Diary Entry - 10/31/1983
Key Facts
President Reagan meets with executives of the steel industry to discuss the problems facing the industry.
President Reagan attends a National Security Council meeting on Lebanon and Grenada.
N.S.C. Subjects Lebanon & Grenada. The attempt at reconciliation in Lebanon began in Geneva. Grenada is almost cleaned up—a little sniping here & there. We’re trying to get Don Rumsfeld to take Buds place in Lebanon. Met with top steel execs. Steel is really hard hit—still losing money. The big competition is coming not from Japan or Europe but from the under developed nations—Taiwan, S. Korea etc. They are making steel with a $3 a day labor cost. We’re trying to find ways to help without going down the protectionist road. Signed the 1st appropriation bill in 5 yrs. for H.H.S. & Dept. of Labor. We’ve been on “continuing resolutions” until now. Pete Domenici came by to report his version of the El Salvador–Nicaragua trip. He pegs Nicaragua correctly as the villain. A little social meeting with the officers of U.P.I. A haircut & some taping for several meetings I cant attend. Maureen arrived for dinner & a few days.
