Reagan Diaries, Volume 1

Ronald Reagan,Douglas Brinkley

• Publisher: HarperCollins e-books
• Year: 2010
• ISBN:
  9780062011695
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: American Government
• Index: Politics & International Relations

Volume One of the daily diaries of the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan.

VOLUME I

January 1981–October 1985

CHAPTER ONE

1981

Tuesday, January 20

The Inaugural (Jan. 20) was an emotional experience but then the very next day it was “down to work.” The first few days were long and hard—daily Cabinet meetings interspersed with sessions with Congressional leaders regarding our ec. plan.

Monday, January 26

A meeting on terrorism with heads of F.B.I.—S.S.—C.I.A. Sec’s of St., Defense & others. Have ordered they be given back their ability to function. Next a Cabinet meeting on the deal with Iran. We just may not implement some of the Carter executive orders on grounds they violate our own laws. Hostages will arrive in country tomorrow. It seems some of them had some tough questions for Carter in Germany as to why they were there so long and why they were there to begin with. Rest of day meeting committee chairmen & Sens. on raising the debt ceiling.

Tuesday, January 27

Ceremony on S. Lawn to welcome hostages home. Thousands of people in attendance. Met the familys earlier. Now we had in addition the familys of the 8 men who lost their lives in the rescue attempt. One couple lost their only son. His widow was also here. I’ve had a lump in my throat all day.—Evening 1st white tie reception for the diplomatic corps.

Wednesday, January 28

Visit by P.M. Seaga of Jamaica, his wife & members of his admin. Our 1st state luncheon. He won a terrific election victory over a Cuban backed procommunist.

I think we can help him & gradually take back the Caribbean which was becoming a “Red” lake.

Thursday, January 29

Nancy had a great triumph with committee which rides herd on White House (to preserve its history) They were enthusiastic about what she has already done to upgrade the 2nd & 3rd floors.

Rcvd. a 6 page cable from Ambassador Mike Mansfield who we’re keeping on as Amb. to Japan. A very scholarly & thorough analysis of our relations with Japan. It could be a model for all our diplomats.

Friday, January 30

More meetings with Cong. leaders on trying to get debt ceiling lifted. If dont we’ll be out of money by Feb. 18. Cong. recessing from 5th to 12th. Must get passage of bill by Fri. the 5th.

Short day in office—left for 1st weekend in Camp David. It was great to be in a house with the knowledge you could just open a door & take a walk outdoors if you wanted.

Saturday, January 31

Had a before lunch walk (it was cold) Spent afternoon in front of fire reading intelligence reports & Briefing papers for visit by Pres. Chun (Korea) We have definite evidence Nicaragua transferring hundreds of tons of arms from Cuba to El Salvador. P.M. ran a movie—“Tribute”—Jack Lemmon. He is truly a great performer.

Sunday, February 1

A walk in the A.M. then left for White House in a sleet storm.

Monday, February 2

What’s getting to be routine—full day in Oval office.

Tuesday, February 3

The arrival of Pres. Chun, his wife & staff. These meetings through an interpreter which can become a strain. Good meetings though—assured him we would not withdraw our troops from Korea

Wednesday, February 4

Cabinet discussion of grain embargo. I’ve always felt it hurt our farmers worse than it hurt Soviets. Many of our allies?? filled the gap & supplied Soviet. But now—how do we lift it without sending wrong message to Soviets? We need to take a new look at whole matter of strategy. Trade was supposed to make Soviets moderate, instead it has allowed them to build armaments instead of consumer products. Their socialism is an ec. failure. Wouldn’t we be doing more for their people if we let their system fail instead of constantly bailing it out?

Cap Weinberger told me afterwards it was the most substantive cabinet meeting he’d ever attended & he’s been attending for 5 yrs. under 2 previous admins.

Thursday, February 5

Presidents Prayer Brkfst. Some 3000 people from all over nation and possibly 100 other countries. A truly wonderful, spiritual experience. A great male choir from Anderson College in Ind.

Met with Boy Scout leaders and was made honorary Pres. of same. Then out to Rose Garden to meet with more than 100 high school students from 50 states who are brought here each year by Hearst Foundation to spend a week studying or observing govt. at work.

Lots of phone calls—Sen. Robt. Byrd (D) is playing games with bill to raise debt ceiling. Has held vote over til tomorrow.

Friday, February 6

My birthday. Nancy, Tip O’Neil, Paul Laxalt, Tom Evans & Cong. Wright from Texas surprised me (all duly recorded by Cap. Press Corps) with a beautiful cake. Tip gave me a tie & the flag which flew over the Cap. on Jan. 20. We wheeled the cake into another room where it was cut up by about 200 of our staff.

That afternoon received a great present—our own Sens. who had held out on debt. ceiling turned around & we carried the day.

Nancy told me we were having about 20 or so of our Sac. gang on the staff to dinner & because of my birthday doing it black tie. At 8 P.M. we walked down the main staircase & to my complete surprise the 20 had become more than 100 of our Calif. friends, Nancy’s Brother & sister in law, Moon & Bess, Maureen etc.

The East room had become a be-flowered fairy land thanks to Ted Graber. It turned out to be the most enjoyable & memorable dinner dance any of us could remember.

How Nancy could keep it such a secret I’ll never know—except that as I look back she had managed to keep me from reading papers for the last 2 days. Apparently every one in America knew it but me.

P.S. During day discovered my Ambas. appts. were processed by St. Dept. They take forever. I want Bill Wilson cleared by them before 26th so he can meet Pope (he’s to be Ambas. to Vatican) in Alaska. Told Penn James to tell the guy at State that was advising him to get off his A—& do it.

