Diary Entry - 02/17/1984
Key Facts
President Reagan is briefed on a covert C.I.A. operation involving a C-130 gunship providing strikes against the rebels.
President Reagan receives Prince Rainier III of the Principality of Monaco for a reception and dinner.
Dropped by a briefing for press correspondents re the budget & other things mainly having to do with issues on womens problems—most of the scribblers were women. Before that however I went to the cabinet room to greet top 3 from “Human Events”—Alan Ryskind, Stan Evans & Tom Winter. H.E. had done a feature indicating I was a bigger spend thrift than Jimmy Carter. Dave S. & Ed M. had invited them over to get the real figures—which refute their story very definitely. At 11 A.M. down to the situation room for a briefing on a possible covert operation (C.I.A.) in El Salvador involving a C-130 gun ship which we’d provide for strikes against Rebels. I’m afraid since it would require Congressional committee support we’d blow our whole aid program to El Salvador. But I was tempted. It was the kind of mission that could break the rebels back. Another of Mermie’s St. Dining Room Lunches for elected Repub. office holders of local & state offices—women. These were from the Mid-west. As usual it was a good event and was enthusiastically approved by the ladies. Saw some Ambassadors off to Peru & Nigeria then upstairs to do an afternoon of mail. At 5:15 Prince Rainier, Princess Caroline & Stephanie, Prince Albert & Caroline’s husband Mr. Casiraghi arrived. They are our house guests for a reception tonight & a dinner tomorrow night for the Princess Grace foundation. The reception was replete with long time friends of Rainier including a group who came out from Monaco for this occasion.
