1985 - Color, President Reagan: Thatcher Visit & Departure Statement Excerpts. 20Feb85

NOTE: FOR ORDERING See: www.footagefarm.co.uk or contact us at: Info@Footagefarm.co.uk 1985 - Color, President Reagan: Thatcher Visit & Departure Statement Excerpts. 20Feb85 Ext. WH East Wing w/ CU photographers waiting, PM Thatcher, Reagan & dog, Lucky, on leash out & walking quickly across lawn, pose for still photographers. Thatcher pets dog which rolls on back. They leave (complete). Color bars. 18:18:12 Ext of WH w/ Marine Color Guard on balcony & red carpet below. MCU Secretary Schultz & VIPS. Reagan & Thatcher walk out on carpet to small lectern. Reagan from notes, SOF: It’s always a pleasure to exchange views w/ Prime Minister Thatcher, a dear friend & respected leader of one of America’s closest Allies. We have had a cordial discussion on a wide range of matters. Our conversations reflected the excellent relationship which exists between our two countries, as well as the warm friendship between Mrs. Thatcher & myself. We discussed East-West relations & in particular the preparations for the upcoming Geneva talks w/ the Soviets. We fully agree that the unity, patience & determination of the North Atlantic Alliance are essential if arms control negotiations are to succeed. What we are seeking are significant reductions in the numbers of nuclear weapons through fair & verifiable agreements. Prime Minister Thatcher & I agreed that it is absolutely necessary to continue NATO's INF deployments on schedule in accord w/ the Alliances 1979 decision. We are both hopeful that the dialogue opening in Geneva will result in progress, & while that progress continues however we will be steadfast in the modernization of our forces & in our determination to promote full adherence to existing arms control agreements. These are crucial incentives to any real progress. 18:19:53 Prime Minister Thatcher and I also discussed the current situation in the Middle East and agreed on the need for parties in that region to take concrete steps toward peace. (abrupt edit) 18:20:08 “my close collaboration w/ my friend Margaret Thatcher.” Thatcher: Mr. President, May I say how very grateful I am to you for inviting me for this brief visit, the first official one in your second term, although I paid an unofficial working visit to Camp David in December. Our talks are always particularly valuable, because we see so many things in the same way & you can speak of a real meeting of minds. As the President pointed out, this meeting is a special one, because 1985 marks the 200th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Britain & the United States & I think I can safely say that our relations now are better than when John Adams presented his credentials to King George III—indeed, I feel no inhibitions about describing the relations as very very special, & it is a particular honor that President Reagan & Mrs. Reagan have accepted an invitation to dinner at the British Embassy tonight to mark this very special diplomatic anniversary. 18:21:24 The President has given you an account of the discussions we had today. We had some very thorough ones, especially about the prospects for arms control negotiations. Those negotiations carry out hopes w/ them. They will, as I indicated this morning, be complex but those who are negotiating on the part of the West know of our fundamental, sincere wish to get down the number of nuclear weapons in the world in a way which is still balanced & which still keeps our security. We believe our negotiators will strive to that end & they will carry our good wishes with them. 18:22:06 We also spent some time discussing the Middle East & both agreed that the moment is propitious for a fresh effort to achieve progress towards a Middle Eastern settlement, and I told the President (abrupt edit) Special Relationship; Western Diplomacy; US-UK Relations; Cold War; NOTE: Sold at per reel rate. Credit must be given to Reagan Presidential Library NOTE: FOR ORDERING See: www.footagefarm.co.uk or contact us at: Info@Footagefarm.co.uk