Reagan and the Press
I recently borrowed "The Reagan Diaries" from my local library. Let me tell you it's a chore and a half just getting through 1/3 of this tomb. Not because it's uninteresting, but because the freaking thing is almost 700 pages long and in the smallest font available without being invisible to the naked eye. It's a real look into the everyday thoughts of President Reagan while dealing with all sorts of presidential duties, including dealing with the budget, foreign affairs (especially Nicaragua, Lech Wałęsa and Polish Solidarity, Muammar Gaddafi, and the Soviet Union) the Dems and the national press.
It's the latter that I am posting about to show that, truly, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Reagan, it seems, had to deal with some stubborn members of the press in his tenure, including old-school members such as Walter Cronkite, Sam Donaldson and Peter Jennings. He also had to deal with people that are still around today that were clearly out to get him that had an obvious agenda of their own (sound familiar?)
Beauties such as Bill Moyers, Dan Rather and Helen Thomas. Well, Thomas doesn't really qualify as a "beauty", obviously, but moving on.
It's a good telling of his most intimate thoughts on the media of the time and shows when it comes to the MSM, time matters not.
Here's a chronological gathering of a few good entries. Some have a real feel of angst, while others just a general frustration and/or annoyance.
NOTE: This man truly did adore his wife. On occasions when they were apart for more than even a few hours, let alone a few days, he was truly sad about her absence.
I don't post about it here, but he also had a couple of entries about the attempt on his life from John Hinckley and a minute by minute account of what he was going through from the time the bullets rang out until he got to the hospital.
1981
Tuesday, March 3
During day I did 1 hr. interview with Walter Cronkite-his last for CBS. He spent the 1st 20 min. on El Salvador. He didn't throw any slowballs but the reaction was favourable. Sunday, April 19-Easter
*Entry on Gloria Steinem.
Watched some TV in bed and saw Gloria Steinem take me over the coals for being a bigot and against women. Either she is totally ignorant of my position which I doubt or she is a deliberate liar.
Thursday, April 23
Last night watched the NBC special on our first 100 days. If only Bobby Burns had waited for TV he never would written, "If only we had the gift to see ourselves as others see us."
Tuesday, April 28
Addressed a joint session of Congress regarding the economy package. I walked into an unbelievable that went on for several minutes. Frank Reynolds says the speech was interrupted 14 times (3 of them standing ovations)
In the 3rd of those suddenly about 40 Democrats stood and applauded. Maybe we are going to make it. It took a lot of courage for them to do that and it sent a shiver down my spine. Except for that all the applause came from the Republican side, the Dems just sit on their hands-except for the greeting.
Thursday, November 5
The press is beginning to charge that we are making up the Quadaffi threat because we won't tell them the sources of our information. I've come to the conclusion that they are totally irresponsible and won't be satisfied (if then) until someone is gunned down by the "hitmen"
1982
Thursday, April 22
Last night CBS did a 1 hr. documentary (Bill Moyers) on 4 cases on poverty and illness they laid to our economic program. It was a thoroughly dishonest demagogic, cheap shot. They may have gone too far-some columns have already taken them on. We're going to reply-forcefully.
Wednesday, July 28
The "Conservative Digest" came out-an entire issue devoted to cutting me up, down and crosswise. John Lofton and his compatriots seem to be determined to paint me as a turn-coat conservative. The tone is one of devoted, but now disillusioned followers. Hell, in 1980 they held a secret meeting trying to persuade Al Haig to run against me.
Tuesday, December 21
*This entry is histroy repeating itself. Remember back in January when a man by the name of Wesley Autrey saved one Cameron Hollopeter from almost certain death when Hollopeter fell onto the subway tracks in New York City? Well, get a load of this one.
This morning's paper, NY Times had a story of a 29 yr. old man (out of work for 12 months) wife and 8 kids, had applied for a job in N.Y. On the way home, a 75 yr. old blind man broke his cane and fell beneath the cars of the subway. Young Mr. Andrews without hesitation leaped off the platform between the cars and rescued him. I called him-from his voice I knew he was black. I asked him if he had gotten the job. They said they had called him for an interview & he was on his way there. I called the company...I asked if they had read the story-they had. Andrews has a job.
1983
Tuesday, January 4
National Security Planning Group-met regarding Surinam. Press is neglecting this place possibly because the blood-thirsty dictator is on the left. He had about 30 labor leaders, academics and civil leaders executed and is seeking alliance with Cuba.
Sunday, January 23
"60 Minutes" surprised me by taking on the National Council of Churches & the World Council for their quiet spending in support of leftist forces and governments in the world.
