Diary Entry - 03/18/1987
Key Facts
President Reagan meets with Secretary of State George Shultz to discuss Human Rights in the Soviet Union.
President Reagan attends a National Security Council meeting to discuss the Soviet Union and Afghanistan.
N.S.C.—briefing was a report on Armacosts meeting in Moscow. Sounded like some progress on Afghanistan. He brought greetings from Gorbachev Frank said.
Then a bipartisan meeting of Senators generally favorable to Contra aid. It was a good meeting & maybe we can be cautiously optimistic about the vote on future aid. A couple of sessions with Howard, Abshire et al about the press conf. plus a 2 hour session in the Family theatre fielding Q’s.
Had a meeting with George Shultz. He presented some material on his coming trip to Moscow having to do with Human Rights. He really wants to go after observance by the Soviets of the Helsinki Pact.
He also laid out some ideas on our Central American policy—the short comings of the Arias (Costa Rica) proposal. Hooray!!—Phone call first to tell me the Sen. voted 52 to 48 for the $40 mil. aid to the Contras. I’d thought I might have to veto.
