Diary Entry - 06/15/1988
Key Facts
President Reagan meets with a group of Bipartisan Members of Congress and discuss Nicaragua.
President Reagan attends a meeting with representatives of the Ronald Reagan Home Preservation Foundation.
Hong Kong announces a clampdown on "boat people."
Learned Senate is working to get 2 appropriation bills down to me & intends to send 13—one at a time. This is a response to my St. of the Union address in which I stated I would not accept another 1000 page package of such measures as one bill.
Frank C. has asked Congress for a joint session.
N.S.C.—Contra leaders now in Wash. think breakdown in negotiations has made a program of aid—humane & lethal is essential if negotiations are to go on. They are staying here a few more days at Colins request.
Press is full of F.B.I. investigation at Pentagon which has been going on for 2 yrs. It is tracking down reports of kickbacks etc. in Defense Industry procurement. Then at 9:30 A.M. a congressional meeting (Dems. & Repubs.) in Cabinet room. These were all reps. who want to help Contras. A good meeting & lots of suggestions.
Desk time—then a meeting with Dick Wirthlin. My approval rating is up to 60%. It is 80% regarding dealing with Soviet U. Other figures very good. Peoples greatest concern is drug problem.
Then lunch with Repub. State Chairman of 15 states where Dems. are strong. It was a good meeting & they were quite optimistic.
A briefing after lunch for interview with 7 journalists—most reps. of Summit countries & 1 American. I think I got by with no wounds.
Last event of day was real fun—a meeting with about 50 or 60 people who are joined together in helping make my Dixon Ill. boyhood home a tourist attraction. Good time was had by all. And so upstairs.
