The Reagan Diaries

by Ronald Reagan

  I have repeatedly said we must never forget the Holocaust & remember it so it will never happen again. But some of our Jewish friends are now on the warpath. There is no way I’ll back down & run for cover. However Helmut is upset & thinks this may become such an uproar it will color the whole ec. summit. He may change the program—we’ll wait & see.

  I still think we were right. Yes the German soldiers were the enemy & part of the whole Nazi hate era. But we won & we killed those soldiers. What is wrong with saying “let’s never be enemies again?” Would Helmut be wrong if he visited Arlington Cemetery on one of his U.S. visits?

  Today Walter Annenberg called—his news wire had picked up a Pravda story lacing into me about their Jewish slight in my not going to Dachau. I want to respond to Pravda & point out that today 40 yrs. ago after the Holocaust, the Soviets are the only ones officially practicing anti-Semitism.

  We’re back in Wash. & struggling to re-adjust after 8 wonderful ranch days.

  Monday, April 15

  This was not only 1st day back—it was Monday & a hectic schedule. First off—Pres. Monge of Costa Rica came in. He has generously flown up here to talk to members of Congress & lobby for our Nicaragua proposal. Then I met with Brezenski, Jeanne K. & Schlesinger who are supporting our plan & came in to tell the press so.

  [Went to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, commented, “I hadn’t seen a circus in years. I’m impressed—it really is the greatest show on earth.”]

  We had a Cabinet meeting on the budget & the Nicaragua plan. It was to bring everyone up to date & enlist them to lobby Congress. In the middle of everything a cable arrived from Helmut Kohl & Mike D. took off for Germany. Helmut may very well have solved our problem re the Holocaust. The invite I turned down about a visit to Dachau was a private thing. Helmut is making it official. He’ll invite me to visit the camp as well as the cemetery. I can accept both now that it’s official.

  Back to the schedule—a meeting with Cong. Hamilton, Chmn. of the House Intelligence Committee. He feels we can’t get our Nicaragua plan passed. Actually he’s for it. He made a suggestion about a change. I don’t know whether we can do it. Had a room full of lawyers including Chief Justice Burger for the signing of a proclamation making May 1—U.S.A. Law Day. Then a Mr. Wymbs came in & left a manuscript. He’s chairman of the foundation for my boyhood home in Dixon. He’s also writing a biography & wants me to check it for accuracy.

  [Received letter signed by 146 representatives pledging support for stand against tax increases; cocktail party for W.H. barber; reception for Citizens for the Republic and a reception for a Nicaraguan fund-raiser for refugees.]

  Tuesday, April 16

  A meeting with our G.O.P. Congressional Leadership. Subjects were the Nicaragua Peace Plan & the Budget. There was quite a feeling of unanimity.

  Then a meeting with Pres. Diouf of Senegal—his 2nd visit. He’s a 6'10" impressive man who is doing a good job & believes Pvt. enterprise is the answer to Africa’s problems. After lunch with V.P., went to E.O.B. to speak to Conference on Religious Liberty. Prior to that we went at my German problem again. The press has the bit in their teeth & are stirring up as much trouble as they can. At the close of my speech I made a statement acknowledging that we had been confused about the Dachau suggestion—that it was part of the official itinerary & that I was going to visit the Bitberg German Cemetery & a Concentration Camp. By the nightfall the TV press was distorting that statement.

  [Addressed key interest groups mainly about the budget; presented Congressional Gold Medal to Danny Thomas; dentist appointment; cocktail-party meeting with five Democratic senators on Nicaragua, noted, “I think they’ll be helpful & they gave good suggestions about possible points of flexibility on our plan that could get Dem. votes.” Wednesday, April 17: met with President Chadli Benjedid of Algeria, found areas of agreement; met with Shultz; then met with the House Intelligence Committee on Nicaragua peace plan, all agreed to act in a nonpartisan manner; videotapings; individual meetings with congressmen regarding Nicaragua; state dinner, entertainment by American Ballet Theatre.]

  Thursday, April 18

  Another backbreaker. The press continues to chew away on the German trip & my supposed insensitivity in visiting a W.W. II Germany mil. cemetery in spite of the fact I’m going to visit a Concentration camp. They are really sucking blood & finding every person of Jewish faith they can who will denounce me.

