Soviet Union & Foreign Affairs ☢️ Q&A 25th Press Conference (Excerpt) Ronald Reagan 1984 * PITD

Soviet Union & Foreign Affairs Q&A 25th Press Conference (Excerpt) #RonaldReagan 1984 * #PITD
June 14, 1984
Q. Mr. President, no matter what you say you've done so far, two Republican leaders don't think you've done enough, and they are urging you to hold regular #SummitMeetings, for fear we'll blow each other up, with the Soviets without any conditions as to issues or outcome. Both you and the Soviets have said you will go to a summit, if it's carefully prepared. My question is, where do we stand now? Are you willing to go for a summit, start the ball rolling?

The President. Well, Helen, in the first place, with regard to the two Senators -- and I did talk to them -- they were talking about a goal that would be desirable, that I think we all share, and we were agreed on that. And I told them some of the difficulties and problems that we've been having. But, yes, I am willing to meet and talk anytime. So far they have been the ones not responding, but we have kept in communication. There are a number of issues other than arms reductions that we have suggested talking to them about, and we're going to continue in the area of #QuietDiplomacy to bring that about.

Q. Well, are you going to make an affirmative move for a summit and to try to clear away some of these stumbling blocks that have really caused great East-West tensions?

The President. Well, this is what I meant with my remarks, that we are continuing to keep communication with the idea leading toward that very thing.

Q. Mr. President, do we understand you to say that you're willing now to drop your long-held view that a summit would have to be carefully prepared in advance and hold the prospect for reasonable success?

The President. Well, it wouldn't really be necessary for me to drop that, since the #Russians say that that's exactly what they feel must happen before there can be a meeting, that it must be carefully prepared and -- let me explain, maybe, a little more fully what, when I say that, what I have in mind.

There've been a couple of times in the past in which representatives from the Free World and from our own country have gotten into things simply to get acquainted or say hello. And they have led to great expectations, and they've led to great disappointment. And I don't think that we ought to go into something of that kind.

But at the same time, I'm not talking about, oh, a preconstructed meeting in which you've got a list of points. You can have an agenda in which it is the general area of the things that you think could lead to better understanding. And that's good enough for me.

But right now, we're getting a response from them that they want a very carefully prepared agenda. Now, if they agree with me that there are things we can talk about that might clear the air and create a better understanding between us, that's fine.

Q. Sir, if I could follow up, are you willing to take steps now to begin the process of working on an agenda so that a summit could ultimately occur?

The President. Well, we are taking steps. This is what I mean by quiet diplomacy. And I have been in communication, myself -- written communication with the #Soviet leadership.

There is one thing that I think -- I've said this before, but that I think many of you fail to recognize, and that is, there have been three #RussianHeadsOfState since I became President. One of them I knew personally. The second one was, we now know, in ill health because he was virtually incommunicado to anyone during his period. And now this newest one is setting up an administration and so forth. So, it isn't as if we've been sitting here for 3\1/2\ years arguing with someone or not arguing with someone. There have been a lot of changes over there. But we're ready, willing, and able.
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Full Transcript:
https://[a]www.reaganlibrary.gov%2Farchives%2Fspeech%2Fpresidents-news-conference-36[/a]
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