Diary Entry - 02/20/1987
Key Facts
President Reagan attends a National Security Planning Group meeting to discuss the support of the Nicaraguan Contras against the Sandinista government.
President Reagan travels to Camp David for the weekend.
Learned that our W.H. press corps has learned that Jack Koehler, who I have picked to replace Pat B. at 10 yrs. of age joined the Hitler youth movement in Germany. They are raising a fire storm over this. They ignore that he came to this country served in our mil. & went from Corp. to Capt. with 14 yrs. of active & reserve duty—including service in our mil. intelligence. He’s been top man at A.P. [Associated Press] and had a lifetime career there, heading the International bureau among other things. Well I’m not going to back down in the face of the lynch mob.
Later an N.S.P.G. meeting—subject was Central Am. We’ve concluded we must make an all out effort to go to the public on the need to support the Contras & get rid of the Sandinista Communist govt.
After lunch I went to the Wash. Hilton and addressed the Conservative Pol. Action Committee Luncheon. A very enthusiastic crowd. After the main event did 15 or 20 mins. with about 80 of their leaders— Q&A.
Back to the W.H. & off to Camp D. On arrival spent my time phoning individuals Doug Morrow asked me to call to participate in T.V. spots telling people about the valuable spin offs from the Shuttle program.
