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    "ocrText": "Ronald Reagan Presidential Library\nDigital Library Collections\nThis is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.\nCollection: Deaver, Michael\nFolder Title: Staff Aims State of the Union [1982\nand] 1983 (3)\nBox: 57\nTo see more digitized collections\nvisit: https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digital-library\nTo see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library inventories visit:\nhttps://reaganlibrary.gov/document-collection\nContact a reference archivist at: [email protected]\nCitation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/citing\nNational Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/\nDecision/Making/Information&\nIntelligent alternatives\nfor today's decision makers\n6803 Poplar Place, Suite 300, McLean, Virginia 22101, (703) 556-0001\nMEMORANDUM\nTO:\nPresident Ronald Reagan\nFROM:\nRichard B. Wirthlin\nDATE:\nJanuary 22, 1983\nSUBJECT:\nState of the Union - Fifth Draft 1/22/83\nCOPIES TO: Michael Deaver\nRichard Darman\nAram Bakshian\nThe following comments might be of help to you, Mr. President,\nas you put the polishing touches on your speech.\nLength\nIf our target audience is the 80 to 100 million adult\nAmericans who will watch the speech on television and not just\nthe assembled Congressmen and guests, it is imperative that we\nkeep the length of the speech to no longer than thirty\nminutes.\nIt seems to me you might want to tighten up:\nThe Introduction, pp. 1 - 2 (see comments on the\n\"Pace\" below).\nKeeping Faith with the Future, pp. 16 - 18.\nForeign Affairs, pp. 18 - 22. We do need to stress\nour foreign policy successes and our drive toward\nmeaningful arms reductions but, should you review most\nof our foreign initiatives in the detail of the draft,\nthe only thing you will accomplish will be to dilute\nthe impact of both this section and the speech\ngenerally.\nDecision/Making Information\nPresident Ronald Reagan\nJanuary 22, 1983\nPage Two\nPace\nWe must get into the substance of the speech more quickly.\nAlmost half of those who begin listening to the speech will\nnot be with us at the close. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the\naudience will disappear after the first 20 minutes, with a\nlarge proportion of those dropping out in the first 10 minutes\n(i.e. after the first six pages). Hence, during that first\n10-minute period, we must sound our major themes clearly and\nconcisely:\nAn unvarnished recognition that America is very\ntroubled because of its economic difficulties.\nOur commitment to providing more Americans with jobs\nsooner and to getting the economy moving again.\nThe success of resolving the social security issue\nthrough a bi-partisan effort and the promise that such\na working arrangement -- which cuts across partisan\nlines -- holds in resolving the major challenges not\nyet met.\nThe high priority we give to pressing the initiative\nfor the reduction of nuclear weapons in the context of\nan equitable and verifiable agreement with the\nSoviets.\nThe importance of doing all of the above in a fashion\nthat will move us toward balancing the budget during\nour planning period (1983-1988).\nTone\nThe entire tone of the speech must be realistic but hopeful.\nLet us not trap ourselves by raising expectations too high\nabout the prospects and immediacy of economy recovery. It is\nmuch better for us now to error just a little bit on the side\nof being a bit too pessimistic.\nDecision/Making/Information\nPresident Ronald Reagan\nJanuary 23, 1983\nPage Three\nSome Specific Suggestions\nWe over-use the word comprehensive -- \"Comprehensive Federal\nSpending Freeze,\" \"Comprehensive Employment Bill of 1983.\"\nCan't we simply call the later the Employment Bill of 1983?\nOn page 16, first paragraph, rather than \"eliminate unjust\ndiscrimination on the basis of sex,\" it would be more forceful\nto say \"eliminate unjust discrimination against women.\"\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nJanuary 21, 1983\nNOTE FOR:\nARAM BAKSHIAN\nSUBJECT:\nADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR STATE OF THE\nUNION -- RE FAIR HOUSING\nJim Baker, Ed Meese, and the President have discussed the\nfollowing; and it is my understanding that they wish to\nhave this language included at some appropriate spot:\n\"The effective implementation of the Nation's Fair\nHousing Laws is essential to insuring equal\nopportunity for millions of Americans who have been\ndenied the full range of housing choices available to\ntheir fellow citizens. I will propose legislation to\nenhance and strengthen enforcement of the Fair\nHousing Laws.