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White House Diaries
April
23
1983
April 23, 1983
Saturday, April 23, 1983
Merv Griffin came by for lunch. We left at 6:15 for Andrews A.F. base—the ceremony for the 16 who died in Beirut. It was a moving experience. Nancy & I met individually with the families of the deceased. We were both in tears—I know all I could do was grip their hands—I was too choked up to speak. Then home to change clothes & off to the W.H. Correspondents dinner. I was supposed to do a routine of jokes etc. a la the Gridiron. I couldn’t change gears that swiftly. So as not to put a damper on the evening & comedian Mark Russell I waited til the last & then asked their pardon for not “singing for my supper” because of our sad journey to Andrews A.F. base. I asked for a rain check & said I’d save my remarks for then.
