Diary Entry - 04/17/1984

Nancy left for Phoenix. Discussion in N.S.C. about doing a speech on Central Am. nationwide. Geo. S. & Bud leaned toward trying to do it—like tomorrow nite. We’ll do it when I return from China. Had lunch with about 100 leaders of Hispanic groups. They’re having a kind of conference & our people are briefing them. I spoke & was well received even though many of those org’s. are Dem. Back for a briefing (N.S.C.) on China—mainly on the leaders I’ll meet & their dispositions etc. A Cab. Council meeting on Agri. About 2 to 4% of our farmers will probably go under this year. Much of that is due to poor business judgment, overborrowing based on inflated land values. The inflation bubble has burst & that plus high int. rates is doing them in. Later met with about 40 farm paper editors from all over the country. Dan Gilbert (Eureka C. Pres.) came by with his 2 sons. Then I presented the Presidents Citizen Medal to the widow of Leaman Hunt who was killed in the Sinai—murdered. Signed a proclamation making May 23—Mil. Spouses recognition day. Did some photos for family weekly & saw the Linkletters who dropped in. To the East Room for a reception—the Reagan-Bush finance committee. They were an enthusiastic group. In the receiving line I was surprised that at least 2⁄3 of them urged me to stand firm on Central Am.