\"\nDin\nRichard G. Darman\nCC: Meese\nBaker\nDeaver\nGergen\nAmerican\n1120 G St. N.W.\nSociety\nFor\nPublic\nASPA\nSuite 500\nWashington, D.C.\n20005\nAdministration\n(202) 393-7878\n1. Lee Fritschler\nPresident\nPatricia S. Florestano\nPresident-Elect\nJanuary 21, 1983\nKeith F. Mulrooney\nExecutive Director\nCouncil\nThe President\nValter C Anders\nThe White House\nana L Bagwell\nWashington, D.C. 20500\nvrone R Baines\narry Beckon\nDear Mr. President:\nCharles F. Bonser\natrick J. Conklin\nAnthony M. Corbisiero\nWhen you deliver your State of the Union Address\ntobert B. Denhardt\nto the nation on the 25th, the many roles you have as\nMiriam Ershkowitz\nPresident -- Chief of State, Commander in Chief, Chief\nCarl L Figliola\nPatricia S. Florestano\nDiplomat, Party Chief -- are melded together.\nLee Fritschler\nCarol Gandy\nThere is one more hat on that rack -- Chief\nPamela Erickson Gervais\nExecutive Officer. We of the American Society for\nChristine Gresham Gibbs\nPublic Administration hope and urge you to acknowledge\neigh E. Grosenick\nHarold L. Grover\nthe importance of that role in your address.\nDouglas Harman\nlan L. Herd\nThis month is the 100th Anniversary of the Civil\nPeter E. Herman\nService. In your Proclamation and Statement of January\nMarc Holzer\n10 you urged ceremonies and events to express\nCarlos Jackson\names C. Jaramillo\nappreciation for the career professionals of\nSancy Keeley\ngovernment.\nEsther C. Lawton\nWilliam G. Lewis\nI enclose a draft paragraph for your State of the\nSaomi B. Lynn\nUnion message. The wording is not important but the\nAlan H. Magazine\nKenneth A. Maul\nthought is. In a time of low morale and calls for\nSandra G. Munsey\nsacrifice, please tell the nation in your own voice how\nChester A. Newland\nmuch you as President and our country as a society owe\nEleanor F. Nunn\nto your dedicated Military, Civil, Postal, and Foreign\nAlex N. Pattakos\nService co-workers.\nBradley H Patterson. Jr.\nCharles A. Pounian\nill T. Pylant\nRespectfully yours,\nEileen Siedman\nSherry A. Suttles\nTed Tedesco\nPatricia S. Thompson\na.Ltibell\nAnita M.A Winkler\nJames L. Zimmerman\nA. Lee Fritschler\nPresident\nEnclosure\nApril 16-19\n44th National Conference on Public Administration\nApril\n17\nNew\nYork,\nN.Y.\nA year ago from this rostrum I introduced you to a hero\nwho was seated in the galleries. It was Mr. Leonard Skutnik\nwho dove into icy waters to rescue the survivor of a plane\ncrash.\nAs I call tonight for special efforts and sacrifice\nfrom those who work for government, I want to tell you that\nthey, too, deserve a nation's praise. In the past two years\nas the general manager of the federal establishment, I have\ngrown to appreciate the heroes and near-heroes in our public\nservice -- men and women like Phil Habib in Lebanon, Paul\nNitze in Geneva, Jean Kirkpatrick at the UN, the rangers in\nour parks and the postman who comes to our doors each day.\nThis year is the 100th Anniversary of our nation's\nCivil Service. I salute them and acknowledge the positive\ncontributions of those in the Civil, Postal, Military and\nForeign Services.\nThey are indispensable in making ours a stable and\nsuccessful democracy.\nDecision/Making/Information\nIntelligent alternatives\nfor today's decision makers\n6803 Poplar Place, Suite 300, McLean, Virginia 22101, (703) 556-0001\nMEMO\nTO:\nMichael Deaver\nFROM:\nRichard B. Wirthlin\nDATE:\nJanuary 21, 1983\nSUBJECT:\nState of the Union January 20th Draft\nCOPIES TO: Aram Bakshian\nRichard Darman\nI. Some General Comments\nA. It is imperative that we keep the length of the speech to no\nlonger than thirty minutes if our target audience is the 80\nto 100 adult Americans who will watch the speech on\ntelevision and not just the assembled Congressmen and\nCabinet.\nB. We must get into the substance of the speech more quickly.\nAlmost half of those who begin listening to the speech will\nnot be with us at the close. Twenty-five (25%) of the\naudience will disappear after the first 20 minutes, with a\nlarge proportion of those dropping out in the first 10\nminutes. Hence, during that first 10-minute period, we must\nsound our major themes clearly and concisely:\nAn unvarnished recognition that America is very troubled\nbecause of its economic difficulties.\nOur commitment to providing more Americans with jobs\nsooner and to getting the economy moving again.\nThe success of resolving the social security issue\nthrough a bi-partisan effort and the promise that such\nworking arrangements -- which cut across partisan lines\n-- hold in resolving the challenges not yet met.\nDecision/Making/Information\nA high priority we give to pressing the initiative for\nreduction of nuclear weapons in the context of an\nequitable and verifiable agreement with the Soviets.