The Reagan Diaries

by Ronald Reagan

  Wednesday, October 9

  [Photo session with the New York Times; spoke to National Security Telecommunications Advisory Commission; attended fund-raiser in Virginia; lunch with Shultz and McFarlane to discuss upcoming Geneva summit.]

  Word came that the Italian Liner had returned to Port Said—the hijackers were taken by the Egyptians who turned them over to the P.L.O. who took them out of Egypt. They were only 4 in number but then we learned they had killed an American—a 69 yr. old man in a wheel chair. So we never had a chance to launch our rescue attack. The hostages minus 1 are on their way home.

  The Senate passed the Gramm, Rudman deficit plan 75 to 24—now it’s up to the House. The Sen. also passed a temporary debt ceiling increase. If the House doesn’t pass it before midnight we are out of money.

  Thursday, October 10

  [Flew to Chicago; addressed Sara Lee employees; visited high school.]

  On the way back to Wash. I O.K.’d a plan to intercept an Egyptian plane & try to force it to land at a base of ours in the Mediterranean. It carries the 4 hi-jackers (murderers). We want to turn them over to Italy for prosecution. Of course we will not attack the plane—just signal it to turn & crowd it a bit. Our friend—Pres. of Egypt had said the hijackers in the hands of the P.L.O. were no longer in Egypt. They took off from a hangar while we were on our way home.

  Back at the White House for another go at my nose. They didn’t get all of the skin carcinoma the 1st time. Now I’ll have 4 days at Camp D. to hope it won’t show enough for the press to notice when I come home.

  Friday, October 11

  Well my nose will show—so I prefaced a statement to the press on the hijacking by calling attention to the plaster on my nose & explained what had been done.

  Of course the big news was that our Navy F 14’s had intercepted the Egyptian plane carrying the hi-jackers & forced them down on Sicily—the NATO base in Sigonella.

  Americans as well as friends abroad are standing 6 inches taller. We’re flooded with wires & calls.

  This happened late Thurs. evening & there were other kinds of calls half the night—such as my call to P.M. Craxi of Italy asking that we be allowed to fly the 4 to the U.S. for prosecution here. He explained that he didn’t have the authority—Italian magistrates are independent of the Govt. Well the upshot is, Italy will prosecute but we are putting in an extradition request just in case. Moubarik is offended & called our act piracy. I think he’s playing to his own audience. The Egyptian people are partial to the P.L.O.

  Well back to Fri. An N.S.P.G. meeting about our handing of all these matters—then a meeting with George Shultz. & off to Camp David. There were more calls there.

  Saturday, October 12–Monday, October 14

  The usual weekend except for heavier than usual phone traffic & the additional day (Mon. Columbus Day). We managed to get in rides Sat. & Sun. I called Mrs. Klinghoffer, widow of the man the hi-jackers murdered. I’d called her daughters before she arrived in the U.S. She & some other passengers had a stop in Rome to identify the hi-jackers. She told me I’m really hated by them that every few minutes during the ordeal on ship they were sounding off about me. Italy raised our hackles when they smuggled one of the Palestinians who had accompanied the 4 on the plane out of Italy & into Yugoslavia. We have evidence that his top rank aide to Arafat was a conspirator with the hi-jackers. We had sent evidence & a warrant to Italy.

  [Returned to W.H.; small dinner party. Tuesday, October 15: flew to Boise, Idaho, for fund-raiser; was well received at rally at Boise State; flew to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for another fund-raiser; returned to W.H.]

  Wednesday, October 16

  The body washed up on Syrian shore is that of Mr. Klinghofer, complete with 2 bullet holes which lays to rest the lies told by the P.L.O. that he died of a heart attack. A cable informed me Defense Minister & party chief Spadolini in Italy pulled the rug out from under P.M. Craxi by taking his party out of the coalition. Craxi has been on thin ice & I guess this was just taking advantage of the high jacking. Susumo Nikaido of Japan came by. He’s been here on a trade mission & I think he’s going back convinced that the protectionism threat on the hill is real. He’ll go back promoting more effort by Japan to open up markets.

  Then former Gov. of Vermont, Dick Snelling came in. We’ve been urging him to run for the Sen. against Pat Leahy. Today he said yes to us.

  [Meeting with Shultz regarding upcoming summit; addressed a gathering of Jewish philanthropists; new poll showed rising job approval; stitches removed from nose.]

