Diary Entry - 07/27/1988
Key Facts
President Reagan meets with General Secretary/Prime Minster Karoly Grosz of Hungry.
President Reagan attends a meeting with Secretary George Shultz and discuss his recent trip.
Beryl Sprinkle started the day with report on the economy. It was very favorable—Exports up, Imports down. Fed. spending down. Inflation was up for month of June—4.7% but 2nd Q. was up (not inflation) but on incomes, productivity etc.
Cong. working on some supplementals & calling them “Dire” supplementals. Have to do with things like Black Lung etc. Drought bill is getting the Christmas tree treatment—a Dairy subsidy etc. Our leaders think they can eliminate some of the tree ornaments.
We discussed a definite date of departure for Ed. Meese. A group of Repub. legislators are meeting with me tomorrow to discuss D.O.D. authorization bill on whether to sign or veto. Jesse Jackson has asked for Secret Svc. protection. We’ll do it for 30 days—then he’s on his own. Some talk of my campaign appearances.
N.S.C.—Talk of Covert operations in general [. . .]
Then briefing for visit with P.M. Grosz of Hungary. He is also Gen. Sec. of the Communist Party of Hungary Then the meeting—brief 1 on 1 in Oval O. then plenary in Cabinet Room & lunch at W.H. He’s an Hungarian Gorbachev. He’s putting in reforms & encouraging pvt. investment etc. We got along fine. A half hour meeting with Shultz. He reported on his trip.
Some photos—daughter of my 2nd cousin Lea Wilson—with her family—husband, daughter & son. Some S.S. departure photos. A meeting with A. B. Culvahouse who is meeting with Ollie Norths lawyer tomorrow. He wants me to be a witness—A. B. says no—so do I. It would set a precedent for future Presidents. A Pres. cannot testify or make public classified material to which he is privy.
Upstairs—Nancy must address some Youth Religious group I’ll be speaking to tomorrow so early dinner. She had a good reception & was home early & so to bed.
