More Reagan Stories
More Reagan Stories
From my new book by Jim Kuhn.
One evening in Reagan's second term, we watched Kiss of the Spider Woman, the story of a cross-dressing transvestite and his roommate in a Mexican prison. Mike Deaver, who had left the administration by then, had recommended it. After the movie ended, there was silence for a moment. Then the president stood up from the couch, with a look of irritated disbelief. "Well," he said, "I would like to know one thing--what the hell has gotten into Mike Deaver since he's gone into the private sector?" He shook his head. Otherwise Kuhn has more staffer stories. It was Kuhn, it turns out, who persuaded Reagan, against the advice of several senior people, to take off his overcoat as he waited to meet Gorbachev's car on a chilly morning in Geneva. Reagan, Shultz and others were convinced it made no difference, but Kuhn was worried that Gorbachev would have no coat, and Reagan (20 years older) would look old and frail by comparison. Reagan finally complied with Kuhn's suggestion--and Gorbachev got out of his car, all bundled up. The photo that went around the world, at least according to Kuhn, gave the impression that it was Gorbachev who was frail, and couldn't stand the cold. For the rest of the summit, whenever Gorbachev and Reagan were planning their next meeting, Gorbachev would ask "coat or no coat"? These are obviously the stories Kuhn will tell his grandchildren. Reagan and Gorbachev met privately early in the day, and this meeting went on much longer than planned. Don Regan and Bud McFarlane both thought Kuhn should knock on the door and interrupt so as to get on with the agenda. Kuhn didn't think this was wise. He finally asked for Shulz's advice, and George Shulz blew up at Kuhn as if he was the one who wanted to interrupt. Finally Reagan and Gorbachev emerged, pleased at how the meeting had gone. Instead of 20 minutes, they had met for an hour and twenty minutes--and Kuhn had done his part to ensure they were not interrupted for the sake of a silly schedule. Larry Speakes as press secretary had a habit of inventing quotes for Reagan--making him sound better; and no one really caught on until... Speakes had left for the private sector. But Kuhn had always disapproved of it! |
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