for our budget cuts. I’m being stubborn as h--l & intend to stay that way. N.S.C. briefing was a report indicating that Assad of Syria seems to be making an effort to get our 4 kidnap victims back from the terrorists—the Hisballah.

  [Positive news on administration influence on education from Secretary of Education William Bennett and David Gardner, head of Commission on Excellence in Education; photo session for National Wildlife magazine; met with Senate Armed Services and Appropriations Committees on MX missile; Regan reported on divorce scandal involving member of the FCC; telephoned young crime-stopping hero in Cleveland.]

  Wednesday, February 27

  [Annual breakfast with the Senate freshman class of 1980; presented National Medals of Science.]

  After lunch Jerry Parr & his family came in for a photo. He’s retiring from the Secret Svc. Jerry is the one who threw me in the Limo on March 31st, 1981 when Hinckley was shootin
g at me.

  Geo. Shultz came in with Bud. He was reporting on what our man is reporting from S. Africa about the Namibia & Angola situation. Angola has made an offer about sending the Cuban troops home but it’s not a good one. We’re proposing a counter which also has the approval of Savimbi—head of the UNITA faction which is in revolution against the Angolan govt. He’s a good man & has offered a plan for peaceful settlement in Angola. We’re also stepping up our help to Mozambique: Some of our Congressmen & Sen’s. are upset by this since that country has been in the Soviet camp. What they don’t know is that Mozambique wants out of the Soviet connection.

  [Met with representatives of Eureka College; quiet afternoon; noted that Deaver was back from a planning trip to West Germany.]

  Thursday, February 28

  Met with Generals Gorman & Galvin. Gorman has been our Commander of the Southern region in Panama. I awarded him the highest medal we have for the retired. He’s leaving the service. Galvin will replace him. Gorman is extremely well informed about Central America & I must say his assessment of the situation, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, et al was rather optimistic.

  [Addressed the National Association of Independent Schools; met with Senator Don Nickles (R-OK), Representative Mickey Edwards (R-OK), and several independent oil drillers regarding proposed changes to tax structure.]

  Next in was Gov. Terry Bradshaw [Branstad] of Iowa—re the farm problem. Only 10.4% of the 2.2 mil. farmers are involved in the financial & credit crunch. But they are the kind of farmers you find in Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois etc. So you have a farm ec. that’s 90% sound nationwide with the crisis all bunched up in one area. The Demos. are demagoging all over the place smelling an issue for ’86. They howl for multi billion dollar bailouts at the same time they demand I do something about the deficits.

  [Photo session, including West Point football team.]

  A drop by for a reception for Bill Clark & his family. He’s going back to the ranch.

  Friday, March 1

  Just learned we’re putting together a program for me to lean on individual & small groups of Congress re our problems—budget, MX, etc. Looks like a lot of breakfast drop bys & cocktail hour meetings. Sen. Pete Domenici is working on an idea of getting the Sen. to send a drastic budget resolution over to the House with cuts way beyond ours to force the Demos. to negotiate.

  The Nicaragua problem continues to fester. The most sophisticated, high priced lobby effort in years—Nicaragua sponsored is taking place on the hill & a number of members are buying their falsehoods which means they accept the lobbyists words over ours including our intelligence services, the state dept. etc.

  Met briefly with several representatives of Arab-Am. groups. They were most supportive of us during the campaign. We had a brief talk about the middle east.

  [Spoke briefly to key appointees; spent afternoon in the residence; Conservative Political Action Conference dinner, noted, “It was a good affair—in the 1st place it ran 15 mins. ahead of schedule which has to be a 1st of some kind.” Saturday, March 2: answered constituent letters; dinner with the Regans and Doles. Sunday, March 3: finished answering letters.]

  Monday, March 4

  Our 33rd Anniversary. Other than that it was another Monday morning. Why do they always seem different than other days?

  Met with the new Sec. Gen. of OECD—Jean-Claude Paye. It was a brief but pleasant meeting. He is all for urging European members of OECD to take steps to free up their economics, etc. so as to catch up with our ec. recovery.

  We had an N.S.C. meeting with our Arms Talks Leaders looking at various options for how we wanted to deal with the Soviets. It’s a very complicated business. I urged one decision on them—that we open the talks with a concession—surprise! Since they have publicly stated they want to see nuclear weapons eliminated entirely, I told our people to open by saying we would accept their goal.

  Nancy came to the oval office for lunch & we cut an anniversary cake & had a few of the immediate staff share in it. That was the extent of our celebration except that at dinner we opened a bottle of Chateau Margeaux 1911.

  Right after lunch I addressed the N.A.C.O.—Nat. Assn. of County Officials. I wasn’t sure how I’d be received since they’ve taken positions opposing some of our budget cuts & that was what I talked to them about. But they were very cordial.

  Fred Fielding, Don Regan & Mike D. came in to see me about the Arabian Horses that King Fahd wanted to give me. I had stated I couldn’t accept them as a gift—due to our stupid regulations. As it stands they are now in Prince Bandar’s (Ambas.) name & he has asked Bill Clark to take care of them for him. Now what happens 4 yrs. from now is anyone’s guess.

  [Interviewed by Newsweek on MX missile.]

