Diary Entry - 03/20/1986
Key Facts
President Reagan spends most of the day calling Members of both Houses of Congress to discuss the passage of the Contra-aid bill.
President Reagan stays in the Oval Office study to watch the Contra debate and vote in the House of Representatives on television.
At about 5 P.M.—it was the 1st day of Spring. That’s about all I can say for it. Spent a large part of the day on the phone to Congressmen—they were voting on the aid to Contra bill. We lost—16 Repubs. deserted us—if 8 of them had voted for us we’d have won. Tips trick worked—he promised any member of his team if they’d vote no today they could vote on the bill again on April 15th & vote yes. We think he plans to tie the bill to a lot of big spending bills & that I’ll have to sign it. H--l of a way to run a country.
Geo. B. & I lunched together then we went back to our phoning. I had some taping & bill signing, a hasty N.S.P.G. meeting to plan strategy on the Contra problem.
Signed off on some new appointees & then in Admin. time met a beautiful young wife who won the Cancer Society Courage Award. She had a double Mastectomy. Then photos with Vladimir Horowitz who is 1st major performer to go to Russia in a cultural exchange. Then it was Middleweight Champ Marvin Hagler & his lovely family. Some retiree photos & upstairs to an empty house. Nancy is in Atlanta for a drug program & will be late getting home. Her plane slipped off the runway & sank in the mud. No one hurt but we had to send another plane for her. She made it in time for dinner—Dennis & Merme were here.
