Diary Entry - 08/10/1983
Key Facts
President Reagan greets President of the Republic of Senegal Abdou Diouf.
The largest city in northern Chad is lost to the rebels and Colonel Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi of Libya's forces.
I’m alone. Nancy left this morning for Denver, Phoenix and the ranch. I’ll catch up with her there on Monday. I go by way of Tampa, El Paso, La Paz Mexico, New Orleans. Well Faza Largeau in Chad has fallen to the rebels & Quadafis forces. France who says Chad is her special interest did nothing. A squadron of planes could have made the difference. Pres. Diouf of Senegal arrived. He is a remarkable young man, boyish looking but with great poise & very intelligent. He is pro-western and resolutely set against Quadafi. We got along great. A brief one on one after the Diouf lunch with Geo. Shultz. He’s been taking a vicious beating in the press. He & I are going to have regular meetings every week. Part of the press attack is to the effect that he has lost standing with me. The h--l he has. A cable from Lebanon tells us the Druze are shelling the Beirut Airport where our Marines are based—no casualties. The world must have been simpler in the days of gunboat diplomacy. I dont like an empty W.H.
