Diary Entry - 10/01/1985
Key Facts
President Reagan attends a National Security Council meeting on the Strategic Defense Initiative.
President Reagan participates in a swearing-in ceremony for Admiral William Crowe as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Israeli forces stages an air raid on PLO-headquarter at Tunis and 68 people are killed.
Brkfst. with Sen. Repubs.—got a few things off my chest and took some Q’s. from a few of the dissidents—mostly on the trade imbalance & some need for protectionism. I let them know I’m against it.
Then the Swearing in of Admiral Crowe Jr. who replaces Jack Vessey. An N.S.C. meeting—a report on S.D.I.—it really is showing promise. There have been some remarkable break throughs. A brief talk in the East Room to about 200 of the Tax Reform Action Coalition.
Margaret Heckler & I then went before the press. I’d received a call that she’d accepted the Ambassador post. I denounced as false the rumors & charges against her & introduced her as the new Ambas. Had trouble then as press wanted to change subject to the Israeli bombing of a bldg. in Tunis said to be Arafats P.L.O. H.Q. Tunis says it was a hotel with innocent women & children victims. It’s also suspected they used Am. F-15’s which is against our agreement that weapons provided by the U.S. would only be used in self defense. It’s a sticky one. We then went on to Cabinet meeting on budget & deficit. The Dem. House budget just isn’t going to meet the deficit crisis. I’m going to have to do some vetos & I cant wait (Lrnd. Israeli Raid did hit P.L.O. H.Q.).
On S. Lawn addressed large group of educators representing schools selected for excellence in ed. Then a brief meeting with new Pres. of Sons of Italy and finally a reception—welcome back to Supreme Ct. justices. Court re-opens Oct. 7.
