Diary Entry - 09/08/1985
Key Facts
President Reagan returns to the White House from the weekend at Camp David.
President Reagan meets with Chief of Staff Donald Regan and Assistant for National Security Affairs Robert McFarlane to discuss South Africa.
A hot day Sat. mostly by the pool & in it. My radiocast was on the subject of protectionism—hoping we could cool down some of the hotheads on the hill. I announced a few actions we are taking where there are violations of fair trade on the part of three of our trading partners. Late in the day had a call from P.M. of Canada Brian Mulroney. Brian wanted me to know the Canadian govt. was voting not to join us in the S.D.I. research but that he was voicing approval of our doing it & that any private researchers, businesses & institutions in Canada were free to join us. All in all I think there is no problem.
Sat. night we ran “Hellcats of the Navy” starring N.D.R. & R.R. It was fun.
Sunday spent morning watching the talk shows most of which were painting me as being in a deep hole & showing no leadership. Back at the W.H. a conference call with Don R. & Bud M. It had to do with our S. Africa plan. Question is whether the Sen. should go with the bill & try to get the votes to kill the filibuster in which case I’d veto the bill which Sen. Lugar author of the bill supports. He favors my exec. order & will support us. It’s up to the Sen. leaders now as to which course—I’ll just wait.