\nThe importance of doing all of the above in a fashion\nthat will move us toward balancing the budget during our\nplanning period (1983-1988).\nC. The entire tone of the speech must be very realistic but\nalso hopeful. Let us not trap ourselves one more time in\nthe bind of raising expectations only to have those\nexpectations dashed later, or by appearing to be too\n\"Polyann-ish\" about the prospects and immediacy of recovery.\nIt is much better for us to error just a little bit on the\nside of being too pessimistic than being too optimistic.\nD. The speech lacks emotional impact.\nII. Some Specifics\nA. I believe it is an excellent idea to build off the social\nsecurity successes to issue the call for bi-partisan\nsupport. It is a strong and good theme we need to sound.\nB. We must hammer again and again that there is no quick fix\nfor our economic recovery and that difficulties we are now\nexperiencing in the economic area have very deep and old\nhistorical roots.\nC. I believe we may be going too far when we say the \"long\nnight of a beleaguered U.S. economy is now ending.\"\nD. When we talk about economic renewal, there is no mention at\nall in those principles about what we are doing to generate\njobs. Perhaps, because of policy, we need to finesse this a\nlittle bit. If not, we need to talk about the action we are\nsuggesting.\nE. When we discuss the trade initiatives, we should tie this to\nwhat it will do to help farmers and small businessmen.\nF. I believe we stress too much the promise of high-tech.\nWhile we need to look to the future and hope, we gild the\nlily excessively in that section of the speech.\nG. The foreign affairs section should focus primarily on our\npeace initiatives as articulated at Eureka College with the\nprogress we are hopefully going to secure in the Mideast.\nWe also should definitely use the State of the Union Address\nto clarify and strengthen our case of the 0-0 option in\nEurope.\nDecision/Making Information\nH. It is important to mention the initiatives we have taken and\nwill take to strengthen our bonds with our allies.\nI. Of all of the constiuency issues that are most helpful to us\nbroad-brushed (aside from economic recovery and peace)\neducation stands at the top of the list. We discuss\neducation in a number of different places in the speech. I\nbelieve we can strengthen the President's committment to\nquality education by putting those pieces all together.\nJ. In reviewing what we have accomplished, curbing waste and\nfraud and cutting burdensome regulation should be mentioned.\nThe above represents somewhat of a potpourri of suggestions but I\nwould be happy to discuss these with you or any one else as the speech\nbecomes solidified over the next day or so.\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nJanuary 18, 1983\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nDAVID GERGEN\nLARRY SPEAKES\nFROM:\nPETER ROUSSEL\nPR\nSUBJECT:\nState of the Union -- Media\nPlan\nPlus a Few Other\nThings\nKnowing you are preparing the media plan for marketing of the\nState of the Union and Budget, I offer the following for con-\nsideration in that plan or for additional follow-up. Some of\nthis is repetitious, some perhaps not:\nState of the Union/Budget\nSchedule appropriate Presidential interviews following\nthe speech and budget release.\nWires -- AP, UPI, Reuters, AFP\nRadio - - CBS, ABC, NBC (to equalize interview given the\nindependents)\nTV -- CNN\nGroups -- chains, newspapers\nIn addition to transmitting our message through these\noutlets, numerous standing interview requests could be\nfulfilled, particularly through the group sessions, and\nmost importantly, while being focused on one subject\nthus maximizing impact.\nSchedule surrogate spokesmen on ensuing morning, Sunday,\nlate evening, etc. shows.\n* See additional item regarding surrogates.\nThrough Media Relations office, schedule briefings here\nfor editorial groups. On all upcoming trips, we should\nalso consider possibility of having the President and sur-\nrogates meet with editorial writers, columnists, not only\nfrom the city visited, but the region. Ideally, the\n- 2 -\nsurrogates would both precede and follow the President's\nappearance. Think there is much to be gained from this\napproach and saves having to import large groups to\nWashington.\nSuggest that a representative cross-section of columnists\n(not editorial writers) be brought in for a small group\nsession. These can have more impact than the newswriters\nand certainly than editorial writers. A columnist, for\ninstance, such as Lynn Ashby of The Houston Post is the\nmost popular, widely read and quoted in the state. We\nhave done virtually nothing to involve these kind of\nwriters and now seems like a crucial time to do so.