  After dinner went by the farewell dinner for Sen. Russell Long. I said a few words about him—he is really a good guy.

  Thursday, October 17

  Bob Michel brought a Japanese Labor leader over for a pic. before I went to the office. Then it was the usual staff meeting, some desk time & a short visit some Repub. Governors. Terry Brandstead wants a separate meeting about the plight of Iowa farmers. He says there have been 3 farmer suicides in his state. I feel as bad as he does but what can we do? We are spending more on the farmers plight than any admin. in history.

  [Spoke to a coalition of ethnic and fraternal groups that support administration’s tax-reform plan.]

  Then a meeting with P.M. Peres of Israel. I hope he remains P.M. He’s a statesman & a fine man. We talked the peace process—our desire to sell Jordan some arms. He has trouble with that one—mainly because of opposition in the Knesset.

  [Photo sessions with old friends from Dixon, Epilepsy poster child; dropped by Republican governors’ dinner.]

  Friday, October 18

  A huddle on the speech to the U.N. next week. Some wanted it more harsh toward the Soviets than I think it should be. I won. NSC meeting—wide disagreement on whether to make a new presentation on the M.B.F.R. talks in Vienna. They’ve been going on for 10 yrs. Kohl & Thatcher want a new proposal—D.O.D. opposes. I’m inclined to go with K & T. For one thing they hang their proposal on a strict, intrusive verification procedure. If the USSR doesn’t agree—no reduction in forces. If they do agree it will be the 1st time ever.

  [Met with CEO’s to solicit help with Congress on deficit plan.]

  The Egyptian Ambas. came by with a lengthy letter from Mubarak. Pres. M. is pleading for understanding but still charging us with humiliating him, etc. The Ambas. almost in a whisper said—“put yourself in our place.” I said “that should be mutual.”

  [Spoke about deficit plan to supportive groups; met with Mrs. Reagan and presidential library board members to choose an architect; met with Shultz about summit.]

  Saturday, October 19

  No Camp David—a dinner tonite—Nat. Italian-American Foundation honoring Frank Sinatra. It was a fun evening. The Italian Ambas., it was very obvious, wanted to make sure I was not upset or angry toward Italy. I publicly assured him in my remarks to the dinner that friendship between Italy & the U.S. was unshakeable.

  [Sunday, October 20: Mrs. Reagan left for NYC, won’t see her until Wednesday.]

  Monday, October 21

  This is or was an easy Monday. I think they are easing up because of the 3 days in N.Y. this week. Anyway I went from a brief session with Anne Armstrong about PFIAB’s finding […] (which we must do something about) to a brief meeting with Mr. Jerzy Milewski—Polish labor leader. He thanked me for the help the U.S. has been to Solidarity & the people of Poland. Then a brief speech at the E.O.B. to about 100 of our U.S. Attorneys—my appointees. Our issues briefing lunch was more or less routine. I had written a 4 page essay on my views of what our approach to the summit should be & read it to the group. Then an NSC meeting on the coming U.N. anniversary in N.Y. It has been decided that I will not sit with the U.S. delegation at the 2 hr. ceremony. I will already have addressed the Gen. Assembly that morning. Our intelligence suggests several of us have probably been fingered for possible assassination attempts. Some 5000 UN badges have been given out & the UN refuses to magnetometer the attendees or look at briefcases, etc. Security doesn’t feel I should at
tend & I’m not going to 2nd guess them.

  [Photo sessions with Miss America and the Times of India.]

  Tuesday, October 22

  Started the day with a meeting of Repub. Cong. leadership. I hope we did some good with them on the Gramm-Rudman bill & Tax reform. Then an NSC meeting—Paul Laxalt reported on his visit with Pres. Marcos of the Philippines. His report as to the President’s health & alertness completely contrary to widespread press reports that he is failing & not mentally alert. I suspect an element in the St. Dept. bureaucracy is anti Marcos & helps the false reporting along.

  Then an N.S.P.G. meeting on how we reply to the Soviets arms proposals. We’re still working on that. My own idea is that we undermine their propaganda plan by offering a counter proposal which stresses our acceptance of some of their figures—such as a 50% cut in weapons & a total of 6,000 war heads etc. Those are pretty much like what we’ve already proposed.

  [Met with Prime Minister Herbert Blaize of Grenada; greeted archaeologist Kamoya Kimeu; met with House Appropriations Committee and expressed concern about Congress reducing funding for SDI; met with Republican congressmen about 1986 election.]

