White House Diaries

Thursday, October 28, 1982

View the President's Schedule

Off on a campaign swing for 5 states in 2 days. First stop Casper Wyoming—an outdoor—(well in hangar open to the outdoors) rally for Repub. candidates—namely our incumbent Sen. Malcolm Wallop. It was cold but an enthusiastic crowd. I think Malcolm will make it. Rcvd. word ec. indicators up for 5th out of last 6 months. On to Great Falls Montana rally in a big arena. I adlibbed a prophecy that Dems. would close campaign claiming we would destroy Soc. Sec. I branded it demagoguery & a falsehood. Sure enough it was true so I repeated it in other speeches on trip. Met Girls high school basketball team—they’ve won 60 straight games. Then a fund raising reception for Sen. cand. Larry Williams. He’s running against incumbent Meecher. It doesn’t look too good. On to Las Vegas Nevada. Late afternoon rally for all Cands.—Incumbent Gov. List, Sen. Cand. Hecht & congressional cands. Bob Goulet sang Nat. Anthem—Wayne Newton was MC etc. Spent the night at the Sands in what had been built to be the owners apartment. Next morning off to Salt Lake City for Orrin Hatch & other cands. A great rally 14,000 people in the arena. Then on to Roswell New Mexico for Jack Schmitt—he’s in trouble but may pull it out. It was an airport rally—big crowd & lots of military. What a thrill it is to see them and the esprit de corps they have. Back on Air Force 1 to Andrews A.F. base & Marine 1 to Camp David. Nancy was watching “Meet Me in St. Louis.” It was good to be there holding hands with her again.