*Probably because it's the Church, not so much because of the leftist forces.
Wednesday, February 16
Most important event-the press conference. By the time I got to it I was mad as hell. I'd watched the news and seen the witch hunt that is on for Ann Gorsuch at E.P.A. The media is a lynch mob that thinks it smells blood...They were snooping over another leak-this time the leaker could be risking lives.
Saturday, February 26
Since compromise to make documents available to Congress available to E.P.A. the supposed scandal has moved to p. 11. Congressional ardor has cooled now that they face about 800,000 documents which turn out to be bland, run of the mill reports with no smoking gun.
Monday, March 7
...we are declassifying some of our reports on the Soviets and can tell the people few frightening facts. The damn media has propagandized our people against our defense plans more than the Russians have. We are still dangerously behind the Soviets & getting further behind.
Tuesday, March 22
...speaking to our Congressional Republican leadership & I blasted the Democrat budget with the press in attendance. It was a good pitch exposing the ridiculous irresponsibility of the phony budget-but on the evening news they showed a quick 20 seconds in which I wasn't saying anything about the tax increase, the increase in spending, etc.
NOTE: Skip ahead a few months.
Wednesday, August 3
Met with about 90 men and women...who are here because of Jack Hume's idea for organizing movers & shakers in every Congressional District to carry the word about what we're really doing here-which the national press does not do.
Sunday, October 30
Watched the Sunday talk shows-subject Lebanon & Grenada. The press is trying to give this the Vietnam treatment but I don't think the people will by it. They are still whining because we didn't take them on a guided tour for the 1st day we were on Grenada. No mention of the fact we've flown 180 of them onto the island today.
1984
Wednesday, March 28
Had an interview with NY Times. They've interviewed Mondale, Hart & Jackson-now it's my turn. I enjoyed it. It gave me a chance to set the record straight on a few things.
Sunday, April 29
...We flew in A.F.1 to Xiqan, China. Nancy bought some decorative items for our Christmas tree. There was an incident-her bill came to 5 Yean ($2.50) The poor girl didn't have any change. I'm aware there's no tipping in China...I said keep it & moved on...She caught up with us and gave us the change she had gotten from someone else for the 10 Yean note I'd given her. Our T.V. press made a big thing of it-that I had committed a blunder & tried to tip her.
And it goes on like this for the next four years. The most interesting entries during that time of course was the whole Iran-Contra affair...
1986
Sunday, November 23
Spent morning watching the morning talk shows, Meet the Press, David Brinkley, & again I was being lynched. This time Nancy was brought into it. Sam Donaldson referred to Nancy as the "Smiling Mamba". The Mamba is a very large poisonous snake.
Monday, November 24
Big thing of the day was 2 hr. meeting in the Situation Room on the Iran affair. On one of the arms shipments, Iranians paid Israel a higher purchase price than we were getting. The Israelis put the difference in a secret bank account. Then our Col. North gave the money to the "Contras." This was a violation of the law against giving the Contras money without authorization by Congress. North didn't tell me about this. Worst of all, John Poindexter didn't tell me about it. This may call for resignations.
Seems strange that Reagan would lie to himself, considering that these were his private thoughts. It goes to show that he indeed was not lying to Congress about the whole affair.
Throughout the rest of the book I found absolutely no evidence of such guilt. He even wrote about having to go back into these entries to see what he had written about to "refresh" his memory.
More...
1987
Tuesday, July 7
Word came that at last Ollie North had declared that he had not told me about the extra money in the Iran arms deal. Found out later that when that was announced the market went up 20 points.
Friday, July 10
Culvahouse came in...Again it was to check some points on Ollie North's testimony. Incidentally the witch hunt against him has made him a national hero. Thousands of phone calls to the White House, etc.
Wednesday, July 15
Doing homework was interrupted by news by John P. in hearings on the Hill had flatly denied ever telling me about the extra Iran funds and their diversion to Contras. This is the bombshell I've been waiting for 7 months. The day is brighter.
To sum up (incl. names I didn't mention, but the Gipper sure did):
-Bill Moyers is disingenuous.
-Gloria Steinem and Bob Woodward are liars. (Woodward allegedly lied about quotes from the late Bill Casey concerning what Casey personally thought about Reagan)
-Margaret Thatcher left Leslie Stahl "limp" in an interview.
-The New York Times can't be trusted-DUH!
-Democratic Congressmen only start useless kerfuffles when they rule Congress and the president is a Republican.
