|
|
Executive
Times |
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
2007
Book Reviews |
|||
|
|
The
Reagan Diaries by Ronald Reagan, edited by David Brinkley |
|||
|
Rating: |
*** |
|||
|
|
(Recommended) |
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Click on title or picture to buy from amazon.com |
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Chronicle Any reader will find something to
like on the pages of The
Reagan Diaries. Fans of the late President will enjoy and appreciate the
ways in which the diary entries reveal his character, values and personality.
Foes will rail at how much time he spends on the small stuff. David Brinkley
has edited and abridged these diaries, and the resulting 785 pages remain a
comprehensive chronicle of the years of the Reagan presidency. Here’s an
excerpt, entries from July 17, 1986-June 30, 1986, pp.
420-421: Tuesday, June
17 [Met
with President Julio Maria Sanguinetti of Uruguay.] This afternoon
we astonished the press with a news break of a perfectly kept secret. I took
Chf. Justice Burger, Justice Rehnquist & Judge Scalia into the press room
to announce Burger’s resignation, Rehnquist’s nomination to succeed him &
Scalia’s nomination to take Rehnquist’s place on the court. A meeting with
John R & Don R. on my proposal for a proposed treaty with the Soviets to
share the S.D.I. if & when it is a reality & to then do away with
I.C.B.M.’s. John seems to want to sneak up on it in phases, etc. I’m holding
out for a simple plan—yes or no. [State
dinner with entertainment by Dave Brubeck.] Wednesday,
June 18 Our U.H.O.
friends Salero, Rebolo & Cruz (Nicaragua) were in for a meeting. They
are here to lobby Cong. on aid to the freedom fighters. Then a meeting
with Bishop Dario Castillon of Colombia. He’s supportive of what we are
trying to do in Central Am. I think he was relieved to hear though that we
have no plans for armed intervention. He believes that at least 840 of the
900 bishops in Latin America are supportive of what we are trying to do. [Gathering
for flag awards.] A photo with
officers of the Nat. Homebuilders Assn. Then a meeting with Sec. Shultz. Two
subjects—Soviet’s & S. Africa. He believes it is one turn to move with a proposal to Gorbachev. On S.A. the
problem is once again harsh language in the Cong. which may force me to veto
something. [Videotapings.
Thursday,
June 19: morning briefings; report from
Mrs. Reagan that Director of Drug Abuse Policy Office Canton Turner was
feeling ignored by Department of Justice and was ready to quit, the president
asked Regan to intervene with Meese; congressional meeting on Contra aid
obviated by vote call; lunch with Vice President Bush; photo sessions with
staff and candidates; flew to New Jersey for speech to high school students
and parents; commented, “I came away feeling ten ft. tall. I like people”;
returned to WH.; drank liquids in anticipation of following day’s medical
checkup.] Friday, June
20 The check up
after a couple of hours in the office & then off to Camp D. It was a long
spell in the Hospital, winding up with the Cat scan. Everything was AOK
& the Dr. on the cat scan said my insides were 25 yrs. younger than my age. [Saturday,
June 21—Sunday, June 22: walks and
swimming; returned to WH] Monday, June
23 A half hour
interview with 3 members of L.A. Times. It was wide ranging & I hope I
didn’t give them any possible distortion material. Then the issues briefing
lunch. We made a decision that I would ask to appear at noon tomorrow before
the House of Reps. to make a speech in support of aid to the Contras. Don
called Tip & reached him on a golf course. Tip refused to let me speak to
the House. I’m going to rub his nose in this one. We are sending a copy of
the speech to every rep. [Interviewed by Time magazine; presentation of awards to high
school students; photographed for French magazine; report from Senator Paul
Laxalt (R-I\TV) that Ferdinand Marcos wanted the president to know that he
did not instigate demonstrations in Philippines.] A
meeting with Clarence Thomas my man on the Equal Opp. board. I’ve nominated
him for another term. He’s done a h--l of a good job. The Lynch gang on the
hill is after him. Then received 9 Ambas’s. The 9th was Dobrynin of the
Soviet U. He brought a letter from Gorbachev. We had quite a conversation
I’m not going to form a quick opinion but he sure is different from the old
timers I’ve met. Nancy is in Calif. This place feels empty. Tuesday,
June 24 I’m
supposed to be writing this at the ranch but here I am in the lonely old WH.
without Nancy. When
I got to the office Don R. told me I just couldn’t go with the Contra vote
hanging over us & Tip’s refusal to let me address the House. Well I knew
he was right but I was d--n mad. There was the matter of my appearance tonite
in Las Vegas—a fundraiser for our cand. for Senate Cong. man Santini. Well we
got them to postpone it until
tomorrow night. At 12 noon I went on TV with the speech I would have given to
the House. I spent the day phoning & meeting with House members trying
to line up votes—with some success. Oh, I met the new champ Ray Floyd & his
wife. He just won the U.S. Open. He gave me a new putter. I did a photo for
Time mag. & Here I am upstairs with the trip scheduled for tomorrow. Wednesday,
June 25 Dick
Wirthlin’s poll—all things considered the figures are good. My overall
approval dropped from 73 to 70 though. [Made calls to members of Congress on
behalf of Contra aid; flew to Las Vegas for fund-raiser; received news that
Contra aid bill passed; went to ranch.] Thursday,
June 26—Monday, June 30 For
the 1st time this year the weather was beautiful each & every day. We
rode every morning, then Barney, Dennis & I cut up some downed trees. On
Sun. we learned of Sen. East’s suicide—a sad time for all of us. Now it is Mon.
night & we are back at the White House. Sometimes
it’s the smallest touches that bring the largest smiles, like referring to
Clarence Thomas doing a h-l of a good job, or being d-n mad. As if not
spelling it all out, made it gentler. There are records in this chronicle
about the movies watched, enough that an interesting doctoral dissertation
might emerge from a comparison between the movies watched and the policies
set. The
Reagan Diaries records haircuts, great love for Mommie, and reflections
on the big issues of the day. Read with the understanding that by the time
you reach the end, you too might be writing h-l or saying “gosh.” Steve
Hopkins, October 25, 2007 |
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
Go to Executive
Times Archives |
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The recommendation rating for this book appeared in the November
2007 issue
of Executive Times URL for this review: ttp://www.hopkinsandcompany.com/Books/The
Reagan Diaries.htm For Reprint Permission, Contact: Hopkins & Company, LLC • E-mail: books@hopkinsandcompany.com |
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
