The Reagan Diaries

by Ronald Reagan

  Saturday, June 12

  Spent the entire day at Camp David working on a speech for Houston Tuesday. It was foggy and rainy—saw the world’s worst movie called “Health.”

  [Sunday, June 13: desk work.]

  Monday, June 14

  Finally the sun and a horse back ride. Bill C. and Mike D. came up to Camp David. The Al H. situation is coming to a head. I have to put an end to the turf battles we’re having and his almost paranoid attitude.

  George B. came by at 5 P.M.—same subject. Then at 6 P.M. we had an N.S.C. meeting on the Lebanon situation. There is a possibility the separate Lebanese factions can unite—get Syrians and Israelis out of their country and disarm the P.L.O. Al H. made great good sense on this entire matter. It’s amazing how sound he can be on complex international matters but how utterly paranoid with regard to the people he must work with.

  [Tuesday, June 15: met with Capitol pages; cabinet meeting on summit; flew to Houston for major fund-raiser; wrote that “Going to Texas can be good for the morale”; report that task force on fraud saved $5.8 billion in six months.]

  Wednesday, June 16

  Back to Wash. and a hectic afternoon. Met with Deputy P.M. Ali of Egypt on the Lebanon mess. Spoke to Nat. Assn. of broadcasters. Met with Al H. and Bill Clark on Lebanon. We’re walking on a tightrope. Some 6000 armed P.L.O. are holed up in Beirut. Pres. Sarkis of Lebanon can’t say openly but he apparently wants Israel to stay near until the P.L.O. can be dis-armed. Then he wants to restore the Central govt. of Lebanon—allow Palestinians to become citizens and get all foreign forces to withdraw from Lebanon. The world is waiting for us to use our muscle and order Israel out—we can’t do this if we want to help Sarkis but we can’t explain the situation either. Some days are worse than others.

  Thursday, June 17

  This was a day in N.Y. This morning I addressed the U.N. General Assembly. Ambassador Gromyko did not applaud. I said some blunt things about the Soviet U. that needed saying. They were not well received by the large segment which usually votes against the U.S. and with the U.S.S.R. On the other hand, I think my talk added to the results of the trip to Europe & was a plus.

  [Report on Argentine army, possible improvement in Lebanon.]

  Friday, June 18

  [Reason for optimism regarding Lebanon; report that Vatican working to reestablish relations with Libya.]

  Met to finally decide whether to lift sanctions on pipe line material to Soviets. Cabinet very divided. I ruled we would not remove sanctions. There hadn’t been the slightest move on the Soviets part to change their evil ways.

  Barry Goldwater came to see me—he’s upset by rumors that I’m going to dump Taiwan. I convinced him there is no way I’ll ever do that.

  [NRC reception in the East Room; left for Camp David; impressed by Clint Eastwood’s work on film Firefox (1982). Saturday, June 19–Sunday, June 20: riding and swimming; prepared for upcoming meeting with Prime Minister Menachem Begin; returned to W.H.; dinner with Maureen and Dennis.]

  Monday, June 21

  Whatever else happened this was P.M. Begin day. He and I had almost an hour 1 on 1 with first our 2 Ambassadors present. I was pretty blunt regarding whether even a savage assassination attempt which will probably turn out to be successful (if not the Ambas. will be paralyzed) warranted the retaliation which has taken so many lives in Lebanon.

  He came back with a defense based on the shelling of Israeli villages by P.L.O. elements in Lebanon.

  It’s a complex problem. While we think his action was overkill it still may turn out to be the best opportunity we’ve had to reconcile the warring factors in Lebanon and bring about peace after 7 years.

  In the larger meetings with his people and ours we went at it again. He’s adamant against our proposal to sell arms to Jordan. My argument is we’re trying to create more “Egypts” who’ll make peace with Israel. He refuses to believe another Arab state will do what Egypt did. Frustrating.

  Tuesday, June 22

  [House passed the conference budget bill; meeting with President Luis Alberto Monge of Costa Rica, agreed to cooperate on Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), a program of economic assistance to Caribbean and Latin American nations in an effort to draw the region together under free-market, democratic values; then met educators regarding tuition tax bill; Senators Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Jake Garn (R-UT) unsuccessfully sought support for bill to subsidize home mortgages.]

