February 8, 1984
The President this morning at 8:50 a.m. convened a conference call that included the Vice
President, Bud McFarlane in Washington, Admiral Poindexter and Mike Deaver in Santa Barbara,
the President being at the ranch. They spoke for 15 minutes. During the conference call, the
President received an extensive briefing and update on the situation in Beirut on the ground. In
addition, he received a report through the Vice President and McFarlane from Ambassador
Rumsfeld which dealt with Ambassador Rumsfeld's meeting today with President Gemayel in
Beirut.
The conference call this morning here followed an extensive discussion that the Vice President
had by telephone with other foreign policy advisers in Washington. The Vice President, as you
know, over the past several days -- Monday and Tuesday -- had been conducting either meetings
in the White House Situation Room or having the meetings by conference call. This morning's
meeting was by conference call in Washington.
The President subsequently talked to the Vice President again about 9:25 a.m. for about 5 minutes
to provide further guidance for the Vice President as a result of the phone call.
Overnight, the President received a decision paper from his foreign policy advisers and made a
number of specific decisions that were designed to implement the plan that he announced
yesterday afternoon.
Note: Larry M. Speakes read the statement to reporters assembled in the Vista Mar Monte Room
at the Sheraton Hotel in Santa Barbara, CA, during his daily press briefing, which began at 10:17
a.m.