Diary Entry - 07/06/1982

Key Facts
President Reagan works on pruning the riding trails around Rancho del Cielo.
President Reagan announces conditional agreement to the use of US. troops in an international peacekeeping force in Beirut, Lebanon.
An estimated 90 people are killed in an Aeroflot jetliner that crashes shortly after takeoff near Moscow.
In L.A. on arrival spoke to Western region editors for Press, Radio and T.V.—Did a Q&A. Then on to the Ranch. We went back down to L.A. for 2 days in which I lunched with L.A. Times editorial board, addressed some Senior Citizens and spoke on Federalism to local officials from up & down the W. Coast. On the 2nd night in L.A. our friends did a wonderful Birthday Dinner party for Nancy (July 6). It was a warm, loving gathering. The next day back to the ranch. The weather was perfect. We rode every morning and in the afternoons Barney, Dennis & I cut brush, firewood & pruned riding trails. Out of the whole trip one day July 4th was also very special. We took Marine 1 to Edwards A.F. base for the 4th landing of the Columbia (the Shuttle). It was a thrilling and moving experience—meeting the Astronauts as they 1st stepped out of the “bird” after 7 days in orbit. Now we are back in Wash.—with mixed feelings.