  Met 125 candidates for Cong. and had photo with each. I hope they make it. I wonder what it would be like to have a Repub. House & Senate?

  Yesterday Hinckley was found innocent by reason of insanity. Quite an uproar has been created.

  Wednesday, June 23

  Went over to C.I.A. and spoke to all the employees. It was wonderful to see their high morale. I signed the bill which now prevents people like Agee and others from exposing and identifying our agents. Some have been killed because of this.

  Lunch with V.P. Bush. Then 2 receptions for the Ground Floor Committee with an hour in between in which I met with P.M. Thatcher.

  Thursday, June 24

  Met with Al H. this A.M. He and Bill C. had met for 2 hours last night. I was prepared for Al to resign. He was ready but then said it was over policy. Bill had the impression he really wanted to leave but he launched into an attack on staff at W.H. some Cabinet and said he couldn’t function. He had a bill of particulars—so I have it to read and told him I’d talk to him later after I had.

  Met with task force on drugs. I think we can get a handle on this problem with the group now working on it.

  This evening the 4th reception in 3 days. I’m ready for Camp David.

  Friday, June 25

  Today was the day—I told Al H. I had decided to accept his resignation. He didn’t seem surprised but he said his differences were on policy and then said we didn’t agree on China or Russia, etc. I made a simple announcement to the press and said I was nominating George Shultz for the job. I’d called him and like the patriot he is he said “yes.”

  This has been a heavy load. Up to Camp David where we were in time to see Al read his letter of resignation on TV. I’m told it was his 4th re-write. Apparently his1st was pretty strong—then he thought better of it. I must say it was O.K. He gave only one reason and did say there was a disagreement on foreign policy. Actually the only disagreement was over whether I made policy or the Sec. of State did.

  Saturday, June 26–Sunday, June 27

  Good weather—2 morning rides. Ed M., Jim B., & Bill C. helicoptered up with Mr. and Mrs. George Shultz who had just arrived by Concorde from London. We had a good working lunch. I think things are going to work out fine. Al will stay on for the transition.

  Sun. before leaving C. D. Bill & Bud McFarland called. The Israeli cabinet has submitted a new idea. Calls for a Lebanese army to disarm the P.L.O. in Beirut. All of the armed P.L.O. will then be sent out of Lebanon to Syria. The odd note was the Israeli call then for the U.S. to join in the negotiations with the P.L.O. Heretofore, we have refused to do any talking to the P.L.O. until and unless they agreed to recognize Israel’s right to exit, which they’ve never done. We’re having about 30 people in for dinner at the W.H. and then running Spielberg’s movie, “E.T.”

  Monday, June 28

  N.S.C. briefing on space. No question that Soviets have moved to a military priority in space. We must not be left behind.

  The Haig-Shultz situation is still a top press item. The time table for Al to leave is moved up—we’ll have an interim with Stoussel [Stoessel] as Acting Sec. George is handling himself with great class and dignity.

  We have a leak and someone in the W.H. is stirring the pot with an animus toward Al that has me d--n mad.

  [Reception for donors to Reagan Scholarship Fund for Eureka College.]

  Tuesday, June 29

  Decided in NSC meeting—will not sign “Law of the Sea” treaty even without seabed mining provisions.

  Possible agreement in Lebanon regarding
removal of P.L.O. Even in Israel there is opposition to Sharon’s attacks on Beirut. So far the ceasefire is holding.

  [Signed extension of the Voting Rights Act; economic indicators showing gradual improvement. Wednesday, June 30: meeting with President Sékou Touré of Guinea, commented, “He’s come all the way from Karl Marx to free enterprise”; press conference. Thursday, July 1: left for California; situation in Lebanon dimming. Thursday, July 1–Sunday, July 11: vacation interrupted only by two-day trip to L.A. for meeting with L.A. Times editors and appearances with civic groups; birthday party for Mrs. Reagan; trip to Edwards Air Force Base to watch landing of the shuttle; returned to W.H.]

  Monday, July 12

  A typical Mon.—nothing but problems and the kind you can’t solve without a lot more study. Farmers are in trouble. By Sept. we have to decide whether to negotiate a long term sales agreement with the Soviets. If we don’t we bankrupt a lot of American farmers—if we do we look like we’re caving in on our sanctions.

