White House Diaries

Monday, April 15, 1985

View the President's Schedule

This was not only 1st day back—it was Monday & a hectic schedule. First off—Pres. Monge of Costa Rica came in. He has generously flown up here to talk to members of Congress & lobby for our Nicaragua proposal. Then I met with Brezenski, Jeanne K. & Schlesinger who are supporting our plan & came in to tell the press so.

At 10:30 I left to go to the Armory where about 12,000 kids from local schools were on hand for a show by Ringling Bros.—Barnum & Bailey circus. I made a little presentation because the circus is carrying on a campaign to help in the disappearing children problem. I hadn’t seen a circus in years. I’m impressed—it really is the greatest show on earth.

We had a cabinet meeting on the budget & the Nicaragua plan. It was to bring everyone up to date & enlist them to lobby Congress. In the middle of everything a cable arrived from Helmut Kohl & Mike D. took off for Germany. Helmut may very well have solved our problem re the Holocaust. The invite I turned down about a visit to Dachau was a private thing. Helmut is making it official. He’ll invite me to visit the camp as well as the cemetery. I can accept both now that it’s official.

Back to the schedule—a meeting with Cong. Hamilton Chmn. of the House Intelligence Committee. He feels we cant get our Nicaragua plan passed. Actually he’s for it. He made a suggestion about a change. I dont know whether we can do it. Had a room full of lawyers including Chief Justice Burger for the signing of a proclamation making May 1—U.S.A. Law day. Then a Mr. Wymbs came in & left a manuscript. He’s chairman of the foundation for my boyhood home in Dixon. He’s also writing a biography & wants me to check it for accuracy. Two Cong. men Connie Mack & Beau [Boulter] came in with a letter. It is signed by 146 House members pledging to uphold my veto of any tax increase bill.

Only 3 events to go with dinner at 5:45—(Nancy is in N.Y.). A cocktail party for our barber Milt Pitts, then a reception for C.F.T.R. & finally a “before” dinner address to the Nicaraguan fund raiser for refugees. All went well & I was home at 8:30.