Office of the Historian

369. Summary of a Telephone Conversation Between President Carter and Egyptian President Sadat1

Washington, May 13, 1980

The President called President Sadat at 0605 EST this morning and asked about Sadat’s speech to Parliament. The Egyptian president indicated he had just finished speaking and that “everything will be okay.” Sadat confirmed the President’s statement that Ali2 would now be doing most of the negotiating. When asked about resumption of the talks, Sadat said he would tell Parliament tomorrow3 that because of the President’s “interference” they will resume next week. (C)

The President informed Sadat that his daughter-in-law was doing fine and Sadat expressed his and his son’s great appreciation for what the President is doing in that regard. The conversation terminated at 0608 EST. (C)

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 38, Memcons: President, 5/80. Confidential. A transcript of this conversation is ibid.↩
  2. Khalil had resigned as Egyptian Prime Minister on May 12, and was subsequently named vice chairman of the ruling Democratic National Party. With Khalil’s departure from the government, Sadat assumed the office of Prime Minister as well as President, though executive responsibility was delegated to six deputy Prime Ministers. (“Sadat to be Premier, Promises Reforms,” Los Angeles Times, May 15, 1980, p. B5)↩
  3. A summary of Sadat’s May 14 speech to the Egyptian People’s Assembly, is in telegram 10888 from Cairo, May 14. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800238-0948)↩