\nThrough the Media Relations office make absolutely certain\nthat all special interest groups are covered via mailings\nof the speech, budget summaries, etc.\nSimilarly, make certain that not only Members but their\npress secretaries get these mail outs so as to encourage\nreprinting excerpts in their newsletters.\nOn a very selective basis, consider building on the base\nestablished with the 5-minute radio program by following\nduring this crucial marketing period with a series of geo-\ngraphically/politically targeted call-ins to radio talk\nshows around the country. This would provide a means for\ntaking his message directly to the people and being\nresponsive without filtering it through the media. These\nshows have large audiences that generate discussions for\nmany days, even weeks following. Through these we could\ngenerate the follow-up that may have been lacking in the\nradio shows -- an interest beyond the day of broadcast.\nActivate the Cabinet, sub-Cabinet, etc. in a surrogate\nblitz making certain their efforts are concentrated in\nareas of good media coverage.\n*\n(Frankly, I think we are not getting maximum impact\nfrom our surrogate effort; e.g., we need to make the\npress here more aware of what these surrogates are\ndoing -- mailings of their speeches via the RNC, etc.)\nA Few Other Things for Consideration\nWe need to do a better job on marketing of speeches, ap-\npearances by senior White House staff members. Perhaps a\nmemorandum will remedy the problem. A recent case in\npoint was the Baker speech, which CNN would have carried\nlive had we alerted them. Also, when a prepared text is\nused, we should make it available in the White House press\noffice.\n- 3 -\nConsider compiling an updated daily/weekly sheet of the\n\"designated hitters\" on the various issues. This would\nhave the following purposes:\n-- Being available to the press so they would know who\nthey are and thus cut down the number of phone calls.\n-- Circulate within the White House so staff would know\nwhere to forward errant press calls.\n-- Emphasize to press and staff that this is a serious\npolicy being pursued in a serious manner.\nConsider having Mrs. Reagan host a White House lunch for\nan individual or couple from each state -- people to be\nchosen by the Governor, Senator or Congressman -- who are\nnotable for some self-sacrifice during these difficult\ntimes. This would associate Mrs. Reagan with \"mainstream\"\nAmericans who are also achievers and, in a sense, joined\nwith the President in the same battle. Also, would have\nthe effect of involving Governors, Senators and Congress-\nmen in a very positive way with the White House -- and\ntheir constituents.\nDraft and prepare a Presidential letter to all White House\nstaff, Republican officials, etc. thanking them for their\ndedicated effort in the first two years, emphasizing the\naccomplishments and urging them on to greater effort in\nthe years ahead. This morale boost to the troops in the\ntrenches could pay dividends in increased output and per-\nhaps is needed at this mid-term juncture. A re-charging\nof the batteries of commitment.\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nJanuary 17, 1983\nTO:\nAram Bakshian\nFROM:\nMichael Castine\nRob Mosbacher\nSUBJECT: PSI References in the State of the Union Address\nIn our two previous memoranda on PSI references in the State\nof the Union Address, we listed the following subjects in\nwhich the PSI Program would play a role in the next two\nyears:\n--\nAssisting displaced workers in the short-term\nby the creation of job search clubs modeled\nafter the Crucible Steel case.\n--\nAssisting displaced workers in the long-term\nthrough the creation of a business-labor-education-\ngovernment partnership.\nAssisting working parents (particularly women) by\nencouraging the expansion of affordable quality\nchild care.\nFinally, we also mentioned that the President's Task\nForce on Private Sector Initiatives will be succeeded by\nan Advisory Council on PSI, hopefully to be headed by\nGovernor William Milliken of Michigan.\nWhat we neglected to mention was the importance of continuing\nto \"build partnerships\" between the private sector and\ngovernment all across the country. We were reminded of\nthis by the heavy emphasis placed on public-private\npartnerships by Governor Cuomo in his State-of-the-State\nmessage in New York and Mayor Kathy Whitmire of Houston\nin her State-of-the-City address last week.\nIn short, the President's PSI program is catching on and\nhe should reinforce that fact by using the \"building\npartnerships\" buzz-words.