  Made a call to the Space Shuttle & talked to Sen. Jake Garn. Then a very interesting meeting, a group of European leaders such as Winston Churchill III plus former P.M. of Australia Malcolm Frazer. They have signed a petition to Congress asking that Congress support our Nicaragua plan.

  Most of the day was taken up then with meetings with members of House & Sen.—both parties & some one on one sessions—all having to do with Nicaragua.

  [Lunch with news editors from all over the country, commented, “They ask better Q’s. than the White House Press Corps”; presented award to Teacher of the Year; received Harry Truman Award from the U.S. National Guard Association; photo session; entertained about thirty-five senators and pressed for budget plan.]

  The evening TV news was again filled with my sinning against humanity by going thru (In May) with the visit to the German Mil. cemetery.

  Friday, April 19

  A brief signing ceremony opened the day then we got back to my “Dreyfus” case—the trip to a German cemetery. I told our people Don et al there was no way I could back away in the face of the criticism which grows more shrill as the press continues to clamor. Mike D. is back & said Kohl was going to phone me. Our Ambas. Art Burns met several hours with Kohl. Our people want me to suggest a Nat. German war memorial as a substitute for the mil. cemetery. I said only if it presented no problem for Kohl.

  The call came while we were meeting. Helmut told me the Camp would be Bergen-Belsen not Dachau. Then he told me my remarks about the dead soldiers being the victims of Nazism as the Jews in the Holocaust were had been well received in Germany. He was emphatic that to cancel the cemetery now would be a disaster in his country & an insult to the German people. I told him I would not cancel.

  Then we brought in Elie Wiesel—survivor of the Holocaust & several others who were on hand for the Jewish Heritage Week Ceremony in which I was presenting Elie with the Congressional Gold medal. I explained the situation to them & must say—made some gains even if later Elie in his prepared remarks implored me not to visit the cemetery. We’ve invited Elie to accompany me on the trip. He’s said yes except that he won’t be present at the cemetery.

  Later in day met our Ambas. to the Soviet U. Art Hartman. He’s a d--n good man. He confirms what I believe that Gorbachev will be as tough as any of their leaders. If he wasn’t a confirmed ideologue he never would have been chosen by the Polit beaureu [Politburo].

  While I was on the phone to Kohl—the V.P. was in the room with our gang hearing my end of the call. He wrote me this note.*

  Re Kohl Phone Call

  Mr. President,

  I was very proud of your stand.

  If I can help absorb some heat—

  send me into battle—It’s not

  easy, but you are right!!

  George

  [Signed proclamation on Victims of Crime; left for Camp David.]

  Saturday, April 20–Sunday, April 21

  Weather wonderful—in the 80’s—swam both days & rode on Sat. Sun. an early return. Nancy went on to Calif.—just for overnight to see a house. That comes under the heading of looking ahead. Mermie here for dinner.

  Monday, April 22

  Got a report from Don & Bud of the weekend meetings of Repub. & Dem. Senators trying to find a consensus position on the Nicaragua vote—$14 mil.—negotiations—cease fire etc. We had the Dem. plan—it differed in a few important points from ours. Most important—it wanted us to negotiate with the Sandinista govt. We feel negotiations should be between the S’s. & the Contras. At 10:30 we met with them. I listed all
the points of their plan we could agree with then I had to leave to meet with Ec. Advisory Board. The Sens. & our people stayed at it for 6 hours—no agreement.

  At noon the annual Vol. Action awards—lunch in the East Room. Back then to meetings with Congressmen & W. on Nicaragua. The meetings went well & I think I answered some of their worries. It’s apparent though that the lack of support on the part of the people due to the drum beat of propaganda “a la Vietnam” is influencing some of them. Finally some desk time & then a reception for Repub. Congressional Leadership Council—supporters of the Repub. Congressional Campaign Committee.

  The uproar about my trip to Germany & the Bitberg cemetery was cover stuff in Newsweek & Time. They just won’t stop. Well I’m not going to cancel anything no matter how much the bastards scream.

