Diary Entry - 11/18/1981
Key Facts
President Reagan makes an address to the National Press Club on the deployment of Nuclear Weapons.
President Reagan receives a Thanksgiving turkey from the National Turkey Growers Association.
Today was the big day—the speech to the world at the Nat. press club. It really was to the world. I’m told it was the largest network ever put together—all of Europe, China & I dont know how many other places. It has been wonderfully received worldwide except for Russia—Tass is screaming bloody murder. I asked Russia to join us in total elimination of all medium range nuclear weapons in Europe. Funny—I was talking peace but wearing a bullet proof vest. It seems Kadaffi put a contract on me & some person named Jack was going to try for me at the speech. Security was very tight. Back to the W.H. for farewell to Pres. Herrera. His farewell remarks to the press were perfect. From El Salvador to Latin Am. relations in general he praised us. Rcv’d a Turkey from the Nat. Turkey Growers Assn. Then a reception for those who had contributed to the W.H. restoration & the 2nd annual dinner for the Sen. Majority at the Library of Congress. The 1st was exactly 1 yr. ago I was a Pres.-elect.
