Diary Entry - 12/18/1986
Key Facts
President Reagan receives Marine Reservists for the annual "Toys for Tots" drive.
President Reagan participates in a meeting with a group of his advisors to discuss welfare reform.
Marine Reservists came by for annual “Toys for Tots” drive. They brought 7 tots with them. Then to the situation room for a briefing & decision on replying to a covert sounding that we should contact Dobrynin re a possible meeting (secret) of someone on our side about a possible arms deal. Lunch with the V.P. then a meeting with our people on Welfare reform. This was a group of individuals including a Gov. Tom Kean on how to reform Welfare to make it less of a disincentive. It should be designed to get people off W.F.
We had an ec. policy Council meeting & the subject was how to make our country more competitive. A group is working on some plans.
Then a delegation from Yeshiva U. (N.Y.) came by. There was the Pres. the V.P. & the board of regents. They gave me an honorary degree Dr. of Law, & a handsome silver Menorah.
Then across the St. to E.O.B. & dropped by those wonderful young people in the speech writing dept. They had planned quite a reception. They played ruffles & flourishes on Kazoos—recited in chorus a poem about me & gave me a little china pig.
Word on Bill Casey—several hours of surgery & it looks like his brain tumor is malignant.
Tonite 8:15—staff party here at the W.H.—receiving line & entertainment. A magic night—a magician who baffled even the most sophisticated among us. I confess I have no idea how he did what he did.