\nINSERT FOR STATE OF UNION OR OTHER ADDRESS ON MILITARY PAY FREEZE\nWe have made a good start in our program to restore the defenses\nnecessary to preserve peace with freedom. And we mean to con-\ntinue that progress. At the same time, I recognize that these\nare times of sacrifice for all Americans, and that I must ask all\nFederal employees -- military and civilian -- to shoulder a share\nof the burden by foregoing pay raises this in year. IA. Fiscal 84\nRR\nThis is particularly difficult for me to ask in the case of our\narmed forces. After many years of neglect and shamefully low\nRUR\npay, we restored competitive pay to the military over the past\nforthing\ntwo years and we intend to continue that vital obligation next\n?\nyear when economic conditions are again favorable. I very much\nhope that all will recognize that this sacrifice which is asked\nof all across the board is necessary to our economic recovery.\nAt the first opportunity I will want to make this loss up to our\ntroops.\nRR\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nJanuary 19, 1983\nMEMORANDUM FOR MICHAEL DEAVER\nJIM BAKER\nFROM:\nDAVE GERGEN DJ\nSUBJECT:\nAP Story on State of Union\nMike, this is the product of our conversation with Jim\nGerstenzang that you arranged.\nWhite House News Summary\nWednesday, January 18, 1983\nSTATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE OF HOPE ALSO BID TO REGAIN LOST GROUND\nby James Gerstenzang -- Associated Press\nWASHINGTON -- At the heart of President Reagan's State of the Union speech a\nweek from tonight will be an attempt to clear up misunderstandings about his\neconomic program and, according to one aide, \"re-establish himself as a central\nfigure.\"\nAs Reagan enters his third year in the presidency, and Democrats line up to\nchallenge him, the address becomes \"a particularly important speech for him,\"\nsays David R. Gergen, Reagan's Assistant for Communications.\nAttempting to regain lost ground, Reagan will seek to \"re-establish himself\nas a central figure and as one who helps to set the agenda for the coming year,\"\nsaid Gergen.\nDeputy Chief of Staff Michael K. Deaver said the speech offers \"a chance\nfor him to once again talk about what we have achieved so far and what he hopes\nto achieve in the next two years.\nReagan's aides, troubled by criticism that the Administration's budget and\ntax cuts have hurt the poor and helped the rich, stress that the program is\n\"going to be fair in the way it treats people.\"\n\"You can't say too many times what it is we're trying to do,\" Deaver said.\n\"The economy is a very difficult subject and there are a lot of misunderstand-\nings. It's a difficult time for a lot of people and he wants to express that.\"\nReagan's most senior advisers began work on the speech late last year, and\nthen met with him for about 45 minutes on Dec. 23 to get his ideas on what the\nspeech should contain.\nLast weekend, time was set aside for the President to sit down with drafts\nproposed by speechwriter Aram Bakshian and others and start shaping them into\nthe speech he will deliver before a joint session of Congress and nationwide\ntelevision audience on Jan. 25.\nOn Sunday, Reagan invited some outsiders to the White House family quarters\nfor what Deaver decribed as a meeting \"where he picks peoples brains.\"\nOn the guest list were Lee Iacocca, Chairman of the Chrysler Corp.;\ncolumnist George Will; longtime Republican presidential adviser Bryce Harlow;\nSecretary of State George Shultz, and conservative economist Irving Kristol.\nThe President's aides, in seeking suggestions from outsiders as well as\nothers in the White House and then coordinating them into one text, are trying\nto avoid a problem that cropped up a year ago, when different groups prepared\ncompeting versions of the same speech. \"Hopefully, we've got everybody's\ninput,\" Deaver said.\nWhite House News Summary\nWednesday, January 18, 1983\n(continued)\nIf history is any guide, the speech will go through seven or eight drafts\nbefore it is committed to a script in large, typewritten letters, from which the\nPresident will read in the House of Representatives, with the help of an\nelectronic prompting device.\nAides will submit paragraphs from their areas of expertise, speechwriters\nwill smooth them out, and then the President will combine much of the material,\nworking with a yellow legal pad and felt-tip pen.\n\"He will, in effect, write out a great deal of this before it is over,\"\nsaid Gergen.\nAlthough Reagan's standing has dropped in some polls, Deaver said that a\npublic opinion survey by Republican pollster Richard Wirthlin determined that\n60 percent of those questioned \"still think\" Reagan's economic plan will work.\n\"They have faith. They want to believe,\" Deaver said.