The Day They Stop Returning Your Phone Calls
Bandow, Doug
The Day They Stop Returning Your Calls by Doug Bandow Editor’s note: Whenever there is a change of personnel at the upper levels of government, something happens that few people outside of...
...It makes sense for Harper to wait to see who leaves...
...These doubts about people’s motivations are so frustrating...
...I told him supposedly no wholesale changes planned...
...But after hearing we’d have at least 60 days, I cooled down, rethought my strategy...
...His staff now much more important, and acts so...
...Is getting rather humiliating...
...The latest rumor is that Roger Porter [then in charge of economic affairs] is to be Harper’s deputy...
...His tone rekindled my negative feeling towards him, and I pointed out that I had no materials or records here, and that I no longer had an assistant-because she had accelerated her job search after my talk with Porter...
...Then called by a colleague in OMB, who said that Harper had accepted, and the press release was being drafted...
...Tuesday, February 9. On way back from lunch, ran into David Gergen [communications director] in front of the White House...
...Thursday, March 4. Talked with Porter on various things, including Frayda...
...Thursday, February 25...
...To lighten the atmosphere, Frayda put out a list of suggested rumors...
...the building is enormous...
...Thought everyone was aware of that...
...Monday, March 8. Into office, and showed memo cover sheet to Kevin, Frayda, and others...
...What will I be doing in two months...
...He seemed uninterested in my caveat that it wasn’t final...
...Asked me if I was overreacting...
...to talk with everyone first...
...Frayda and I were among the half dozen to be fired...
...But he is interested in having me at OMB...
...Went by to see one former high-ranking OPD staffer who felt he had been screwed...
...Wondered if we’d played into Porter’s hands...
...he thought that if I wanted to stay, I’d be happy with the setup...
...he thought I’d made valuable contribution...
...Harper was "high" on me...
...Ed Gray then asked me into his office to talk...
...He said that Baker side of the White House really seems to have it in for Gray and Frankum...
...1 said that is why I was leaving-I saw the handwriting on the wall...
...But things are really tight, so...
...Said I would...
...He apparently was angered that I didn’t put in his full title in the heading at the top of the page, and didn’t favorably mention him in it...
...Onesaid he had talked with Meese aide to clear the air...
...When parked, I noticed that one of people who was promoted now has former Deputy Direct07 Frankum’s spot...
...I asked him if he had anything open on his staff...
...1 figure Porter won’t get the memo till Monday, which is too late for him to do anything about it...
...On way in I already felt like an outsider...
...I heard through the grapevine that Porter was really pissed off about goodbye letter I sent him...
...Just so cold and unnecessary: I’ve got the message...
...But he understands people wanting to leave, and is willing to write a recommendation to help...
...I’m merely an inconvenience to them now...
...Harper looking for a replacement for me...
...Her desk was covered with resumes, and hers was in the typewriter...
...Yes, but also to keep perks, position, and salary...
...I’ll bet he thinks any contact between us is a threat...
...Met with Ed Meese...
...As rode from airport to White House in government car, realized how much I’d miss use of the cars...
...But I’m the first one called in: the message is clear...
...So political...
...Kevin said it fits...
...One of those polite fibs...
...Porter went into an extensive discussion of the need for cutbacks, and he wants to check my needs: Do we need two people working on Law of the Sea...
...I called them...
...Gray came by the office suite and, despite the cold weather, took Kevin out on the balcony for a talk...
...My initial reaction is to confront Harper with rumor, preempt him...
...His only interest in her is when she’s gone-what a turkey...
...Short, with no mush, as I feel none for them...
...She noted that people she’s worked with in the past now talk to her differently-almost as if she’s not there...
...Thursday, May 6. Spent time clearing out and did exit interview with archives people...
...Apparently nothing else...
...Said not to discuss her job opportunity, she’s at mercy of others...
...At least soon I won’t feel responsible for this kind of garbage...
...Some to do "special projects...
...Rather brutal...
...Went to OPD staff meeting...
...So probably true...
...Yet would he fib so blatantly...
...Took Reagan bumper stickers off my car...
...Back to D.C...
...Will decisions on issues worsen...
...Talked with OPD staffer who said I should be aware that Porter has used what I’d said as an excuse...
...And of course Harper would tell Ed that...
...He will talk with me and Kevin [my closest co-worker] tomorrow morning to see what we want to do...
...Said no...
...Just rubbing salt in wounds...
...Later summoned by Porter...
...She said she couldn’t figure out what our office did...
...But what really stuck out to me was his comment that he had relied on me in the transition...
...He asked if we were "hanging out the black crepe yet...
...Into question period...
...Also heard that Porter was asked on the rumor earlier today, and had refused to talk about it...
...As left for the evening, ran into the OMB staffer who’d asked me about the associate program directorship...
...Meese said he hoped I would stay on-felt I was a valuable member of the Reagan team...
...Everyone had a good laugh...
...He was interested in pushing for a White House special adviser on ocean policy and thought of me...
...In D.C...
...Porter was talking with Emily late yesterday...
...What else was there to do...
...Called Meese’s office to make appointment to talk on job opportunities...
...How silly...
...Anderson’s decision to leave caused significant uncertainty and bureaucratic maneuvering, the flavor of which 1 attempted to capture in the following excerpts from the journal that 1 kept...
...Of course-anything to get rid of her...
...Returned to D.C...
...A friend tried me .through the White House operator, and was told I was no longer there...
...I noted my limited duties...
