The Reagan Diaries

by Ronald Reagan

  Here it is Friday & the last day of Feb. The sun is finally shining & the snow is melting. Best of all we’ll finish the day at Camp David. This morning more word about the possibility of getting our hostages out of Lebanon. This has been a long tragic time for the families. We are supposed to know by next Thurs.

  [Received Packard Commission report on Defense Dept.]

  A meeting with Geo. S.—we’ll have to work out a group to attend Pres. Aquino’s formal inauguration and he expressed optimism about getting Cong. to O.K. our aid to the Nicaraguan freedom fighters. A photo with Susan & Bee Oglesby—he’s going to work for Stu Spencer. A taping session & away we go to Camp D.

  [Saturday, March 1–Sunday, March 2: relaxed and did some homework; returned to W.H.]

  Monday, March 3

  A briefing by NSC—not all is well with Marcos. They are still at Hickam Field. It seems he does not own a home on Diamond Head & now suits are being filed by a number of Filipino Americans & the Central bank of the Philippines. So far the military has not allowed the process servers on the base. Paul L. called—he’d had a call from Marcos who asked for help with regard to papers. They have no passports so travel could become a problem.

  Met with Russell Rourke our new Sec. of the Air Force. An issues lunch—plans discussed for getting Congress to O.K. aid to Nicaragua. Then 3 UNO leaders Calero, Robelo & Cruz came to see me. They are here to help sell Congress. We dropped in on a meeting of private citizens who have been raising pvt. funds to help the Contras.

  [Received report from Kaufman Commission on organized crime; attended dinner in honor of Senator Laxalt.]

  Tuesday, March 4—“Our 34th Anniversary!”

  A light day. The usual staff meetings & a sum up on Marcos & his people who fled to Hawaii. We are appealing to Aquino to provide passports. She doesn’t want him in the Philippines, so it would serve her purposes to make it possible for him to travel throughout the world.

  [Met with Bennett and two hundred educators; photo session with Congressman; Cabinet meeting with briefings by Shultz and Weinberger on international affairs and defense; spent an hour briefing for Sperling breakfast the following morning.]

  Wednesday, March 5

  Downstairs early for a last min. report of any happenings that might have taken place overnite—then into the St. Dining room for the Sperling breakfast. It went well & the Q’s. were better than they are at a press conf.

  Met with Dem. & Repub. Committee chairmen & leaders whose committees will be voting on Nicaraguan aid. I asked if they could (failing support) pass the issue on to the floor without a recommendation—we’ll have to wait & see. Geo. S. came in for a meeting. He’s ready to battle all the way for the aid. We all came together on another matter—arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Geo. thinks he has headed off a lobbying effort by the Jewish Congress & we have word the Israeli govt. will not actively oppose us.

  Over to EOB to address about 150 Presidents of major Jewish organizations—Subject Nicaragua. Very well received. Met with our speechwriters on the speech on Nicaragua. We agree on 15 min. length. Some tapings for different groups—all on Nicaragua We’re making a full court press. Then wound up day with a meeting—Sen. & House Repub. leaders—this time on the ’86 election.

  Thursday, March 6

  Gave Don a job to see how we can get citizenship for Doria’s dad who has lived in Am. for 60 yrs. married to an American & father to 2 Am. offspring.

  V.P. & Admiral who directed commission on terrorism presented me with the commissions report.

  A good meeting with Trent Lott’s Whip organization. The subject was the Nicaragua arms bill. I think they are revved up to really push it.

  Geo. B. & I met briefly with one of the group who are raising money & putting commercials on TV promoting our program of support for the Nicaragua freedom fighters. He left with me a slick paper magazine—part of the Sandinista disinformation program. It’s a propaganda journal making the Sandinistas sound like a mix between Geo. W. & Abe L. The freedom fighters of course are all Hitlers. Then I came upon the “subscription” envelope & there in black & white it said contributions & money for the magazine was tax deductible—we’re looking into that. The mag. H.Q. is Berkeley, Calif.

  [Photo sessions; reception for National Newspaper Association; attended party fundraiser.]

