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During his eight years as President, Ronald Reagan wrote his innermost thoughts in his personal diary. Coupled with his White House Diary, these entries are an intimate look into both the extraordinary and routine days of his Presidency.

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On This Day: September 17

Every entry on this date through all eight years of the Reagan administration.

Saturday, September 17, 1988

Rain—fog—cancelled horse back ride. Did my radio cast on Hurricane “Gilbert” & the Olympics in S. Korea. Most of day finished reading my homework. After dinner—watched a long…

Thursday, September 17, 1987

Into office at 9 A.M.—Staff & N.S.C. time all at once. Got a phone call from Geo. S. He seemed up beat about progress he was having with Shevardnadze—thought he would have…

Wednesday, September 17, 1986

The press is obsessed with the Daniloff affair & determined to paint all of us as caving in to the Soviets which they of course say is the worst way to deal with them. The…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 09-17-1985

Tuesday, September 17, 1985

Rev. Weir & his family are at a “safe house” here in our country. His family was a little hard to handle. They insisted on going to a hotel but we managed to move them when…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 09-17-1984

Monday, September 17, 1984

Met with Japan-U.S. Advisory Comm. (our half ) they’ve done a great job & our relations with Japan are getting better & better. Steering Comm. of Dems. for Reagan-Bush came…

Saturday, September 17, 1983

It was good to see the Camp. Weather was good & we rode Sat. We also had a talk about “to run or not to run.” I think we’ve agreed that I’ll have a go at it. I think I offer…

Friday, September 17, 1982

Nancy off at near dawn for Monaco & the funeral. I left for N.J. at 1:30. It was a good afternoon—a fund raiser for Milicent Fenwick—cand. for Sen. Then a wonderful…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 09-17-1981

Thursday, September 17, 1981

Cabinet meeting on additional budget cuts for ’82 because of additional interest costs etc. Also cuts for ’83 & ’84 which we had announced as unspecified cuts. Jim Edwards &…

President Reagan’s First Trip to the Soviet Union

Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 05-28-1988

Saturday, May 28, 1988

Brkfst. at 9:30 A.M. after a fair nights sleep. Then at 11 A.M. a meeting in the “box”—that’s the leak proof room—no bugs etc. Geo. S., Colin P., Ken D., Tom Griscom & Roz…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 05-29-1988

Sunday, May 29, 1988

Get away day—this time to Moscow, our 1st time ever to see Russia. We drove to the Presidential Palace where Pres. & Mrs. Koivisto joined us for the drive to the airport. A…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 05-30-1988

Monday, May 30, 1988

And meeting with the Gen. Sec. Touched on other subjects—congratulated him for his courage in leaving Afghanistan. Then tried to show him how some of things we’re urging on…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 05-31-1988

Tuesday, May 31, 1988

Nancy off early on her visit to Leningrad. My usual beginning in the ice house thats what I call the bug proof box we can hold our meetings in. Then my 3rd meeting with…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 06-01-1988

Wednesday, June 1, 1988

Usual staff time in the ice box then on to the 4th plenary meeting with Gorbachev. A little hassle—the joint statement was read. He wanted an addition we couldn’t buy. I used…

Government Spending & Efficiency

Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 12-03-1984

Monday, December 3, 1984

Asst. Sec. Crocker who has been doing a great job in Africa shuttling between S. Africa & Angola came in to report. It looks like progress is being made in a most difficult…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 02-27-1983

Sunday, February 27, 1983

St. Dinner tonite for Nat. Gov’s. Conf. Watched them this afternoon on T.V. A half dozen Dem gov’s. kept sounding off on how our programs were unfair & favored the…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 12-15-1981

Tuesday, December 15, 1981

Just up from the 2nd Christmas party. It was a success & every one seemed to have a warm, wonderful time. Nancy has her wish—it is snowing. Today was a tough one—2 major…

Monday, January 3, 1983

It was hard to get up. The usual staff & N.S.C. meetings then free time to catch up on memos & some mail. An issues lunch—nothing startling. Got calls from leaders of House &…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 09-08-1981

Tuesday, September 8, 1981

Back on schedule—9 A.M. in the office. First of what will be several budget meetings. Hi interest rates are going to force more budget cuts or we wont meet our 82, 83 & 84…

Tuesday, March 15, 1983

Met with Pete Domenici & Howard Baker. Howard said he’d failed to get Pete to delay budget markup in committee until after Easter. We want to delay to see if we cant find a…

Champions of Freedom: Ronald Reagan & Margaret Thatcher

Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 02-20-1985

Wednesday, February 20, 1985

Margaret Thatcher day. A good visit & meeting covering all the subjects from currency to arms control. We do have a close alliance on this the 200th anniversary of diplomatic…

Saturday, November 15, 1986

Margaret Thatcher arrived. I met the helicopter in a golf cart & brought her back to Aspen [Lodge] where we had a good one on one re our Iceland meetings & what we are trying…

Wednesday, November 16, 1988

Trade deficit figures. We have highest level of exports in history & the deficit is lowest it’s been in years. Resignations are coming in. George has announced he’s turning…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 02-27-1981

Friday, February 27, 1981

P.M. getting great press. Went up to the hill and was literally an advocate for our ec. program. Some of the Sen’s. tried to give her a bad time. She put them down firmly &…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 12-22-1984

Saturday, December 22, 1984

Sat. dawned clear & bright which was fine because P.M. Margaret Thatcher was coming in for a visit. I met her in a golf cart & took her to Aspen where she & I had a brief…

The Reagans and the Royals

Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 06-02-1988

Thursday, June 2, 1988

Up at 7:30 to pack & do a farewell to the embassy staff. Then over to the Kremlin for a farewell to Gorby & Raisa & off to the airport for a formal departure with the…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 03-01-1983

Tuesday, March 1, 1983

Off for Calif. where a monster storm has been raging. Landed at Pt. Mugu—Marine 1 to ranch—except had to land at Santa Barbara airport & drive to ranch. Nancy on hand to meet…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 06-07-1982

Monday, June 7, 1982

We flew out Wed. morning—I was loaded with briefing books until my head was stuffed with more than I needed to know. Flying into night we arrived in Paris at near midnight…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 03-04-1983

Friday, March 4, 1983

Off for Calif. where a monster storm has been raging. Landed at Pt. Mugu—Marine 1 to ranch—except had to land at Santa Barbara airport & drive to ranch. Nancy on hand to meet…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 06-08-1982

Tuesday, June 8, 1982

We flew out Wed. morning—I was loaded with briefing books until my head was stuffed with more than I needed to know. Flying into night we arrived in Paris at near midnight…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 06-05-1984

Tuesday, June 5, 1984

Lunch at Buckingham Palace with the Queen & Prince Philip in their private quarters. It was a warm and pleasant visit. They are both nice & she is an outstanding human being.…

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