\nGergen added that positive signs from the housing and auto industry, as\nwell as falling interest rates, provide economic signals to which the President\ncan point as evidence of success, despite the 10.8 percent unemployment rate.\n-end-\nDeaver\nMEMORANDUM\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nJanuary 18, 1983\nMEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT\nFROM:\nWILLIAM P. CLARK /s/\nSUBJECT:\nState of the Union\nI realize you must reduce the length of the excellent draft of\nthe State of the Union address forwarded to you January 16 by\nAram Bakshian, but have some suggestions for strengthening the\nnational security area of the speech to achieve a better overall\nbalance. Limiting this vital subject to four pages of 29, as\nthis draft does, may suggest that you are not serious about, or\nattentive to, national security. It also misses the opportunity\nto bring key issues to the Congress and public.\nThese are principal suggestions:\nReinforce your call on Congress to stay the course on\nnational defense.\nStrengthen the section on arms control to reflect the\ntheme of your recent press statement: because of the\nmilitary rebuilding program you have put in place, we\nnow have leverage with the Soviets. START and INF nego-\ntiations, which will reconvene in Geneva shortly after\nyour address, should be mentioned specifically. You\nmight want to draw attention to our negotiators by name\n(Paul Nitze will have returned to Geneva, Ed Rowny could\nbe in the audience).\nAdd to the Middle East section by including a clearer\ncall for peace in the region and discussing Lebanon,\nwhich is currently left out of the address.\nDO not ignore the military pay freeze. Cap has provided\na proposed insert on this subject, which could be sub-\nsumed in an overall discussion of federal pay. His\nsuggested wording is attached.\nPay more attention to our alliance partners, and mention\nthe importance of international trade to national security.\nExpand the discussion of security assistance beyond the\nCentral America paragraph, which currently contains the\nonly mention of this key legislative item.\nWe made inputs on these subjects as the speech was being drafted,\nand stand ready to assist you or the speechwriters further.\n-2-\nCC: Secretary Shultz\nSecretary Weinberger\nJim Baker\nDavid Gergen\nAram Bakshian\nAttachment: As stated\nINSERT FOR STATE OF UNION OR OTHER ADDRESS ON MILITARY PAY FREEZE\nWe have made a good start in our program to restore the defenses\nnecessary to preserve peace with freedom. And we mean to con-\ntinue that progress. At the same time, I recognize that these\nare times of sacrifice for all Americans, and that I must ask all\nFederal employees -- military and civilian -- to shoulder a share\nof the burden by foregoing pay raises this year.\nThis is particularly difficult for me to ask in the case of our\narmed forces. After many years of neglect and shamefully low\npay, we restored competitive pay to the military over the past\ntwo years and we intend to continue that vital obligation next\nyear when economic conditions are again favorable. I very much\nhope that all will recognize that this sacrifice which is asked\nof all across the board is necessary to our economic recovery.\nAt the first opportunity I will want to make this loss up to our\ntroops.\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nJanuary 18, 1983\nMEMORANDUM FOR MIKE DEAVER\nFROM:\nCRAIG L. FULLER\nas\nSUBJECT:\nSOU Guest\nWe might consider having the President invite to the House\nGallery for the State of the Union address John Mooney,\nOrdnance Man First Class, who wrote the letter the President is\nquoting from in the State of the Union address (SOU draft\n#1/Bakshian). I seem to remember that the networks reported on\nhow proud he and his family were that the President quoted from\nthe letter during a radio address.\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nJanuary 17, 1983\nMEMORANDUM FOR ARAM BAKSHIAN\nFROM:\nJim Cicconi\nju\nSUBJECT:\nState of the Union Speech--Farm Foreclosures\nAttached is some draft language on the subject of farm\nforeclosures prepared at Dave Gergen's request.\nIt is important for the President to express concern over\nthis problem, which has gained increasing media attention.\nThere is general agreement that any type of moratorium on\nforeclosures would be far too costly. Instead, the President\ncan point out some of the steps USDA has taken, and urge the\nprivate sector (which makes the vast majority of farm loans)\nto follow our example. This is, at heart, a populist\napproach that should prevent the President from being blamed\nwhenever a private bank forecloses on a farmer.