  Tuesday, April 23

  [Met with House Republicans to press for support on Nicaragua; addressed national Association of Realtors; brief visit from new president of European Community, French writer Jacques Delois; ceremony for Peace Corps honorees; visit from Western painter Sherry Beadle; Arts and Humanities luncheon; meeting with Democratic congressmen; later received word that Nicaragua plan passed Senate, commented, “Now I’ll sleep well”; cabinet meeting on tax plan, decided against dropping tax-deductible status of charitable contributions.]

  Wednesday, April 24

  Every day seems to begin with latest press—muck raking over whether I should or shouldn’t go to the Bitberg cemetery in Germany. Well d--n their hides I think it is morally right to go & I’m going. I dropped by Nancy’s get together—18 first ladies from that many countries even from far off Japan all brought together by the drug problem. Nancy’s idea. Then back to some Congressional phone calls trying to get votes for Bob Michel’s bill in the House to further our Nicaraguan peace plan. Tip has engineered a partisan campaign to hand me a defeat—never mind if it helps make another Cuba on the American mainland. Geo. Shultz came by to get my blessing on a speech he wants to make tomorrow on Nicaragua—calling a spade a spade. I gave it gladly.

  In every spare moment I was working on my TV speech on the budget.

  [Cabinet Council meeting on tax-reform plan; swearing-in ceremony for ambassador; delivered televised speech on budget; attended Senator Paul Laxalt’s “Lamb Fry” after dinner; noted that the House voted down aid to Nicaraguan rebels, despite efforts of Representative Bob Michel (R-IL).]

  Thursday, April 25

  [Mrs. Reagan left for Atlanta on anti-drug campaign; met with a couple of senators on budget; ceremony recognizing youth volunteers; briefing on upcoming economic summit in Bonn; received award from National Troopers Coalition; interviewed by foreign press; visited by Asthma poster child; signed fair-housing bill; photo session; videotapings.]

  I called Pres. of Honduras. After news of Congress vote last night his military intercepted ammunition headed for the Contras & made noises about driving them out of their camps in Honduras. The Pres. was outraged, swore we must all continue helping the Contras & said he would order the Gen. (Logig) to deliver the ammo. I told him we weren’t licked yet.

  Friday, April 26

  My call to Pres. of Honduras worked—Bud reported the orders have gone out & the military is moving supplies to the Contras & has restored guns to one outfit they had disarmed.

  [Recognized volunteer senior citizens group, RSVP, with actor Harry Morgan as honorary chair; met Navajo boy and his grandmother for making heroic rescue of fire victims.]

  Then it was Pres. Chun of S. Korea for a meeting & lunch. Mrs. Chun & Nancy had some time together. We have pleasant memories of our visit to S. K. in November ’83. Everything went well. A meeting with Geo. S. then a private meeting with 2 gentlemen—long time friends who are going to take over our blind trust.

  Sen. Metzenbaum along with others of his kind such as Cranston got a non binding resolution passed asking Germany to let me out of the Bitberg cemetery visit. Unfortunately, some of our Repubs. went along. Well I don’t want out. I think I’m doing what is morally right.

  Saturday, April 27

  A day of reading my eyes out—briefing materials for trip. The press is still chewing on the Bitberg visit. I’ll jut keep on praying.

  The White House Press Corps dinner—Mort Sahl entertains. He’s funny as always. He also pledged his all out support for what I’m doing. I had some good material & was well received. Turned our clocks forward so it was a short night.

  Sunday, April 28

  More homework—a nice day & lunch on the Truman Balcony. Called Jerry Ford to thank him for his words re Bitberg. I’m worried about Nancy. She’s uptight about the situation & nothing I say can wind her down. I’ll pray about that too.

  Monday, April 29

  [Signing ceremony for announcement of National Partnership for Child Safety; appeared at National Chamber of Commerce convention; briefing on summit at lunch; television interview with foreign journalists; swearing-in for William “Bill” Brock as secretary of Labor; haircut.]

  Dick Wirthlin did a weekend survey—my approval rating went up to 62%. Bitberg was approved 49 to 47 but he made the Q. one to lean toward negative—“do you think he should honor the Nazi’s, etc.”

  Tomorrow’s the day.