  Wednesday, October 23

  [Flew to NYC for the fortieth anniversary of the U.N.; briefed by Deputy Secretary of State John Whitehead who had met with Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and Italian prime minister Bettino Craxi, noted, “I think that flurry is all over—neither of those 2 want a rift with us”; had lunch at U.N. with other heads of state; met Mrs. Reagan at the Waldorf-Astoria.]

  Back at the hotel I had meeting with Pres. Zia of Pakistan, P.M. Gandhi of India & old friend Margaret Thatcher of U.K. At 7 P.M. downstairs for a reception—heads of state & spouses. After the receiving line a few mini bi laterals as I made my way through the crowd. Oretega of Nicaragua wanted one but I said “no.” Then upstairs for private dinner & beddy bye.

  Thursday, October 24

  This was the big day. Nancy & I went over to the U.N. I addressed the Gen. Assembly & a few thousand U.N. guests. I had to wear my iron undershirt. […] a sizeable group of reps. carry guns. The U.N. refuses to allow any magnetometering or checking of briefcases. My speech went over extremely well. In fact veterans at the U.N. said no western speaker had ever gotten such a warm applause. It was broadcast live & we all agreed the crowds on the street had been affected by it—they were cheering like for a Super bowl.

  Nancy & I parted company. I went over to Walters office in the U.N. Mission Building. There I had a good meeting with P.M. Craxi. We really cleared the air re the hi-jacking. They now have the info we had on Abbas & are trying to get him back. Then a working lunch with Geo. S., Don R., Bud & Ambas. Walters. After lunch I met with 5 of our Ec. Summit partners—Margaret T., Brian Mulroney of Canada, Helmut K., Yasu Nakasone (Japan) & Craxi. It was a good 90 min. session—all on the upcoming meeting with Gorbachev. They were all most supportive & jumped for joy when I volunteered to go to Brussels (NATO) & brief them after the summit. Back to the hotel & a meeting with F.M. of the Soviets, Shevardnadze. It was as usual a polite exchange with him saying nothing of importance.

  He was followed by Brian Mulroney of Canada—this was a good meeting. He accepted my invitation to an official visit to Wash. this Spring. We’re making progress on the Acid rain problem.

  A brief cocktail time—then a dinner of just the 6 of us who had met in the afternoon. They told me I would go to Geneva with their trust, their love & their prayers.

  [Friday, October 25: met individually with Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone of Japan and Chancellor Helmut Kohl of West Germany, then the family of Leon Klinghoffer, victim in the Achille Lauro hijacking; flew to Camp David, noted that the case of a Soviet seaman trying to defect in New Orleans had been bungled and the sailor returned to his ship. Saturday, October 26: radiocast; rode; watched the World Series.]

  Sunday, October 27

  No change on the sailor. I have issued orders that we take him off the ship by force if necessary so that he can be questioned away from the Soviets as to what he wants to do. Back to the W.H.

  Monday, October 28

  The story of the Soviet Seaman goes on all day & will go on to Tues. morning. Our people were on the Soviet ship to make sure they didn’t sail away. This afternoon word came through Ambas. Dobrynin that we could take the sailor to a nearby Coast Guard Cutter for interrogation. He was moved but shortly after arriving on the Cutter he became nauseated. The sea was quite choppy & the diagnosis was sea sickness. He went up on deck for an hour. We asked permission to move him ashore to the Naval hospital. That’s where he is now & it is planned that he be questioned tomorrow.

  [Attended domestic-policy meeting with report on the Grace Commission’s 2,478 recommendations, 83 percent of which had been implemented; met with groups supporting the Grace Commission’s work; issues lunch; presided at ceremony proclaiming “Year of Liberty,” in reference to the centennial of the Statue of Liberty; met with families of hostages held in Lebanon, noted, “We’ve tried to keep them informed of all we’re doing to try to free their loved ones.”]

  Tuesday, October 29

  A long d--n day. Finale to our Soviet sailor episode. Finally today our team of experienced experts questioned him at great length. He now says he fell off the ship. When asked why he jumped off the boat taking him back to the ship he says he has no memory of that. Now he declares he wants to see his mother & father again—so he’s been turned over to the Soviets.

