Diary Entry - 12/08/1981
Key Facts
President Reagan attends a National Security Council meeting to discuss relations with Leader of Libya Colonel Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi.
A methane gas explosion in a coal mine near Whitwell, Tennessee kills thirteen miners.
Dissident Russian physicist Andrei Sakharov ends a seventeen-day hunger strike.
A full day. First a meeting to hear the 1st 1983 budget review. We who were going to balance the budget face the biggest budget deficits ever. And yet percentage wise they’ll be smaller in relation to G.N.P. We have reduced Carter’s 17% spending increase to 9%. The recession has added to costs & reduced revenues however so even with that reduction in govts. size we face a large deficit. Then an N.S.C. meeting—2 of them—to discuss Quadaffi and Global negotiations on helping the 3rd World. We are sending a secret or private warning from me to him that harm to any of our people by his terrorist goons will be considered an act of war. We’re looking at other actions that must however come only after we’ve tried to get our people out of Libya. We also debated the O.M.B. difference in budget for foreign assistance and State’s request $1.1 Bil. bigger. I think this time I came down on States side. The press is beginning to charge that we are making up the Quadaffi threat because we wont tell them the sources of our information. I’ve come to the conclusion they are totally irresponsible and wont be satisfied (if then) until someone is gunned down by the “hit men.” I’ve told our people not to tell the press we’re going to Camp David. As it is we’re changing our route for security reasons. Lee Annenberg tendered her resignation today—in tears. Walter wants her home—she’s made the right choice.
