237. Message From Vice President Bush to President Reagan 1
SUBJECT
- My Visit to Moscow
1. Mr. President, George Shultz will brief you verbally on our Moscow visit, but I wanted to pass along a couple of thoughts.
2. I am glad you sent us. The Soviets clearly appreciated the gesture and shared their appreciation in several ways.
3. By way of example: George Shultz and I walked to the receiving hall. Took off our coats, and went to the rear of the line. When we were halfway up the stairs walking along with the likes of President Zia, Prime Minister Suzuki and many more, a Soviet protocol officer pushed through the crowd on the stairs and told us to come forward. Reluctantly we obliged, being led obtusively past all the waiting dignitaries. We were installed at the head of the line just in front of Prime Minister Trudeau. This was all done in front of a large TV camera pool. We then greeted Andropov, Tikinov, and Gromyko, all of whom thanked us profusely for coming and asking that we convey their sincere thanks to you.
4. There were other little gestures, but the major event was our meeting at 4:30 p.m. with Andropov and Gromyko. Soviet watchers were amazed that Andropov received us.
5. I will not report here on the conversation. A verbatim report is being prepared,2 but since this was the first known visit with Andropov by Americans, let me convey some impressions.
6. He seemed sure of himself. He read his three-page brief but with ease and self-assurance.
7. He conveyed strength, but not in a bellicose way.
8. He dished it out, but did not flinch as I mentioned Poland, Afghanistan, and human rights.
9. He smiled and seemed genuinely warm when I made joking reference to his having been KGB chief while I was head of CIA.
[Page 795]10. It is of course too early to predict how things will evolve in Moscow, but for some reason I feel up-beat. Opportunity may well lie ahead, though much of the rhetoric was predictable and accusatory.
11. I am writing this cable as we fly Moscow to Frankfurt—a Soviet navigator up front in the cockpit; the impressions of Red Square and the pageantry of Brezhnev’s funeral fresh in my mind.
12. We were very close to the front. When the goose-stepping, arm-swinging, elite guard marched in I at first saw only hostile troops and hostile power. We had a little wait and I watched the changing of the guard and looked at the faces and then I saw my sons and yours: George, Jeb, Neil, Marvin, Mike and Ron.
13. I saw a funeral without tears, save for the immediate family. I saw a funeral without God and thought “how sad—how lonely.”
14. I can’t speak for George Shultz with whom it was a total joy sharing these responsibilities, but let me say two things now: First, thanks for sending us on an unforgettable mission. Second: we must succeed in our quest for peace.
15. Now back to Africa. Warm regards,
- Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC: Country File, USSR (11/10/1982–11/12/1982). Secret; Immediate; Eyes Only. A note on the message states: “For Judge Clark: Bill, please hand one copy to George Shultz. No other distribution.” The message was sent from Air Force Two.↩
- See Document 234.↩