Saturday, February 7

Day off except for official W.H. photos in afternoon. Charley Wicks dinner at Watergate—about 40 of last nights guests—our closest friends. It was wonderfully warm. We are truly blessed.

Sunday, February 8

Thank you letters for gifts we found on 2nd floor Fri. night. It took entire Sat. morning to open. Just had a call from Al Haig. I had asked that we quietly have Swiss […] tell Iranians if they did not free Mrs. Dwyer (Am. woman they had charged with being a spy & imprisoned) we might find it difficult to implement the terms of the Carter hostage agreement. Mrs. Dwyer is coming home. She was turned over to the Swiss. Word […] is that last 2 weeks of hostage negotiations were completely dominated by Iranian fear they’d have to negotiate with our admin. I couldn’t be happier.

Monday, February 9

Started the day learning Mrs. Dwyer did not leave Iran—some snafu with paper work. Hopefully tomorrow.

A Lunch meeting to discuss the tax cuts in our Ec. pckg. Looks like we may have to let Inc. Tax Cuts wait to go into effect July 1. Bud. cuts however I’ve proposed should be retro-active to Jan. 1.

Met with members of Co. Assn. & Nat. Assn of St. Legis. All seemed willing to help get our package passed by Cong. They expressed realization we must get spending under control.

Came home to find the place being painted. Cap. Weinberger sent me bravery citation for Sgt. Benavidez, V.N. War. I’ve signed his award of Cong. Medal of Honor.

Tuesday, February 10

This was a day. I was wired for sound. David Brinkley is doing “a day in my life” for T.V. showing Fri. His cameras catch me in every meeting etc. and I turn on the sound for those things suitable & turn it off for balance of meetings. Began with Brkfst. with labor leaders who supported me in campaign; Teamsters, Merchant Marine, Marine engineers & Air Controllers.

Then office briefings, cabinet, 18 state Gov’s, & lunch with same. Meeting with Lane Kirkland AFL-CIO, Frazer of U.A.W. & head of United Mine Workers. Most of these meetings to outline what is in our ec. pckg. I’m afraid we’ll get opposition from this latter group.

An early hurried dinner then to Kennedy Center for Harlem Ballet. This group represents effort of one man (Mitchell) to take kids off the streets of Harlem & make something of them and he has. They are really good and it was an enjoyable evening. Cong. Tom Evans & his wife, Cong. Rangel & wife whose district includes Harlem, the Bushes etc. We discovered some of the niceties that go with this job. At intermission in the room behind the Presidential box we found a W.H. usher on hand serving snacks & drinks. Went back stage & met the dancers. Found out no other Pres. had even gone to one of their performances.

Came home to the news that Mike was being charged with fraud in connection with his “gas a hol” business. I suspect this is plain pol. and aimed at me.

Wednesday, February 11

High spot a Nat. Security Council meeting. We have absolute proof of Soviet & Cuban activity in delivering arms to rebels in El Salvador—Also their worldwide propaganda campaign which has succeeded in raising riots & demonstrations in Europe & the U.S.

Intelligence reports say he [Castro] is very worried about me. I’m very worried that we cant come up with something to justify his worrying.

Thursday, February 12

Failed to make entry & now find I have trouble remembering much about the day—after a long weekend at Camp David. There was a good Cabinet meeting. Our Ec. program is coming together. We have a darn good team. Went to dinner at the Bushes—just the 4 of us & most enjoyable.

Friday, February 13

Short day—a working lunch on ec. progr. the tax portion. Off for Camp David 3 P.M.

Saturday, February 14

Slept in—took a morning walk then spent the afternoon with desk work. We had both sneaked out & bought valentines for each other & believe it or not we did surprise each other. Ran a movie & had Dan Ruge & the others who have to go with us over for it. It was a comedy (Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton & Lilli Tomlin) “Nine To Five.” Funny—but one scene made me mad. A truly funny scene if the 3 gals had played getting drunk but no they had to get stoned on pot. It was an endorsement of Pot smoking for any young person who sees the picture.

Sunday, February 15

I was at Camp David but I was indoor all day writing my speech for Wed. nite in Cong. Nancy spent the day interior decorating—very well I might add in the other cabins “Dogwood”—“Birch” etc. Finished speech by bedtime.

Monday, February 16

Walked to cabins to help Nancy with more picture hanging—an early lunch & back to Wash. A meeting regarding the speech—a few minor changes. Dinner here with Tip & Mrs. O’Neill—Ed, Jim B. & Susan & the Friedersdorf’s.

Dinner caused a near panic for us—the O’Neills arrived and the hour for dinner drew near & there were still only 4 of us. The Bakers arrived—they had the time wrong. Ed it turns out was on a plane—he’d left word but we didn’t get it. Oh—I should have added—the Friedersdorfs (Max & Priscilla) were with the Bakers.

It was a nice evening but maybe Tip & I told too many Irish stories.

Tuesday, February 17

Met with Congressmen & Sens. on grain embargo. Those from farm states want it lifted. I explained we’d made no decision but while I was against the embargo we had to worry about making a concession to the Soviets without some Quid Pro Quo. It might send a wrong message.

Tip had last word & it was a good one. He told me I was Pres. and had to think of all the states. The gist was—was lifting the embargo good for the U.S. and our security vis-a vis the Soviets.

Wednesday, February 18

This was the big night—the speech to Cong. on our ec. plan. I’ve seen Presidents over the years enter the House chamber without ever thinking I would one day be doing it. The reception was more than I’d anticipated—most of it of course from one side of the aisle. Still it was a thrill and something I’ll long remember.

Hardly back at the W.H. when “Signal” handed m...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Introduction
• Ronald Reagan Presidential Timeline
• Volume I
• About the Authors
• Copyright
• About the Publisher