White House Diaries

Tuesday, April 26, 1988

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1st meeting—Sen. Gordon Humphrey—upset, thinking we weren’t taking care of Mujahaden. I convinced him he’d been misinformed. Some discussion of trade bill. Our effort is to get Sen. votes to sustain the veto I’m going to deliver.

I.N.F.—a clause bearing on futuristic weapons is being used to block ratification. Colin & Dave Abshire are working with Sen. leadership.

N.S.C.—Saudis refused our request for cover over one of our barges when our navy forces were elsewhere in the gulf. Well nothing happened. But now Saudi Arabia is breaking relations with Iran & seem to be offering us a better relationship. We are formalizing somewhat our diplomatic relations.

[. . .]

We’ve learned the Soviets are having a problem with one of their nuclear powered space gadgets & are fearful it may crash as one did some years ago. Finished with some talk about P.M. Mulroney & our Acid rain problems.

Then some Sen’s. started coming by one at a time & to each I put out the request for their vote to sustain my veto. None of them of course committed at this point but left the door open. Then a fascinating lunch in the Roosevelt room with a half dozen outstanding teachers, principals & one Supt. of Ed. One guest was Jaime Escalante the amazing math teacher at Garfield High in East L.A.

At 2 P.M. I then addressed them & a couple of hundred of their colleagues in the East Room. A meeting with Geo. S. to hear about his visit with Gorbachev.

Back to meetings with Sens.—3 this time but one at a time. Sen’s. Larry Pressler, Pete Wilson & Bob Kasten.

Then a long taping session & a sneeze shot. Upstairs—dinner with Merme & Dennis.