-The national press has continued onward from Reagan's administration to divulge classified material to our enemies and put our servicemen and women, as well as our nations' (Canada as well as the U.S.) in more danger than need be by poisoning the hearts and minds the world over.
-Dan Rather is "competent" yet "slick" (we should have noticed then)
It's the latter that I am posting about to show that, truly, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Reagan, it seems, had to deal with some stubborn members of the press in his tenure, including old-school members such as Walter Cronkite, Sam Donaldson and Peter Jennings. He also had to deal with people that are still around today that were clearly out to get him that had an obvious agenda of their own (sound familiar?)
Beauties such as Bill Moyers, Dan Rather and Helen Thomas. Well, Thomas doesn't really qualify as a "beauty", obviously, but moving on.
It's a good telling of his most intimate thoughts on the media of the time and shows when it comes to the MSM, time matters not.
Here's a chronological gathering of a few good entries. Some have a real feel of angst, while others just a general frustration and/or annoyance.
NOTE: This man truly did adore his wife. On occasions when they were apart for more than even a few hours, let alone a few days, he was truly sad about her absence.
I don't post about it here, but he also had a couple of entries about the attempt on his life from John Hinckley and a minute by minute account of what he was going through from the time the bullets rang out until he got to the hospital.
1981
Tuesday, March 3
During day I did 1 hr. interview with Walter Cronkite-his last for CBS. He spent the 1st 20 min. on El Salvador. He didn't throw any slowballs but the reaction was favourable. Sunday, April 19-Easter
*Entry on Gloria Steinem.
Watched some TV in bed and saw Gloria Steinem take me over the coals for being a bigot and against women. Either she is totally ignorant of my position which I doubt or she is a deliberate liar.
Thursday, April 23
Last night watched the NBC special on our first 100 days. If only Bobby Burns had waited for TV he never would written, "If only we had the gift to see ourselves as others see us."
Tuesday, April 28
Addressed a joint session of Congress regarding the economy package. I walked into an unbelievable that went on for several minutes. Frank Reynolds says the speech was interrupted 14 times (3 of them standing ovations)
In the 3rd of those suddenly about 40 Democrats stood and applauded. Maybe we are going to make it. It took a lot of courage for them to do that and it sent a shiver down my spine. Except for that all the applause came from the Republican side, the Dems just sit on their hands-except for the greeting.
Thursday, November 5
The press is beginning to charge that we are making up the Quadaffi threat because we won't tell them the sources of our information. I've come to the conclusion that they are totally irresponsible and won't be satisfied (if then) until someone is gunned down by the "hitmen"
1982
Thursday, April 22
Last night CBS did a 1 hr. documentary (Bill Moyers) on 4 cases on poverty and illness they laid to our economic program. It was a thoroughly dishonest demagogic, cheap shot. They may have gone too far-some columns have already taken them on. We're going to reply-forcefully.
Wednesday, July 28
The "Conservative Digest" came out-an entire issue devoted to cutting me up, down and crosswise. John Lofton and his compatriots seem to be determined to paint me as a turn-coat conservative. The tone is one of devoted, but now disillusioned followers. Hell, in 1980 they held a secret meeting trying to persuade Al Haig to run against me.
Tuesday, December 21
*This entry is histroy repeating itself. Remember back in January when a man by the name of Wesley Autrey saved one Cameron Hollopeter from almost certain death when Hollopeter fell onto the subway tracks in New York City? Well, get a load of this one.
This morning's paper, NY Times had a story of a 29 yr. old man (out of work for 12 months) wife and 8 kids, had applied for a job in N.Y. On the way home, a 75 yr. old blind man broke his cane and fell beneath the cars of the subway. Young Mr. Andrews without hesitation leaped off the platform between the cars and rescued him. I called him-from his voice I knew he was black. I asked him if he had gotten the job. They said they had called him for an interview & he was on his way there. I called the company...I asked if they had read the story-they had. Andrews has a job.
1983
Tuesday, January 4
National Security Planning Group-met regarding Surinam. Press is neglecting this place possibly because the blood-thirsty dictator is on the left. He had about 30 labor leaders, academics and civil leaders executed and is seeking alliance with Cuba.
Sunday, January 23
"60 Minutes" surprised me by taking on the National Council of Churches & the World Council for their quiet spending in support of leftist forces and governments in the world.
*Probably because it's the Church, not so much because of the leftist forces.
Wednesday, February 16
Most important event-the press conference. By the time I got to it I was mad as hell. I'd watched the news and seen the witch hunt that is on for Ann Gorsuch at E.P.A. The media is a lynch mob that thinks it smells blood...They were snooping over another leak-this time the leaker could be risking lives.