\nThis statement should be portrayed as \"treating the symptoms\"\nin combination with our efforts to treat the main cause--low\nprices (which the blended credit and PIK programs are aimed\nat).\nCC: James A. Baker III\nMike Deaver\nDave Gergen\nEd Harper\n(In advance of mentioning PIK program, exports, etc.)\nCurrent economic problems are also hurting America's\nfarmers. Low prices and high costs are causing some to face\nthe agonizing prospect of foreclosure and the loss of their\nfarms because they cannot keep up with their loan payments.\nOur farmers, who feed this country and much of the world,\nshould not have to live in fear of losing everything they\nhave worked for. Last year, the Secretary of Agriculture\nadopted a policy that will allow the Farmers Home Adminis-\ntration to continue to finance those farmers who, through no\nfault of their own, fall behind in their loan payments because\nof current economic conditions. I have instructed the\nSecretary to continue and expand these efforts, utilizing\nother means at his disposal, including deferral and reschedul-\ning, to help FmHA borrowers on a case by case basis who might\notherwise be in danger of losing their farms.\nSuch policies, though, will apply only to farm loans which\nare underwritten by the government: the vast majority of farm\nloans are made by private creditors. I would urge them to\ntake similar steps, and exercise similar patience, to help\nAmerica's farmers through this difficult period.\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nJanuary 15, 1983\nMEMORANDUM FOR MICHAEL DEAVER\nFROM:\nANTHONY R. DOLAN and\nSUBJECT:\nState of the Union Address\nThis is your call, of course. But I felt an absolute\nresponsibility to present ------------------------- as forcefully as possible --- my\nreasons for believing the President should be given the\nopportunity to read this draft.\n1) THIS IS THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH -- No one else's. It is\neasily forgotten around here that the editing, drafting and\nspeaking style of Ronald Reagan are responsible for the\nsuccess of his public speeches -- it has little to do with\nthe resident geniuses on the writing, policy or\nadministrative staffs.\nA speech process -- a chemistry -- has led to this success.\nThis chemistry works best when we take maximum advantage of\nRonald Reagan's writing skills, speaking talents and\nunabashed intellect. Obviously, it would be ideal if the\nPresident could look over all the excellent raw materials\navailable but this, of course, is impossible especially in\nview of the incredible breadth of a State of the Union\nmessage. So it is our job to give him a speech draft (as we\nhave in the past) that best summarizes all the excellent\nmaterial available.\nThis draft (like my draft for the tax cut speech of the\nsummer of '81, last year's State of the Union and the London\nspeech) represents the culmination of months of thought and\nwriting. The draft has been keyed to bringing in the best\navailable material and fashioning it within the context of\nthe President's past thoughts and statements.\nLet me be specific. (a) The draft has the patriotic 1783\nopening and then makes an appeal to national unity. (b) It\nhas a wealth of material about how far we have come in the\npast 2 years -- it dwells on our success in the economic\narea especially dealing with the inflation menace (the\nnumber one concern of Americans only a few years ago). (c)\nIt has a great expanse of the material on powerful political\nissues like waste and fraud, and crime. (d) It has an\n- 2 -\nextremely strong ending. (None of this is duplicated or\neven adequately represented in the shorter draft. Indeed,\nin my view the shorter draft catches little of the pace or\ncogency of this draft.)\nI think it should be the President's decision to choose how\nmuch or how little -- what combinations, what mix ---- of\nthese rhetorical and thematic points he wishes to have in\nhis speech. He is the best judge, only he can take the\nbroad view, only his is the comprehensive look. A State of\nthe Union message is critical to defining a presidency.\nOnly the President can provide that definition and he should\nhave the maximum anount of material to choose from.\nI was somewhat shocked by Dick Darman's suggestion that if\nwe do not pare down the President's options and restrict\nthem to what appears to be a narrow field we \"have failed as\na staff.\" Far to the contrary, presenting only a few\noptions based on the feelings of six or seven people -- none\nof whom were elected and most of whom have no responsibility\nor expertise in these areas -- is a disservice to the\nPresident and the country.