  We announced our go ahead on getting an Amendment to the Const. requiring a balanced budget.

  [Pessimistic report on Lebanon; lifted sanctions on Argentina; videotaped messages for conventions. Tuesday, July 13: trip to Baltimore; addressed the National Association of Counties on the Federalism program; returned to W.H.; briefed congressional leadership on international issues.]

  Wednesday, July 14

  Met with Repub. leaders on Lebanon, Iran-Iraq and C.B.I. I believe we have their support on C.B.I.

  Pres. Suaza of Honduras, a Dr. and quietly religious came in for an hour’s meeting. He is first democratically elected Pres. in 10 years. He needs help, his economy is in a shambles from years of mis-management and he’s being harassed by Nicaragua. We got along fine.

  Met with House Foreign Affairs Committee on C.B.I.—again it would seem we have bi-partisan support.

  Upstairs for a desk full of mail.

  Thursday, July 15

  [Day crowded with meetings: task force on cost control, Senator Larry Pressler (R-SD) on farm problems, Amway business leaders, President-Elect Jorge Blanco of Dominican Republic, Vice President Bush, Republican congressmen on Soviet grain sales, cabinet, photo session.]

  It made for a busy day—the push for extension of grain sales to Soviet U. is heavy. My own belief is we should do a 1 yr. extension with an increase in the minimum they have to buy and then hold out chance of a long term deal if they’ll do something like relax emigration freeze on Jews and Christians who want out of Russia. Our farmers are hurting too much to order an embargo.

  The Pres. Elect Blanco sounds alright—but he needs ec. help. Cabinet meeting also dealt with grain and the problem of Fed. product liability standard to replace 50 dif. standards in the states. We’ll have a piece of legislation drafted and discuss that one again. Even though I’m for Federalism—I believe this is a call for a nat. regulation.

  [Staff resignations for personal reasons; George Shultz unanimously confirmed as Secretary of State.]

  Friday, July 16

  [George Shultz was sworn in; NSC meeting.]

  I must make a decision on grain sales to the Soviets. Our agreement expires in Sept. My inclination (very strong) is to extend for 1 year—raise the minimum they must purchase and get the word to them that we could talk a long term agreement if they’d perform a few good deeds like allowing emigration of people now being held because of their religion, etc.

  [Left for Camp David. Saturday, July 17–Sunday, July 18: swam and rode; returned to W.H.; dinner party.]

  Monday, July 19

  [Announced “Captive Nations Week” in Rose Garden.]N.S.C. meeting re nuclear testing—ruled we’d keep on doing what we were doing but no point in announcing that in the face of all the anti-nukes. We’re doing what we’ve been doing since 1975.

  Up to Capital Hill & addressed several thousand enthusiastic supporters of Const. Amendment requiring balanced budget. Spoke from W. steps of Capitol. Even with my iron T-shirt on—not as hot as in the Rose Garden—the sun went under a cloud.

  [Meetings with congressmen and senators. Called Anne Higgins, director of the White House Office of Correspondence, in hospital with lung cancer; reception for champion skiers and tennis players.]

  Tuesday, July 20

  Today we met with Prince Saud (Saudi Arabia) and the Foreign Minister of Syria. They were an odd combination because the Saudis and Syrians are not exactly friends. The F.M. is abrasive and obviously a hater of Israel. Still I think we made some progress—we’ll know in a few days. We submitted a proposition that Syria take the top rank 1000 or so of the P.L.O. in Beirut. The rest 5 or 6000 to be moved to N. Lebanon until they can be distributed to Arab States. Then at Lebanon’s request the Syrians and Israelis go home. They are taking this back to the Arab League.

  [Cabinet meeting on progress in drug problem.]

  A reception this afternoon to launch the new James S. Brady Presidential Foundation. It is to raise funds for Jim & others who suffer as he has as a result of assassination attempts on government officials.

  Wednesday, July 21

  [Lunch with Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore; meeting with Caribbean leaders.]

  A really tough problem not yet resolved has to do with defense budget and the projection Dave Stockman must give to Congress re deficits for next 5 yrs. Cutting defense sends a message I don’t like to allies & enemies alike. But Dave’s report, if deficits are too high, sends a shock wave to the world just when we seem to be gaining ground.

  [Reception at Organization of American States. Thursday, July 22: meeting with Weinberger on budget; flew to St. Louis; attended opening of the Mathews-Dickey Boys Club; fund-raiser for Eureka College; Olympic Committee dinner honoring August Busch III; Mike and Colleen present. Friday, July 23: returned to W.H.; heard of the death of Ed Meese’s son in an auto accident; left for Camp David. Saturday, July 24–Sunday, July 25: rode horses; talked with journalist Larry Barrett of Time; returned to W.H.; dinner party.]

  Monday, July 26

  A meeting to resolve the budget update due before Cong. O.M.B. et al were trying to get an additional cut in defense spending because they said new deficit figures for 5 yrs. would show an increase instead of the decline we had earlier projected as a result of our budget figures. Cap & Geo. Shultz & I must say we were opposed. The new budget forecasts would, it’s true send a msg. to the money markets that would be devastating. On the other hand defense cuts would send an equally disastrous message to our allies & the Soviets. I said there had to be a 3rd choice that will foreclose sending either message—and we worked one out. This problem has been haunting me for a week.

  [Met with minister of defense of Indonesia, then met with president of Cameroon; attended Meese boy’s funeral; met with Private Sector Initiative task force.]

  Tuesday, July 27

  N.S.C. to O.K. some covert operations […].

  [Met Future Farmers of America.]

  We’re having to gig the St. Dept. to let us announce the extension of grain sales to Soviets in time for me to announce it at press conference tomorrow night.

  [Prepared for press conference.]

  Wednesday, July 28

  Press conference day & Indira Gandhi tomorrow. The “Conservative Digest” came out—an entire issue devoted to cutting me up down and crosswise. John Lofton and his compatriots seem to be determined to paint me as a turncoat conservative. The tone is one of devoted but now disillusioned followers. H--l, in 1980 they held a secret meeting trying to persuade Al Haig to run against me.

  [Press conference seemed successful.]

  Thursday, July 29

  Indira Gandhi day. The weather turned out beautiful. Our meetings were most successful. I think we’ve established a rapport. She’s said to be aloof to the point of arrogance. I think she’s shy—once past that she’s warm, generous and has a sense of humor.

  The state dinner tonite was a real success with music outdoors by the N.Y. Philharmonic directed by Zuban Mehta.<
br />
  [Ambassadorial formalities.]

  The Arab League has told the P.L.O. to leave Beirut—this could be a breakthrough.

  Friday, July 30

  Met with group of Sen’s. who wanted to be re-assured that I was not abandoning Taiwan. Kasten was the main spokesman. I think they are now satisfied.

  Did a video tape for King Hussein—celebration of his 30th year as King.

  Most important of all—a meeting with deputy F.M. of Egypt Ali. He and his associates wanted a commitment from us to recognize and negotiate with the P.L.O. We pointed out that while they asked that of us—so far Egypt has refused to take any of the P.L.O. fighters in Beirut. It is Egypt as well as some other Arab states who are destroying the P.L.O. by refusing to take them in even temporarily while we settle the Lebanon problem.

  Rain & thunder but we made it to Camp David where it was also foggy and raining. Saw “The World According to Garp.”—good show.

  Saturday, July 31–Sunday, August 1

  Cancelled riding but both days turned out fine. We were able to lunch outside and sat by the pool. Calls and cables back and forth with Lebanon. U.N. with us supporting voted 15 to 0 for a ceasefire and U.N. observers on the scene. Israel will scream about the latter but so be it. The slaughter must stop.

  Back to Wash.

  Monday, August 2

  Met with F. Minister of Israel—Shamir. I was rather severe regarding Israels continued shelling and bombing of W. Beirut and in effect delivered an ultimatum. Another cease fire is in effect and things look better. Then off to Des Moines where it was 95 degrees. Addressed 12,000 of the Nat. Corn growers Assn. Very well received. Helicoptered out to a Hog farm—the Dee family. It was a great afternoon—homemade ice cream and lemonade. Saw their operation and then did Q&A with about 35 of their friends. Back to Des M. for a meeting with execs. of the Farm Bureau—friendly but are going to oppose the tax bill. Then met with Agri. Council of State Repub. party. All in all a good day.

  [Tuesday, August 3: flew to Hartford to address Knights of Columbus on their one hundredth anniversary; returned to W.H.]