Diary Entry - 03/12/1985
Key Facts
President Reagan meets with President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Mohammed Hosni Mubarak to discuss the situation in the Middle East.
President Reagan meets with Representatives from the state of Maine to discuss trade issues with Canada.
The U.S. and the U.S.S.R. begin arms control talks in Geneva.
Today was Mubarak day (Pres. of Egypt). The usual meetings 1st in Oval O. then Cabinet room & finally lunch at the W.H. He has some financial problems—mainly about $500 Mil. a year in interest to us for past military purchases. He needs help and we’ll do what we can but of course we have our own problems. Most of time spent on peace talks between Jordan & Israel. The sticking point is with the Palestinians who insist on representing themselves in the negotiations. I think we’ve settled for his idea that the U.S. meets with Jordan & the Palestinians & then (our idea) we repeat with Israel present. Then of course the negotiations are directly between Hussein of Jordan & Israel.
Reps. Olympia Snowe & John McKernan (Maine) came by to plead their case re Canadas dumping subsidized potatoes, wood products & fish on Maine to the great detriment of those same products produced in Maine. I’ve promised to take this up with P.M. Mulroney when we meet in Canada next week. We had a cabinet meeting on some of the loophole closers in the Treasury tax plan. My eyes glaze over but it has to be done.
Tonite I’m a substitute for a substitute. George B. was going to host a dinner for Mubarak at the State Dept. Now he’s in Moscow & so is George S. who was going to substitute for him. So I’m host. Nancy left for Phoenix & L.A. today, also a stop in Okla. I’ll be alone til Fri.
The dinner—about 80 people was very enjoyable. No business was talked—in fact a lot of the conversation at our table was given over to show business stories. Pearl Bailey was at our table.
