Reagan's Diary

Wow, Vanity Fair is publishing excerpts from St. Ronnie's diary. Interesting reading for those with an interest in political history.Here's a sample:

Mon. June 1 • I approved naval maneuvers in Mediterranean waters that
Qaddafi of Libya has declared are his territorial waters. I'm not being foolhardy but he's a madman. He has been harassing our planes out over international waters & it's time to show the other nations there Egypt, Morocco, et al that there is different management here.

Sun. June 7 • Got word of Israeli bombing of Iraq—nuclear reactor. I
swear I believe Armageddon is near.

Returned to W.H. at 3 p.m. More word on bombing. P.M. Begin informed us after
the fact.

Tues. June 9 • Ended day with an N.S.C. meeting re the bombing of Iraq. P.M. Begin insists the plant was preparing to produce nuclear weapons for use on Israel. If he waited 'til the French shipment of "hot" uranium arrived he couldn't order the bombing because of the radiation that would be loosed over Baghdad.

I can understand his fear but feel he took wrong option. He should have told us & the French, we could have done something to remove the threat.

However we are not turning on Israel—that would be an invitation for the Arabs to attack. It's time to raise H—l world wide for a settlement of the "middle-east" problem. What has happened is the result of fear & suspicion on both sides. We need a real push for a solid peace.

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/06/reagan200706?currentPage=1

As those who discuss politics with me know, I got to know Ronald Reagan through my father. I have always stated that he was a much smarter, astute political mind than most on the left ever gave him credit for. I disagreed with almost all of his views, but I respected his intelligence and actually enjoyed debating politics with him.
added: But this line isn't quite brilliant:

I walked into the emergency room and was hoisted onto a cart where I was stripped of my clothes. It was then we learned I'd been shot & had a bullet in my lung.

Getting shot hurts.