Saturday, February 26
Since compromise to make documents available to Congress available to E.P.A. the supposed scandal has moved to p. 11. Congressional ardor has cooled now that they face about 800,000 documents which turn out to be bland, run of the mill reports with no smoking gun.
Monday, March 7
...we are declassifying some of our reports on the Soviets and can tell the people few frightening facts. The damn media has propagandized our people against our defense plans more than the Russians have. We are still dangerously behind the Soviets & getting further behind.
Tuesday, March 22
...speaking to our Congressional Republican leadership & I blasted the Democrat budget with the press in attendance. It was a good pitch exposing the ridiculous irresponsibility of the phony budget-but on the evening news they showed a quick 20 seconds in which I wasn't saying anything about the tax increase, the increase in spending, etc.
NOTE: Skip ahead a few months.
Wednesday, August 3
Met with about 90 men and women...who are here because of Jack Hume's idea for organizing movers & shakers in every Congressional District to carry the word about what we're really doing here-which the national press does not do.
Sunday, October 30
Watched the Sunday talk shows-subject Lebanon & Grenada. The press is trying to give this the Vietnam treatment but I don't think the people will by it. They are still whining because we didn't take them on a guided tour for the 1st day we were on Grenada. No mention of the fact we've flown 180 of them onto the island today.
1984
Wednesday, March 28
Had an interview with NY Times. They've interviewed Mondale, Hart & Jackson-now it's my turn. I enjoyed it. It gave me a chance to set the record straight on a few things.
Sunday, April 29
...We flew in A.F.1 to Xiqan, China. Nancy bought some decorative items for our Christmas tree. There was an incident-her bill came to 5 Yean ($2.50) The poor girl didn't have any change. I'm aware there's no tipping in China...I said keep it & moved on...She caught up with us and gave us the change she had gotten from someone else for the 10 Yean note I'd given her. Our T.V. press made a big thing of it-that I had committed a blunder & tried to tip her.
And it goes on like this for the next four years. The most interesting entries during that time of course was the whole Iran-Contra affair...
1986
Sunday, November 23
Spent morning watching the morning talk shows, Meet the Press, David Brinkley, & again I was being lynched. This time Nancy was brought into it. Sam Donaldson referred to Nancy as the "Smiling Mamba". The Mamba is a very large poisonous snake.
Monday, November 24
Big thing of the day was 2 hr. meeting in the Situation Room on the Iran affair. On one of the arms shipments, Iranians paid Israel a higher purchase price than we were getting. The Israelis put the difference in a secret bank account. Then our Col. North gave the money to the "Contras." This was a violation of the law against giving the Contras money without authorization by Congress. North didn't tell me about this. Worst of all, John Poindexter didn't tell me about it. This may call for resignations.
Seems strange that Reagan would lie to himself, considering that these were his private thoughts. It goes to show that he indeed was not lying to Congress about the whole affair.
Throughout the rest of the book I found absolutely no evidence of such guilt. He even wrote about having to go back into these entries to see what he had written about to "refresh" his memory.
More...
1987
Tuesday, July 7
Word came that at last Ollie North had declared that he had not told me about the extra money in the Iran arms deal. Found out later that when that was announced the market went up 20 points.
Friday, July 10
Culvahouse came in...Again it was to check some points on Ollie North's testimony. Incidentally the witch hunt against him has made him a national hero. Thousands of phone calls to the White House, etc.
Wednesday, July 15
Doing homework was interrupted by news by John P. in hearings on the Hill had flatly denied ever telling me about the extra Iran funds and their diversion to Contras. This is the bombshell I've been waiting for 7 months. The day is brighter.
To sum up (incl. names I didn't mention, but the Gipper sure did):
-Bill Moyers is disingenuous.
-Gloria Steinem and Bob Woodward are liars. (Woodward allegedly lied about quotes from the late Bill Casey concerning what Casey personally thought about Reagan)
-Margaret Thatcher left Leslie Stahl "limp" in an interview.
-The New York Times can't be trusted-DUH!
-Democratic Congressmen only start useless kerfuffles when they rule Congress and the president is a Republican.
-The national press has continued onward from Reagan's administration to divulge classified material to our enemies and put our servicemen and women, as well as our nations' (Canada as well as the U.S.) in more danger than need be by poisoning the hearts and minds the world over.
-Dan Rather is "competent" yet "slick" (we should have noticed then)
posted by Northern Exposer at 10:04
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