  [National Security Planning Group (NSPG) meeting on strategy for Soviet arms reduction proposal, believed a compromise was near; spoke to Protestant lay leaders and clergy on youth problems, also briefed them on tax reform; interviewed by BBC; received gifts from visitors, including a painting of himself on horseback, candlesticks made by a former Hungarian freedom fighter, quilt made by schoolchildren; greeted professional imitator and signed an antique fan autographed by nearly every president since Grant; attended party fund-raiser and reception for the program the McLaughlin Report. Wednesday, October 30: meeting with Bill Clark on recent visit with President Chiang Ching-kuo of Taiwan; meeting on arms negotiation, noted, “I gave a ‘go ahead’ on our arms proposal in reply to the Soviets Counter proposal”; celebrated anniversary of longtime W.H. employee; greeted thirty-seven elected officials, former Democrats who switched to GOP; met with Shultz and McFarlane on their plans for a trip to Moscow; saw exhibit at National Gallery of treasures on loan from English homes.]

  Thursday, October 31

  Pres. Duarte (El Salvador) & his daughter—the kidnap victim came by. She is a charming young lady. He has a few speaking dates while here & he is lacing into the Sandinistas. The World Series Champs the K.C. Royals came for a Rose Garden ceremony. I wound up with a cap, a bat & a warm up jacket.

  After lunch—during which I phoned King Hussein to encourage him about our arms deal—I did an hours briefing for an interview with 4 Soviet journalists—from Tass, Novosti, Pravda & Izvestia. I wonder if they’ll print my answers as I gave them? If not I have a tape which U.S.I.A. can use to expose them.

  A short session with Ambas. Charles Price. I’m afraid our friend Margaret is in some political trouble. The U.K. economy just isn’t picking up and, of course, they jump on her.

  I sneaked upstairs for a meeting with Chairman Rostenkowski of the House Ways & Means Comm. He’s really on the edge. He’s been working like a dog to get our Tax Reform thru Committee. He’s being opposed by everyone who has been bought by a special interest & that includes 9 Repubs. He wanted to assure me he was really trying & wanted to get it for me. I assured him I knew what he was doing & was grateful.

  [Send-off for ambassador; greeted head of American Legion; videotapings.]

  Friday, November 1

  Well the Goblins didn’t get us but we have another Soviet defector case. In Kabul—our embassy—there is a deserter from the Soviet military asking asylum. Our embassy is surrounded by Afghan & Soviet military. We have refused to turn him over to them. Our problem
is that we have no way to get him out of the country. The minute he steps out of the embassy he can be seized. He’s only safe as long as he is in U.S. territory which is what the embassy is.

  Met with Cap W. The bad news is that we have no choice but to go with the French communications system for our military. They are competing with the English. I wanted the Eng. to win but the cost difference is such we cannot justify awarding them the contract.

  Then it was off to Bethesda Hosp. for another check up before going to Camp D. Results were the same—A OK—100%.

  Saturday, November 2–Sunday, November 3

  A good ride under gray & threatening skies. Nancy didn’t go, her cold is still hanging on. Our defector in Kabul can’t make up his mind. He’s 19 yrs. old. The Soviet Ambas. visited him in our embassy & gave him a fatherly pitch as to how he could go back to Russia—no punishment etc. Now the lad wants to see him again. That will take place about 11 P.M. Sunday our time. We in turn have offered him asylum here in the U.S. (on my orders).

  Over the weekend I called Nixon & Ford to get any suggestions they might have on the Summit. Dick had a h--l of a good idea on the arms negotiations. We probably won’t have them settled by the time the Summit ends. His suggestion is that we state what we have agreed on, that we will continue negotiating on the other points & as a token of our resolve to achieve results we each take 1000 missiles out of the silos & store them for a set time. If we can’t come to a reduction agreement we put them back in the silos. Back to the W.H.

  Monday, November 4

  Mondays seem to be coming around more often. This one is gray, wet & dismal. Our Soviet lad in Kabul made it final today. He left our embassy with the Soviet Ambas. who promised he could go home & not be punished. On top of that our defector from the K.G.B. held a press conf. here in Wash. to announce he was returning to Russia. Something smells fishy. Gov. Candidate Durretti (Va.) came by for a photo & a Q&A on the lawn with the press. He sounded genuinely optimistic even though the polls don’t look good. Well tomorrow is the day. Issues briefing lunch. In the middle I got a secure phone call from George S. & Bud in Helsinki. They’d just had 8 hours of meeting with Shevardnaze with little or nothing accomplished. Tomorrow they meet with Gorbachev.