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428079781
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President's Telephone Conversation with Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, January 23, 1989
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428079781
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document
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President's Telephone Conversation with Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, January 23, 1989
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Records of the National Security Council (George H. W. Bush Administration)
Presidential Telcon Files
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Soviet Union
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1989-01-23
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1989
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OURI IDENTIME
0019
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
SUBJECT:
President's Telephone Conversation with
Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev
PARTICIPANTS:
The President
Rudolf V. Perina, NSC (Notetaker)
Dimitri Zarechnak, State Department
(Interpreter)
General Secretary Gorbachev
Unidentified Soviet Interpreter
DATE, TIME
January 23, 1989, 12:33 p.m. - 12:46 p.m.
AND PLACE:
Oval Office
The President said he appreciated very, very much the cordial
message of congratulations which he received from the General
Secretary. He said this was a thank you call to express his
appreciation.
General Secretary Gorabchev said he welcomed the call and was
very pleased to speak on the telephone with the President. He
again wished to congratulate him on his inauguration.
The President thanked Gorbachev and said his intention was to go
forward as they had discussed on Governor's Island. He was
undertaking policy reviews immediately which would come up with
ideas on how to improve the bilateral relationship and the
policies started by President Reagan. He could assure the
General Secretary that there would be no unnecessary delay. He
just wanted to take a new look at policies and would then be
ready to move forward as quickly as possible for both sides.
General Secretary Gorbachev thanked the President for his words.
He said that, for his part, he wished to reaffirm all that they
had discussed on Governor's Island. Everything he had told the
President remained valid. General Secretary Gorbachev said that
he had familiarized himself with the President's speech and found
new elements that were of interest and importance in it,
especially on the subject of U.S. -Soviet relations. Combined
with what the President had just said, it strengthened his
conviction that the two would expand relations and build upon the
assets which already existed.
DECLASSIFIED
PER E.O. 12958,
CONFIDENTIAI
AS AMENDED
Declassify on: OADR
2000-0429-F
CONFIDENTIAL
3r 8/21/09
CONFIDENTIAL
IDENTIAL
2
The President thanked Gorbachev and said he had just two points
to make. He wanted the General Secretary to know that his son
and grandson had been deeply moved by their visit to Armenia.
This had not been a political trip but rather a way to express
how Americans felt about the enormous tragedy in Armenia. The
President said he and Mrs. Bush were very grateful for the warm
way in which their son and grandson had been received.
General Secretary Gorbachev said he wished to confirm that this
very human gesture had been very well received by the Soviet
public.
The President thanked Gorbachev and said his second point was
that the General Secretary had been very generous in his time
with Henry Kissinger. General Scowcroft would be inviting
Kissinger to the White House in the next few days, and they would
listen attentively to what Kissinger reported. They would not
necessarily believe everything because this was, after all, Henry
Kissinger but they knew that the General Secretary had been
generous with his time, and they would listen attentively to what
Dr. Kissinger said.
General Secretary Gorbachev thanked the President for this
information and said he hoped that the President would find
something of interest in what Dr. Kissinger reported.
The President said he had one last point. He hoped that Jim
Baker, after consulting in Europe with Allies, would be able to
establish a relationship with Foreign Minister Shevardnadze along
the lines of the one Secretary Shultz had had. The President
said that Jim Baker was very close to him, and a good working
relationship with Foreign Minister Shevardnadze would benefit
U.S. -Soviet relations.
General Secretary Gorbachev said he understood fully and would do
everything in his power to assure that the relationship between
the two foreign ministers would not only be maintained, but also
expanded and multiplied.
The President thanked Gorbachev and said he looked forward to
working with him to strengthen world peace.
General Secretary Gorbachev said the President could rely on full
cooperation from him in this effort. Everything which they had
discussed remained valid. The Soviet side would proceed from a
position of realism but also see the broad perspectives and try
to act in a manner which benefited both the Soviet and American
people and the world community as a whole. General Secretary
Gorbachev said he had heard that at 7:30 that morning the
President had sworn in his White House team. He sent regards to
all these people, and thanked the President for his call. He
also wished to pass sincere regards from him and Mrs. Gorbachev
to the President's wife Barbara.
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
COM IDENTINE
CONE IDENTIAL
3
The President thanked Gorbachev and said that his wife looked
forward very much to getting to know Raisa even better. The two
would get along very well.
General Secretary Gorbachev said he was very pleased by their
conversation and wished the President all success in his
activity.
The President thanked Gorbachev and wished him good-bye.
CONF IDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL