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White House Diaries
October
04
1983
October 04, 1983
Tuesday, October 4, 1983
Pres. & Mrs. Carstens—W. Ger. arrived. We provided the usual formal honors. He’s a learned & intelligent man. We couldn’t get into too much in politics as he is in more of a ceremonial position. Nevertheless he has much to say about various world problems & he makes sense. After our meeting the day began to resemble yesterday. I met with the Am. Bus. Conf.—Then saw Ed Rowny off to Geneva in a Rose garden ceremony. Sec. Hodel came in to present a copy of the annual energy report required by Cong. A Cab. Council meeting on the problem of phone rates now that the F.C.C. has broken up the Bell system. Pretty soon the discussion was based totally on pol. considerations. I finally reminded everyone we came here to do what was right not what was politically expedient. That’s the way it’s going to be. Then a taping session for 6 dif. affairs. Up to exercise & get into black tie for the Carstens state dinner. I left out a Cong. meeting. A large group of Dem. & Repub. Reps. & Sen’s. in the Roosevelt room on the issue of the arms reduction talks. There is still that question of my sincerity about the talks. I guess I got carried away & did a speech on how I really feel. Chalk up another 1st in my experience in Wash. They came to their feet in a standing ovation.
