The President responded that he had not given her any tasks, but that she may
be useful someday if he wanted to get a message across. I told him that if
he planned to use her in any way to do one of two things: either someone
like I should be present during the conversation or he should make a written
record of what he told her. I repeated this suggestion somewhat later in our
conversation.
The President indicated he was aware of the dangers and would heed my advice.
Although, at the same time, he did not suggest that I be present. (Suzanne Massie is scheduled to meet with
the President
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and Mrs. Reagan in the
Oval Office on Wednesday, February 25, at 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.)2
Attachment
Letter From Suzanne
Massie to President Reagan
3
Cambridge, February 6, 1987
Dear Mr. President,
I just arrived back at Harvard, and knowing that today is your birthday,
hasten to add my wishes which, alas will reach you belatedly. But I have
been thinking of you most especially today, and as the Russians say
“Many years!” and may you have health, happiness and much fulfillment in
this new year for you!
When I arrived I found your letter of January 13 waiting for me. How very
thoughtful and sensitive it was of you to write. Thank you. I was deeply
touched by your words and especially by your personal p.s. Of course I
had not received it when I saw you on Tuesday, so missed the chance to
thank you personally.
Yes, I did think I could do a special job in Moscow just now. I should
probably have made that a little clearer to you before, but in our
meetings I always hesitated to put myself forward and in retrospect
perhaps that was a mistake. In any case, I do want you to know that it
was not just my own plain nerve, but the flood of phone calls I received
from senators, the military and many private citizens after the article
appeared in the N.Y. Times on December 19 and the editorial on the 30th
that prompted me to send it to you.
Of course I know Jack very well. During the past three years we have
consulted frequently by phone and have had many meetings. He is indeed
an experienced government servant. I was given a Soviet reaction to his
appointment which I communicated to Secretary Shultz
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in our recent meeting, but which
you should perhaps also know as it may affect responses to initiatives
you might make.
There are certain problems I think you need to know, and which I hope
Jack can solve. The situation in our Embassy in Moscow and Consulate in
Leningrad is depressing. Morale is low. The staff are coping gallantly
as best they can, but their activities are significantly hampered by the
loss of Soviet personnel. It is my view that certain actions on our part
which led to this result were, in sum, counter productive and not really
helpful to our interests. For instance, I witnessed the spectacle of our
leading specialist on the Plenum, on the day the Plenum opened, doing
his duty cleaning the courtyard instead of being able to devote full
attention to his speciality. There are certain Soviets who are simply
delighted that they have succeeded in being able to cut us off
completely from any contact with Soviet citizens—many of whom were very
devoted and helpful—in the Embassy. I think the security problem is
bound to be compounded by having inexperienced—and lonely—Americans
running around Moscow. Forgive me, Mr. President, if I am out of bounds,
but I am compelled to say that in my view, you were not well advised in
this instance. Ideology, as the Soviets themselves are finding out these
days, is no substitute for common sense.
It is a very exciting and interesting time there now. Mr. Gorbachev is moving fast and with
determination, but the situation is complex and not without danger. I
believe that we should use the new mood for openess to explore certain
possibilities—one of these being media reciprocity, among many other
things up and down the scale. On Tuesday,4 I had the chance to discuss my recent trip and
conclusions with a group of senators and I hope I will have the chance
to discuss these with you at some greater length, as I knew this would
be impossible when I saw you this time.
I so much enjoyed seeing Mrs. Reagan both before I left and when I
returned. I hope she will seriously consider coming to Leningrad for the
opening of the Wyeth exhibition of which she is honorary chairman. I
believe this could be a fine diplomatic opportunity in which you would
have nothing to lose and a great deal to gain. It was also wonderful to
see you looking so fit, and as always, handsome. What a constitution! It
makes me wonder what you have for breakfast.
In closing may I say, that as you honor me by calling me a trusted
advisor, then I will be bold enough to say that I think I could help you
more if we were able to meet or talk a little more regularly than every
six months or so. I like to be able to follow things through and I don’t
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feel I can do that now. I
could also help more if you were to give me a specific task to
accomplish—as you did when you sent me for the cultural exchange. I
believe that Russians trust me and that I could make a contribution.
Right now, there are some perceptions about the changing USSR and the situation there which I
would like to share with you before I go back again. I plan to be at
Harvard until February 28, then I leave March 3 for a month in Leningrad
and Moscow and will be back about April 1st. If you think it might be
helpful to you, would your schedule permit us to meet informally, as we
have on the past two occasions, on February 24 or 25? Or perhaps we
could at least talk on the telephone? I may be reached here at Harvard
at (617) 495 8703.
As always, I send my warm wishes to you and Mrs. Reagan, and again, many
thanks for your wonderful letter.
Sincerely,