  Tuesday, April 30

  Now it’s really getaway day. I’m scratching at drafts of some of the 14 speeches I’ll be giving in Europe. We had a Cab. Council meeting—another on the tax simplification plan. We’re making some progress. Then a short meeting with our 3 head negotiators who are home on recess from the Geneva arms talks. Nothing much to report—they said the Soviets in this 1st round seemed to be positioning themselves for some kind of propaganda efforts. Speculation is that it will be Gorbachev’s speech at the U.N. in Sept. If so that means the next session beginning June 1st won’t see much progress.

  I hope I’m not being too optimistic but it seems there are a few signs that the Bitberg issue may be turning. Cap just came back from a ceremony installing the new military Vicar, a Catholic Priest or Bishop named Ryan. He told Cap I was a “Christian,” a good man & doing the right thing about the visit to the cemetery.

  Dave Murdock came by—he’s laying off 1000’s of textile workers because of the foreign competition. I don’t know what we can do & still hold our position on free trade. We already have dozens & dozens of quotas in effect limiting imports. An interview with Hugh Sidey—he’s a fair & common sense man.

  [Made statement for the press and then left for West Germany; formal reception; settled in at Schloss Gymnich, a castle used as a guest house by the German government; strolling in garden; quiet dinner.]

  Thursday, May 2

  The day started with a working breakfast with all our staff then at 9:35 Nancy joined us. We helicoptered into Bonn & motored to Villa Hammerschmidt—home of Pres. Von Weizsaecker. Met by him & his wife plus a greeting party of our embassy people & German officials. It was a formal ceremony (the Presidents functions are largely ceremonial). He & I inspected the troops etc. A photo opp. for the press then Nancy left us for her trip to Rome—an audience with the Pope & a schedule that will keep her away ’til May 4.

  The Pres. & I (plus staffs) had a half hour meeting then we were off to the Fed. Chancellery to meet Chancellor Helmut Kohl. He & I had a 45 minute private meeting. I assured him I was not upset by the press furor over my scheduled wreath laying at Bitberg military cemetery. He said I had won the heart of Germany by standing firm on this.

  We went into a plenary session & got into discussions about the Summit for another 45 minutes. Then on to our Deputy Chief of Missions residence (they are a very nice couple). We had a working lunch preparing for my one on one visits. At 2:15 P.M. Nakasone (Japan) arrived. We had a half hour meeting discussing mainly trade matters. He’s supportive of our desire to have a Gen. round of trade talks in early ’86 to head off “protectionism.”

  Next visitor was Pres. Mitterrand of France. He’s still pressing for a formal monetary conference to deal with exchange rates
etc. We’ve had our ministers & a task force discussing & studying financial matters for 2 yrs. since the Williamsburg Summit. Their report is due in June. I proposed that we wait for that report & then see what further is needed. He’s not satisfied with that & wants to tie a monetary meeting to any trade talks. I briefed him also on our Strategic Defense Initiative (S.D.I.) & sensed a reluctance on his part as to any participation in this.

  Then it was back to Schloss Gymnich where I had a meeting with our solid ally Margaret Thatcher. This was a half hour—mainly spent in discussing the upcoming meeting.

  Back to the helicopter & off to Schloss Augustusberg to meet Helmut—attend a reception—which was jammed—no reception line, just mix & mingle.

  Back in a motorcade & off to Schloss Falkenlust for the Summit dinner meeting. During the course of dinner I told them how successful Nancy’s anti-drug session with 17 other 1st ladies had been & by the time I finished they picked up on it & we voted to move together on a program of cooperation in dealing with the drug problem. Then it was back to Schloss Gymnich for the night.

  Friday, May 3

  The Summit really begins. Let me interject that in all our motoring the streets are lined with people clapping, waving, cheering—all I’m sure to let me know they don’t agree with the continuing press sniping about the upcoming visit to Bitberg. This continued throughout our entire stay in Germany.

  The meeting was going pretty well with consensus on most of the points that would wind up in the final statement. Then we came to the matter of an early ’86 round of trade talks. Pres. Mitterrand expressed his own opposition to protectionism but absolutely refused to agree to an ’86 meeting or re-opening of trade talks to further reduce or eliminate protectionist measures that presently exist. We’re all guilty of some. His big hang up is the fact that France subsidizes it’s agric. so they can compete in export trade at lower than world mkt prices. Couple that with his upcoming election in ’86 & you have the story.