neither side wanted to be blamed for the lack of progress on START. But the most
difficult part had to do with the words "peaceful coexistence" which Gorbachev
wanted in the communique. He wanted to be able to tell the important CPSU
[Communist Party of the Soviet Union] conference that the Soviet Union had not
only achieved superpower status but that the U.S. had adopted the Soviet approach
to foreign policy.
The problem was compounded because Reagan, in an earlier meeting with
Gorbachev, said he agreed that
coexistence* was important. Gorbachev
accordingly insisted that the words be included in the communique, stating that
Reagan had agreed. However, a startled set of U.S. advisors told Reagan he
couldn't agree to such wording. Reagan was uncomfortable, but did not want to
disagree with his staff. The impasse went right down to the wire. The final
ceremony at which the instruments of the INF ratification were to be exchanged
was delayed 30 minutes. Gorbachev was adamant that "peaceful coexistence" be
included; and Reagan, flanked by his advisors, was determined that it not appear.
In the end, Reagan won out. An angry Gorbachev, red-faced and muttering to
himself, initialed the communique.
Reagan's final summit meeting with Gorbachev was a success. He had succeeded
in getting the Soviets to agree to, and the Senate to ratify, the INF treaty. And
Gorbachev finally admitted that the Soviets would get out of Afghanistan. But the
greatest achievement was Reagan's success at getting the Soviets to address his
broad agenda of human rights and foreign policy issues. Reagan had kept his eye
on the objective which was now being accomplished. It was a fitting legacy to
leave to his successor.
Q ..
We finished then with the fourth and last of the summit meetings between Reagan
and Gorbachev in May of 1988, almost in time for the elections to come about.
Were you involved in those elections?
A ..
Yes, I checked and found out that the terms of my appointment did not put me
under the Hatch Act. Accordingly, I campaigned for candidate, then Vice
President, Bush. I made my usual rounds of talking to audiences that were
interested in arms control. I also spoke to audiences which had an interest in
defense. I spoke, for example, to the National War College graduates because I
was then the president of their alumni association. I also talked to ethnic groups,
primarily to Poles but also to Hungarians and Czechs. In other words, I
campaigned on several levels simultaneously. I also wrote several op-ed pieces in
favor of Bush, saying that his views on foreign policy were diametrically opposed
to those of Governor Dukakis. I was delighted that Bush won by a handsome
margin.
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