  Friday, March 7

  Charles Wick reported in on his trip to Russia on the matter of cultural & youth exchanges. There must be some spin off of the Summit. He had meetings with the very top echelon of Soviet leaders & apparently they are willing to cooperate on exchanges. A meeting with 3 top Contra leaders (Nicaragua) Robelo, Calero & Cruz. They are here to help us persuade Congress to help the freedom fighters. They are an answer to the left wing propaganda that the freedom fighters are led by former Somoza honchos. Two of these 3 were imprisoned by Somaza & the other one is a defector from the Sandinistas.

  Had my regular meeting with Geo. S. & then off to Camp D.

  [Saturday, March 8—Sunday, March 9: noted cold weather; returned to W.H.]

  Monday, March 10—A beautiful sunshiny day

  Old friend Jack Hume dropped by with a proposal to get tax reform off dead center—but I think it’s already moving.

  Over to E.O.B. for a pitch on Nicaragua to an overflow crowd of leaders of a number of supporting organizations. Then after our usual issues briefing lunch, a meeting with Stu Spencer to hear his views on prospects in the coming election. He told me I’m not a lame duck & the 3 important things we must do in these 3 yrs. are tax reform, deal with the deficit & make progress toward peace.

  [Swearing-in ceremony for new secretary of Agriculture Dick Lang; visit by Baker regarding progress by Senator Packwood on tax reform; met with Senator Daniel Evans (RWA) on Nicaragua, noted, “I think I moved him somewhat”; delivered pre-dinner speech at fund-raiser honoring congressional leadership; received advance report that two bodies of Challenger astronauts had been found off Florida.]

  Tuesday, March 11

  A day that should never happen again. By the end of the 1st hour I was behind schedule. It was one meeting after another, most of them with Reps. & Sens. some in groups, a few singles. The subject was Nicaragua & why they should vote for aid to the Contras. On one meeting it was however the immigration bill & another was tax reform.

  [Lunch with regional press; Economic Policy Council meeting, approved moving $700 million to loan program for farmers; meeting with Meese and Baldrige; ambassadorial formalities; off-the-record cocktail party with journalists; made birthday call to Representative Michel.]

  Wednesday, March 12

  Saw Phil Habib off to Central Am. 1st stop Pres. Duarte—El Salvador, then the other countries. Mission to try & persuade the Sandinistas in Nicaragua to negotiate with the Contras.

  Met with 4 Dem. Congressmen—all from the S. My pitch was to support us on the aid to the Contras. I don’t know whether I have them or not. They want me to get their constituents revved up. It’s true that the public has been steered away from this cause & has a kind of “Where’s Nicaragua” feeling.

  An interview with 4 journalists from the Baltimore Sun. Regular Wed. meeting with George S.—a number of items including Marcos. Last night Marcos called Paul Laxalt. He wants out of Honolulu & wants Mexico, Panama or Spain & Air force transportation. We’re working on it & are trying Panama first.

  [Presented National Medals of Science and Technology; photo session with volunteers on Savings Bond drive; videotapings; dinner with twenty-three major donors to Presidential Library […].]

  Thursday, March 13

  [Greeted top high school basketball players from around the country.]

  Then more meetings morning & afternoon. Most of them were here for the Nicaragua pitch but one who was in on the farm bill.

  The high spot was trip over to the St. Dept. to see a display of weapons the Sandinistas delivered to guerillas in other Latin Am. countries. There were speeches by 3 men, 2 of them had turned away after being
on the wrong side. One had been a communist rebel in El Salvador, another a member of the Sandinista govt. & one was a victim of the Sandinistas, imprisoned & tortured. Their stories were impressive. I wish they could appear on T.V. but I’m afraid T.V. won’t do such a thing.

  [Made honorary president of Olympic committee; met Young Republicans leadership, then new president of the National Press Club, then Secret Service champion pistol team; ambassadorial formalities; met with Democratic Southern senators, commented, “We had a good session on Nicaragua & they seem to be so much with us I asked them to work on some of our Repub. Sens”; met with Representative Henson Moore (R-LA.) on sharing federal offshore oil revenues with states.]

  Friday, March 14

  Another solid group of citizens over at E.O.B.—Jeanne Kirkpatrick & I both talked to them about Nicaragua. If they have their way we’ll get the help we’re asking for. Then an N.S.P.G. meeting about next week’s Naval operation off Libya. Our ships & planes will now & then cross over the line Quadaffy says marks his territorial waters. It doesn’t—the area is still international water open to navigation. He has threatened to take action. I have approved—indeed ordered that we respond to any hostile move on his part with appropriate action. My regular meeting with George S. He’s going to the Olaf Paline funeral in Swedin. While there he’s going to see if Gonzalez (Spain) will take Marcos.

