President Reagan met with Albert Spiegel of Los Angeles, chairman of the National Republican Jewish Coalition, to discuss Lebanon and other issues during Reagan’s California vacation, the White House has disclosed.
The meeting, which took place July I, was also attended by National Security Advisor William Clark, and Michael Deaver, the President’s Deputy Chief of Staff. The President’s remarks on Lebanon appeared to be basically the some as those he made at his press conference the evening before.
According to a White House release, “The President reiterated his hope for a diplomatic solution in Lebanon to avert further bloodshed and suffering. The President repeated that the United States’ goals in Lebanon were to help establish a strong viable central government in Lebanon; to have all foreign forces withdrawn from Lebanon; and to end the threat of terrorism across the northern border of Israel.
“The President also stressed the importance of dealing with the problem of the Palestinians and to solve that problem within the framework of the Camp David accords. The President emphasized that there is a difference between the PLO and the Palestinians.”
CONTINUING DIALOGUE WITH THE JEWISH COMMUNITY
The White House also noted that the President “said the Administration looked forward to continuing a close dialogue with the coalition and the organized Jewish community.” The National Republican Jewish Coalition was described as “an informal group of Jewish leaders who support the President.”
Spiegel had earlier this year turned down an offer to replace Jacob Stein as the White House liaison with the American Jewish community. The position was then given to Michael Gale, a 30 year-old lawyer who had been a legislative liaison with Congress for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
