White House Diaries

Thursday, June 16, 1988

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Howard on hand but leaving tonite for Tenn. til after the summit in Toronto. Tom Griscom delivered his letter of resignation effective July 1. Report from hill 8 appropriation bills have been passed. An unhappy report on drought situation. I’ve asked our people to check on govt. owned surplus in storage—is there a way to offset crop loss for farmers & supply the mkt.

Ed Meese & Bill Sessions (F.B.I.) came in to report on D.O.D. investigation. It has been a completely covert operation for 2 yrs. Some 85 contracts are involved. All started by one Navy man who went to Naval Investigation force with some information. Naval Force started then asked F.B.I. for help.

N.S.C.—Russian Refusnik Yuri Zieman in Moscow has been told he cant migrate to U.S. where he has a daughter living in Boston & cant even apply for visa until 1992. His health is such he may not live til then. We’ve turned our entire force loose. We had a deal with Soviets that he could come here.

Zia has declared Islamic Law is law of Pakistan. That puts them into the Fundamentalist Revolution with the Ayatolah & Quadaffi.

Mari Masing came in & agreed to return as Dir. of Communications replacing Tom Griscom July 1. We are all happy to have her back.

After some desk time I greeted over 140 top high school graduates from all over the country. It was a brief but enjoyable time. Kathys son & 4 fraternity brothers were on hand. We visited after ceremony. One of them is applying for job in F.B.I.

Lunch & then our final summit briefing. I think we’re ready.

Then I met with 15 top C.E.O.’s in Cab. room—they are leaders in campaign supporting Free Trade U.S.-Canada agreement. Then they joined about 200 of their colleagues at E.O.B. & I delivered a speech. Back to the Oval O. Some photographs with departing Agents & some staff who’ve just never had a photo. Also a photo with Lorraine Wagner, her husband, son & daughter & son in law. Lorraine had been a member of my fan club 40 yrs. ago.

Then Personnel time with Bob Tuttle & later a long meeting with Ken Khachigian who is working on my speech for Repub. Convention in July—End of day.