  [Interviewed by Hispanic TV network, mainly on the subject of Nicaragua.]

  Saturday, March 15–Sunday, March 16—Camp David

  We drove up yesterday—Camp D. was socked in—fog & rain. Sat. was better. Made a phone call to about 10,000 Hispanics in Miami who were holding a rally in support of the Nicaraguan Contras. It was well received. Then I called Phil Habib—just back from Central America. We do have the support of the leaders in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras & El Salvador. At question is how far they’ll go publicly in making that known.

  Today (Sunday) a nice day & back to the W.H. Tonite 8 P.M. on TV to the Nation—subject—aid to the Contras.

  Monday, March 17—St. Patrick’s Day

  Phil Habib came in with a more complete report on his trip to Central America. There is no question but that Central Am. wants us to continue helping the Contras.

  [Gathering for St. Patrick’s Day with Prime Minister Fitzgerald of Ireland and Ambassador Heckler; positive economic briefing; more St. Patrick’s Day festivity at issues lunch.]

  Later in the afternoon Danny Kay [Kaye] came by with a letter from the P.M. of Denmark. Then Al & Cynthia Schwabacher dropped in.

  [Interviewed by Hugh Sidey; haircut; received gift of an aquarium from the Aga Khan; attended Boston College dinner for Tip O’Neill.]

  Tuesday, March 18

  P.M. & Mila Mulroney arrived. The sun came out & we had the usual S. Lawn ceremony with the troops & all. Then a good meeting. I hope we can work out some things in the area of trade that will benefit him. Right now pol. opponents are trying to portray him as an American puppet. After lunch I met with 14 Dem. Congressmen & 1 woman who are possibles on Contra aid. I hope we have them but no way to know. Then a meeting with Dole & Lugar who believe we have the votes in the Sen. A final session with Don R. & Pat B. to polish up the Gridiron speech for Sat. nite.

  7:15 the evening begins—the State Dinner for the P.M. etc. It (again) was a most enjoyable evening. I give Nancy credit. I’ve been to state dinners before I had this job & they were stuffy, impersonal & dull. Our state dinners are enjoyable, everyone has fun & the guest list is always an interesting mix.

  Wednesday, March 19

  The pot is coming to boil on Contra Aid. Tip is putting the squeeze on his gang as if this is a personal test of loyalty to him. We’ve countered with a proposal that I’ll hold still for a time without using the money while we try again to negotiate providing they’ll pass the bill. A visit (brief) from the outgoing Foreign Minister & wife of Costa Rica. Then a meeting with the leadership of the U.S. Sister Cities program. It’s been going on for 30 yrs.—They made me honorary president. Some more Congressional phone calls & then P.M. Mulroney came by & we had lunch in my study followed by a signing of a 5 yr. extension of the Norad agreement between our 2 countries. Then I announced our approval of the Acid rain report by Drew Lewis (USA) & Bill Davis (Canada). Saw the P.M. off—he’s greatly pleased by the whole trip.

  A meeting with George Shultz & upstairs for the rest of the day. I have a huge bowl of gold fish given me by Aly Khan whose home we occupied in Geneva. This was a reward for taking care of his son’s aquarium while we were in occupancy. I’m sending them over to Kathy for her daughter Sherrie [Shelley].

  Thursday, March 20

  At about 5 P.M.—it was the 1st day of Spring. That’s about all I can say for it. Spent a large part of the day on the phone to Congressmen—they were voting on the aid to Contra bill. We lost—16 Repubs. deserted us—if 8 of them had voted for us we’d have won. Tip’s trick worked—he promised any number of his team if they’d vote no today they could vote on the bill again on April 15th & vote yes. We think he plans to tie the bill to a lot of big spending bills & that I’ll have to sign it. H--l of a way to run a country.

  Geo. B. & I lunched together then we went back to our phoning. I had some taping & bill signing, a hasty N.S.P.G. meeting to plan strategy on the Contras problem.

  [Approved new appointees; met breast cancer survivor; photo session with pianist Vladimir Horowitz, going to USSR in cultural exchange; greeted boxer Marvin Hagler; photos with retiring employees; dinner with Dennis and Maureen.]

