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The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & InstituteThe Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute Logo

During his eight years as President, Ronald Reagan wrote his innermost thoughts in his personal diary. Coupled with his White House Diary, these entries are an intimate look into both the extraordinary and routine days of his Presidency.

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On This Day: May 20

Every entry on this date through all eight years of the Reagan administration.

Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 05-20-1988

Friday, May 20, 1988

Very short staff & N.S.C. meetings. Discussed news that a bank in Colombia was providing bank in Panama with a $27 mil. deposit. Bank in Colombia is reported as one that…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 05-20-1987

Wednesday, May 20, 1987

Opened day talking about news story that Navy wasn’t providing transportation for next of kin to memorial service in Jacksonville Friday. I changed that quick. Later called…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 05-20-1986

Tuesday, May 20, 1986

Suzanne Massie came by for a half hour visit—Nancy joined me. It should have been an hour at least. She is the greatest student I know of the Russian people. She’s convinced…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 05-20-1985

Monday, May 20, 1985

Cuban Freedom day & today Radio Marti went on the air. Castro responded immediately by canceling the immigration agreement by which we were returning to him the criminals &…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 05-20-1984

Sunday, May 20, 1984

Passed the physical with flags flying. I’m grateful to God for the health he has blessed me with. Nancy met me at the hospital & we helicoptered to Camp D. Weather was…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 05-20-1983

Friday, May 20, 1983

Off to Miami to address the Cuban Am. foundation. It was a thrilling experience. I was told there were 50,000 outside the hall hearing me as well as the 3 or 4,000 in the…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 05-20-1982

Thursday, May 20, 1982

Ron’s birthday. But here a frustrating day, much of it spent on the phone with members of Cong. on the budget. Most are going to be with us but some I talked to are dedicated…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 05-20-1981

Wednesday, May 20, 1981

A busy day—large meeting in the Roosevelt room—Cabinet et al regarding position papers in preparation for Ottawa summit. Then a Cabinet lunch getting ready for Chancellor…

President Reagan’s First Trip to the Soviet Union

Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 05-28-1988

Saturday, May 28, 1988

Brkfst. at 9:30 A.M. after a fair nights sleep. Then at 11 A.M. a meeting in the “box”—that’s the leak proof room—no bugs etc. Geo. S., Colin P., Ken D., Tom Griscom & Roz…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 05-29-1988

Sunday, May 29, 1988

Get away day—this time to Moscow, our 1st time ever to see Russia. We drove to the Presidential Palace where Pres. & Mrs. Koivisto joined us for the drive to the airport. A…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 05-30-1988

Monday, May 30, 1988

And meeting with the Gen. Sec. Touched on other subjects—congratulated him for his courage in leaving Afghanistan. Then tried to show him how some of things we’re urging on…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 05-31-1988

Tuesday, May 31, 1988

Nancy off early on her visit to Leningrad. My usual beginning in the ice house thats what I call the bug proof box we can hold our meetings in. Then my 3rd meeting with…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 06-01-1988

Wednesday, June 1, 1988

Usual staff time in the ice box then on to the 4th plenary meeting with Gorbachev. A little hassle—the joint statement was read. He wanted an addition we couldn’t buy. I used…

Government Spending & Efficiency

Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 12-03-1984

Monday, December 3, 1984

Asst. Sec. Crocker who has been doing a great job in Africa shuttling between S. Africa & Angola came in to report. It looks like progress is being made in a most difficult…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 02-27-1983

Sunday, February 27, 1983

St. Dinner tonite for Nat. Gov’s. Conf. Watched them this afternoon on T.V. A half dozen Dem gov’s. kept sounding off on how our programs were unfair & favored the…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 12-15-1981

Tuesday, December 15, 1981

Just up from the 2nd Christmas party. It was a success & every one seemed to have a warm, wonderful time. Nancy has her wish—it is snowing. Today was a tough one—2 major…

Monday, January 3, 1983

It was hard to get up. The usual staff & N.S.C. meetings then free time to catch up on memos & some mail. An issues lunch—nothing startling. Got calls from leaders of House &…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 09-08-1981

Tuesday, September 8, 1981

Back on schedule—9 A.M. in the office. First of what will be several budget meetings. Hi interest rates are going to force more budget cuts or we wont meet our 82, 83 & 84…

Tuesday, March 15, 1983

Met with Pete Domenici & Howard Baker. Howard said he’d failed to get Pete to delay budget markup in committee until after Easter. We want to delay to see if we cant find a…

The Attack Against the U.S.S. Stark

Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 05-18-1987

Monday, May 18, 1987

Staff time—some talk on schedule & how to announce the ship situation. Then N.S.C. and more news on U.S.S. Stark. We’re still waiting for an apology from Iraq’s Pres. We’ve…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 05-19-1987

Tuesday, May 19, 1987

To the office 1st Geo. Bush has called Sulzburger about an editorial which actually calls me a liar. So much for the N.Y. Times. I’m waiting to hear the outcome. We decided…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 05-20-1987

Wednesday, May 20, 1987

Opened day talking about news story that Navy wasn’t providing transportation for next of kin to memorial service in Jacksonville Friday. I changed that quick. Later called…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 05-21-1987

Thursday, May 21, 1987

Word has come from Iraq Ambas. that they will pay compensation to the family’s of the victims on the U.S.S. Stark. Space Shuttle set for 1st flight June of 88. Geo. S. said…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 05-22-1987

Friday, May 22, 1987

Off at 9:20 A.M. for Fla. & the Memorial for the 37 U.S.S. Stark dead. We were greeted by Sec. of Navy Webb, Admiral Trost (Chief of Naval Operations). Three Rear Admirals…

Life On The Ranch

Rancho del Ciello was always a respite from Washington for the Reagans.

Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 11-26-1981

Thursday, November 26, 1981

Fell right into the routine—horse backing in the A.M., work in the afternoons except a couple of times when it rained. Then Tues. of course was the Barbara Walters interview…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 11-24-1981

Tuesday, November 24, 1981

Fell right into the routine—horse backing in the A.M., work in the afternoons except a couple of times when it rained. Then Tues. of course was the Barbara Walters interview…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 02-14-1988

Sunday, February 14, 1988

And a beautiful day it was—sunny and warm. We rode in the morning—took it easy. After lunch with Dennis & Barney out on the patio. Then in P.M. went up on Mt. Rhino for more…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 02-15-1988

Monday, February 15, 1988

Another beautiful day and we wont be alone. Ray Stark is doing a documentary on Nancy (I’m a supporting player). They are up here to get our ranch routine—pictures of us…
Ronald Reagan's white house diaries for the day of 02-16-1988

Tuesday, February 16, 1988

Our last full day—and beautiful. A morning ride—Nancy along this time. Lunch on the patio with Dennis & Barney. Then D. & B. & I back up on Mt. Rhino to our pruning.…

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