  Had Sens. Dave Boren & Sam Nunn over for cocktails & to talk about the MX. I believe we’ll have their support. In fact they talked of how wrong it was for Congress to interfere with a President in Foreign affairs & how both parties must come together at the water’s edge.

  Tuesday, March 5

  [Congressional breakfast with questions on MX; visit from Prime Minister Bettino Craxi of Italy.]

  Pat Brown—former Gov. of Calif. I defeated in ’66 came in. He’s now 80 & there were no vestiges of the bitterness he used to feel & display. This was day for receiving Ambas’s. About 6 of them including one from New Zealand. That could have been a little touchy but it wasn’t. Then over to the W.H. for another quiet cocktail do with 5 of our Congress people—more MX. Well only 3 showed up. One of them, Arlen Spector is holding out—his reason, that MX is vulnerable if put in Minute Man silos. All in all though I think we did some good. Nancy is in N.Y. for a dinner for Princess Margaret. It’s lonesome here.

  Wednesday, March 6

  Up early—I don’t sleep well when I’m alone. Another brkfst.—this time for House Demos. Usual Q&A on MX. Imperceptibility there seems to be a tide running a bit our way. Over in the Cabinet Room met with bi-partisan leadership both Houses. Had our 3 chief Arms Negotiators on hand. They spoke briefly & then opened for discussion. A press fuss over House members going to Geneva for opening of talks, made it seem like we were complaining that it was just another junket. I called Jim Wright to tell him—not true that we believed their going would show unity to the Soviets. So at this meeting I asked him to go.

  Had lunch with Sen. John Stennis. He’s a fine old gentleman & while a life long Dem. he really stands by us on things like MX & the Defense budget.

  [Spoke to citizen’s group on MX; tests for annual checkup; vetoed farm spending bill; cocktails with congressmen with discussion of MX; Mrs. Reagan home.]

  Thursday, March 7

  [Congressional breakfast; cabinet affairs briefing on Treasury tax proposal; spoke to National Newspaper Association.]

  Lunch with Tip O’Neill, Don Regan & Max F. Tip surprised me—He won’t make an issue of MX but will not personally vote for it. He says it’s a matter of conscience; having the MX he says will provoke a Russian Nuclear attack. He can’t respond when asked how we can remain defenseless & let the Soviets have thousands of missiles aimed at us.

  We had a Cabinet Council meeting on management & admin. We’re working out a plan to sell off excess properties the govt. owns.

  Big event was meeting with Polit bureau [Politburo] member (Soviet) Shcherbitskiy. He had Ambas. Dobrynin & a couple of others with him. I had George S., Bud, Don Regan & a couple of others with me. He & I went round & round. His was the usual diatribe that we are the destabilizing force, threatening them. It was almost a repeat of the Gromyko debate except that we got right down to arguing. I think he’ll go home knowing that we are ready for negotiations but we d--n well aren’t going to let our guard down or hold still while they continue to build up their offensive forces.

  [Photo sessions; cocktail party with congressmen, commented, “I made the usual MX pitch & they seemed pretty affirmative”; met widow of drug enforcement agent killed in Mexico.]

  Friday, March 8

 
A large breakfast with members of Sen. & House teams who are going to Geneva for opening of arms talks plus our negotiators. There seemed to be a feeling of unity even including Sen. Ted Kennedy. Then over in the Roosevelt room we had the formal send-off.

  [Photo session with young winners of VFW honors.]

  Then it was off to Bethesda Naval Hospital for my annual check-up. I’m so healthy I had a hard time not acting smug.

  [Report that ranch manager in California had died suddenly; went to Camp David. Saturday, March 9–Sunday, March 10: reading and walking; returned to W.H.]

  Monday, March 11

  Awakened at 4 A.M. to be told Chernenko is dead. My mind turned to whether I should attend the funeral. My gut instinct said no. Got to the office at 9. George S. had some arguments that I should—he lost. I don’t think his heart was really in it. George B. is in Geneva—he’ll go & George S. will join him leaving tonight.

  [Photo session with young entrepreneurs; lunch with regional journalists; spoke to organization of conservative state legislators, the American Legislative Exchange.]

  Word has been received that Gorbachev has been named head man in the Soviet.

  Carolyn & John Kennedy came to see me—they want help on fundraising for the endowment for the J.F.K. Library.

  A Haircut & then over to the Soviet embassy to sign the grief book—this is my 3rd such trip.

  [Dinner in honor of Queen Sirikit of Thailand, commented, “She’s a delightful, shy & lovely lady who does all kinds of good work—helping the poor, the refugees etc.”]

  Tuesday, March 12

  Today was Mubarak Day (Pres. of Egypt). The usual meetings, 1st in Oval O. then Cabinet room & finally lunch at the W.H. He has some financial problems—mainly about $500 Mil. a year in interest to us for past military purchases. He needs help & we’ll do what we can but of course we have our own problems. Most of time spent on peace talks between Jordan & Israel. The sticking point is with the Palestinians who insist on representing themselves in the negotiations. I think we’ve settled for his idea that the U.S. meets with Jordan & the Palestinians & then (our idea) we repeat with Israel present. Then of course the negotiations are directly between Hussein of Jordan & Israel.