Diary Entry - 04/04/1983
Key Facts
The President and the First Lady attend the annual White House Easter Egg Roll.
President Reagan attends a meeting in the situation room to discuss the possibility of ousting the dictator of Surinam.
The space shuttle Challenger lifts off from Cape Canaveral on its first flight and the sixth flight overall of the shuttle program.
Big thing of this day was the traditional Easter Egg roll. Nancy & I went out on the lawn at 11 A.M.—there were more than 30,000 people—mainly children. Then I had to go back in the Cabinet room for a meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff. They are all on board for the Commission report on M-X. There were meetings all day on the upcoming Summit in Williamsburg, defense budget etc. A very top meeting in the situation room had to do with Surinam and possible plans to oust the dictator who seized power & murdered about 15 top civic leaders. Some of the plans I had to veto. We’re going to see if Venezuela & Brazil might help. Saw 4 Ambassadors off.
