Diary Entry - 01/24/1987
Key Facts
President Reagan makes a Radio Address to the Nation on his upcoming State of the Union Address.
President Reagan receives word that 4 Professors at Beirut University have been kidnapped by terrorists.
Cold & clear—the trees are still sheathed in ice—it looks like a forest of glass. Did radio script & took our usual walk from Laurel back to Aspen—about 14 inches of snow on the ground. Ken K. & his wife arrived about 1:15. She went on to Laurel but Ken & I had a working lunch—St. of the Union. He spent the afternoon in the office here at Aspen working on the latest draft & I did the same in the living room. Both of us were working to shorten it. Late afternoon word came that 4 Prof ’s. at Beirut U. 3 Am. & 1 Indian married to an American were kidnaped by terrorists dressed like U. security people.
I think Ken & I have pretty much finished the speech. Just in time too—Jim K. just handed me some homework.
Frank C. & Cap W. called for permission to send our Delta Force to the British Base on Cyprus just in case we had a chance at a rescue. I said yes. Dinner with Ken & his wife—a nice evening.
