Diary Entry - 06/14/1985
Key Facts
President Reagan is awakened before 7 AM with the news of the hijacking of TWA flight 847 on route from Athens, Greece to Rome, Italy.
President Reagan travels to the Fort McHenry Monument, Baltimore, MD to participate in a "Pause for the Pledge of Allegiance" ceremony in honor of Flag Day.
Awakened before 7 A.M. with word that a TWA 727 with a full load of mainly Am. tourists took off from Athens Greece & was hi-jacked to Beirut. As morning went on it took off for Algiers. In Beirut the hi-jackers—2 armed with handguns & grenades released 19 women & children. In Algiers the H.J.’s demanded release of Shiites held in Israeli jails or they would execute the passengers. Again they released another 21—mostly women & children. In early afternoon (here) they were in the air & headed back to Beirut.
Between bulletins & meetings on this situation I participated in a C. Flag ceremony in the Rose Garden handing out awards to half a hundred or so companies & corp’s. for volunteerism. Had a report from Dick Wirthlin—things looking up poll-wise. Then a meeting with Geo. Shultz re a meeting with Gorbachev. I gave in on the U.S. as a site & agreed to Geneva. Then Nancy & I departed for Ft. McHenry & a flag day ceremony. It was a good event. At last minute my actors instinct told me to skip the part of an otherwise patriotic speech that dealt with tax reform. I was right. From there it was on to Camp David—where I received several calls on into the night on the problem in Beirut.