\nThis draft takes a different course, it attempts to collect\nRonald Reagan's thoughts on the State of the Union as\nexpressed during the past year as well as present the views\nof a wide range of people within the Administration. I\nthink we owe it to him and to the country to take advantage\nof his judgement, his good sense and his intellect and let\nhim be the judge of what material should be included or\nexcluded.\n2) A GENERAL RULE -- We work in the biggest fishbowl in the\nworld, sooner or later our actions -- e.g. the range of\noptions we make available to the President -- are the stuff\nof history. I don't think we can be criticized for giving\nthe President too much in the way of choices. And I think\nwe have a grave responsibility to assure the public that we\nare doing all we can to let the President see as may\nreasonable points of view as possible.\n3) THE TRACK RECORD -- This process -- that of preparing a\nlengthy but cogent first draft which offers the President a\nwide range of choices -- is essentially the same process\nthat we have followed in the past. I believe the President\nwould strongly prefer this option. I cite just one example.\nWhen the President learned that I had written a draft for\nthe London speech (despite strong attempts by some of the\nstaff to discourage such an undertaking), he asked to see\nit. He had extremely kind words for this draft at his radio\nspeech the following day and he repeated those words to Dick\nWirthlin the subsequent day. As you know, he decided to use\nthat draft for his London speech. The draft was overly long\n- 3 -\nbut the President seemed pleased not dismayed at the\nopportunity to see that much material.\nAs you also know, this same procedure of preparing a long\ndraft was followed in the tax cut draft of '81 and last\nyear's State of the Union speech with excellent results.\nFrankly, as with the London speech, I was perplexed at being\nleft out of the State of the Union process this year.\nEspecially in view of the fact I was the only writer on the\nstaff who had, in this Administration or any other, been\nresponsible for taking a prior State of the Union message\nthrough the process.\nHere I think I should provide a word of background. When\nDave Gergen did call me shortly before Christmas to tell me\na decision had not been made on who the writer (s) would be,\nhe did say a two or three-track approach and a \"conservative\ndraft\" would be useful. As you know, the draft I prepared\nduring Christmas week and that you intercepted over New\nYear's weekend (sent to the President instead of Judge Clark\n\"eyes only\") was never intended for him. I had hoped,\nhowever, that the existence of a draft would be called to\nyour attention and that eventually the President might have\na look at it early on. I sent in several memos to this\neffect; Dave indicated that he felt the drafts would go to\nthe President within a week. At that point, the other draft\nhas still not been produced and my draft was turned over to\nbe used in part of that process. I cite all of this to\nsuggest that whatever the intentions behind these events,\nthere has been a great deal of maneuvering and the original\nforce and direction of my Christmas draft has been lost in\nthe shorter draft.\n4) FINAL POINT -- Mike you have often said that your first\nloyalty is to Ronald Reagan. It is that loyalty that I am\nappealing to now. This is a critically important moment for\nthis Presidency. We have had good results with a certain\nspeech process in the past and I think changing it now would\nbe unwise.\nIt can do little harm and possibly an enormous amount of\ngood to let the President see the broad range of material\navailable to him in this draft.\nLike any White House, we have seen develop on our staff\nthose who think their guidance and counsel is responsible\nfor the President's success. The perception is growing that\nintoxicated by the nearness of power, some have simply lost\ntouch with reality and seem to believe in a spoon-fed\npresidency, a presidency where a few people control the\naccess, limit the agenda and attempt to predetermine the\noutcome of presidential decisions. I think Ronald Reagan is\na patient man but one nonetheless who eventually does draw\n- 4 -\nthe line at this kind of thing. I think you also know that\nit is Ronald Reagan who, in crisis after crisis, has made\nhis around. staff look good. It has rarely been the other way\nWe need to resist all of these unfortunate tendencies. I\nthink showing the President this draft would assist in this\ngoal. But more important, by giving him a wide range of\noptions and a speech text that carries his nuance and idiom,\nwe would be cutting down on the tremendous burden he has to\ncarry."
}