  Friday, March 21

  Earliest news—Panama Pres. reversed himself & now says Panama won’t take Marcos. We’re still working on it.

  Brief meeting with Ambas. Hartman (Russia). He says Gorbachev hasn’t tied everything down his own way—according to recent Soviet Party Congress.

  [Interview with New York Times reporters; had off-the-record lunch with Meg Greenfield, David Brinkley, and editor of New Republic (Michael Kinsley); meeting with Secretary-General of U.N. Javier Perez de Cuellar; brief session with several hundred people representing groups supporting administration on Contras; finished writing speech for Gridiron Club; had dinner with Billy Graham; received report during dinner that “Tip O’Neill has mustered a gang of his favorite toadies in the House to hold a press conference demanding that I cancel today’s nuclear test (underground) in New Mexico. I said a flat no.”]

  Saturday, March 22

  The test (nuclear) went off as scheduled—after a 30 min. delay due to high winds.

  It was Gridiron dinner night. As usual the longest evening of anything we do—but fun. They put the skits & speeches between each course which makes dessert on at about 11 P.M. Mine is always the last speech & thank heaven it was well received & I got a lot of laughs.

  Sunday, March 23

  This evening our navy maneuvers off Libya begin. Will he (Qadaffy) open fire or not?

  Monday, March 24

  [Report by Abrams, back from trip to the region, that leaders of El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala endorse administration plan to aid Contras; meeting with senators on upcoming vote on constitutional amendment mandating a balanced budget; videotapings.]

  But now the real news was that Quadafy fired Sam [SAM] missiles at our planes in the Mediterranean war games & sent a couple of missile ships out toward our naval vessels. Score—no hits on any of our craft but 2 Libyan ships sunk & our air missiles took out the radar without which the Sams [SAMS] can’t be fired. Qudafi claims he shot down 3 of our planes—he lies.

  On top of this the Sandinistas crossed the border of Honduras & are 15 miles inside that country attacking Contra encampments. The Pres. of H. has asked us for transportation of Honduran mil. to the scene. We have helicopters there in numbers enough to do it. I’ve said yes. I guess I’ll hear how that came out tomorrow.

  Tuesday, March 25

  Well it’s tomorrow & Honduras has asked for more than transportation—some weapons. Under our law concerning an emerge
ncy situation in a friendly country I can give such aid so I’ve done so.

  The score now in Libya is 4 of their Navy vessels sunk & one possible—we can’t confirm. Reaction is practically unanimous that we’re doing the right thing.

  Scheduled to see Sen. Wendel Ford on “Const.” vote. He cancelled. Said—he’s with us so doesn’t have to have a meeting. We had an NSPG meeting on whether to continue observing the Salt II restraints in view of Soviet violations. State Dept. put up an argument to continue doing so. Others including Cap want to give it up. I’m inclined to vote for replacing that informal agreement with our arms reduction proposal now in Geneva. Tell the Soviets we can have a real reduction in weapons or an arms race but we’re not going to sit by & watch them keep on fudging.

  After lunch an Ec. Policy Council meeting. I’ve OK’d telling European Community we won’t stand by for unfair trade practices brought on by Spain & Portugal’s entry into the E.C. Other subject was Davis-Bacon Act & should we cancel or what. I can’t reverse myself & cancel but I’ve ordered that entry level contracts must be $100,000 & up. Right now they are $2,000. Well $2000 in 1931 when this started would be $100,000 now so we’re just keeping even.

  Made some phone calls, got a sneeze shot & I’m home.

  Wednesday, March 26

  [Ambassadorial formality; no news from Libyan situation; NSC meeting on deterioration of machine tool industry in face of imports; had lunch with astronomers.]

  Dick Wirthlin’s report illustrates how well the Sandinista disinformation network has done its job. Our people do not support what we’re trying to do in Nicaragua.

  Fred Fielding & family came by. He’s returning to private practice. Then a photo with Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Harris (Reuters)—he’s being transferred. A haircut, a visit with Cap for his report on Soviet mil. power & upstairs. Tomorrow Calif. here I come. Nancy went out a day early to visit her mother in Phoenix.

  Thursday, March 27

  [Flew to New Orleans for party fund-raiser; noted, “I learned that a man had appeared demanding to meet me & S.S. told him it wasn’t possible. When he finally turned away one of our S.S. saw a strange bulge in his coat & grabbed him—he was wearing a gun”; flew on to California.]