...Ed is not yet sure of his plans...
...Talked with a number of White House staffers, and rumor is that Ed Harper [deputy director of OMB] is to take Marty’s place...
...An OPD staffer told me that he had heard of list of people to be fired or transferred...
...Most are as valid as what we’ve been hearing...
...Over to West Wing and talked with Barb...
...They think they might be able to work something out for her...
...I’m still getting notices for meetings of working groups at Interior and Defense...
...These nice lunches on someone else’s expense account may be coming to an end...
...Tuesday, May 18...
...Can’t say that I find it very funny...
...Asked if a possibility around here...
...If it is true, it is so outrageous-such lies...
...Tuesday, May 11...
...How arrogant...
...Then started down the lengthy list...
...Am I wrong...
...they have my name as departing the staff...
...Monday, February 22...
...Feel a real vortex of emotions...
...Funny...
...Wonderful...
...I’m to report to Uhlmann [legal affairs], and do Law of the Sea...
...Nothing on his schedule, so went by to see him...
...I was stunned...
...Barb called-she needs help in moving offices...
...Of course, the part of her representing the assistant to the President is no longer there...
...But, I’m frustrated I’m not leaving when I wanted to, nor in the way I wanted...
...But Why...
...Asked if he’d heard specifics on it...
...Not the best way to start out this morning...
...He laced his conversation with "Ed Harper thinks this, and Ed thinks that...
...1 wandered off to spread the news...
...Met with Ed Meese...
...He said no, but he didn’t sound real convincing...
...Was the first a hint, and the second for show...
...Get away from all this...
...Said they could drum up a lot of congressional and industry support for it...
...Wednesday, March 10...
...She’ll call me on Monday...
...A job, maybe...
...But I’d like him to say so...
...So terrible and unnecessary...
...The following article illustrates that impact, and reflects on the attitudes and values often brought to government service...
...One friend in town called and asked if this change meant that he couldn’t eat at the White House mess any more...
...He said you couldn’t miss it...
...obviously a graveyard, as these people were on the list I was told about this morning...
...Harper noted my departure and said nice things about me...
...Marty to make her a presidentially commissioned officer...
...Later talked with another staffer who felt misled by Harper...
...He did not attempt to dissuade me from leaving...
...A little much...
...Had final party for Anderson’s immediate staff...
...On way in, Kevin said Frayda talked with Emily [Harper’s assistant...
...Later, talked with other staffer...
...1 got him worried when I mentioned that Donovan was in some trouble...
...It hurts: I really don’t want the job, since I don’t want to be shunted aside in a backwater office, but I do want the offer...
...Spent a lot of the day checking new rumors, including one that Annelise [ Marty’s wife, currently an associate program director at OMB] is looking around outside government...
...Word came around that Harper wanted all of our resumes...
...Billions of dollars to monitor, and 57 to 60 professional staff...
...1 don’t think he’ll like it, but I got Marty’s permission before he left...
...But why we need to know who Harper is having lunch with is beyond me...
...The new bureaucratic order...
...I have expertise that Harper must rely upon, but he doesn’t call me...
...Later told by a friend that one high-ranking assistant to the President on the "Baker side" of the White House, was heard to say that several people no longer belong in OPD, including the current director and deputy director, Kevin and myself...
...Had lunch with a reporter at Maison Blanche...
...Nice way to travel...
...Went off to talk with close friend for advice...
...As Kevin and I walked to our office, we saw an aide to Ed Meese, who asked how we were doing...
...Virtually no work to do...
...Asked Dennis Kass [a Harper protege currently on OPD staff about the rumored change for him, which he denied...
...There was a perceptible pause before Porter said okay...
...Monday, April 26...
...End of three-year association with Reagan...
...The aide replied, "Slit your throat...
...Then we discussed LOS, and met withanumberof other people on it...
...Checked mail and found copy of calendar of events being sent to Kevin, and going to everyone in OPD as "FY 1." Everyone, that is, except me...
...A Baker aide supposedly has joked about how long Frankum will last without his perks...
...He was looking at the "plum book" when I dropped by...
...Shows how weak his position is-having to rely on someone who is serving his last day...
...Talked with OPD staffer who talked with Harper yesterday...
...Went over whole sequence of events and he believes my inferences on being forced out are correct...
...Barb outside another set of offices, and Marty’s other assistant was packing up boxes of old files...
...another was to be transferred to Office of Public Liaison...
...Did it up and left it with the OPD administrative person...
...Marty was never pretentious enough to send out his schedule, let alone request that staffers not hand it out...
...Said he felt like slugging him...
...leaving OPD out of his office...
...Wednesday, May 26...
...Went to Marty’s going away party...
...Thursday, April 1. /nyui/:i3 magazine job set...
...Back to White House for last official duty-getting the necessary 16 signatures on my "check-out form" certifying that I’ve completed all the security and other bureaucratic requirements...
...Went back to my office...
...she said she had hoped I wouldn’t be coming in...
...I thanked her, but said the issue area didn’t excite me for full-time work...
...What a different world we all live in...
...Monday, February 8. Wandered by to talk to Ronald Frankum [Gray’s deputy...
...Or at very least bucks his treasured bureaucratic order...
...Home...
...I said I’d think it over...
...Meese said he hoped 1 would stay on-felt 1 was valuable member of Reagan team...
...He said he would help if he could...
...Realized I’d miss use of government car...
...I told them yes, but not yet...
...Friday, February 19...
...No work being done by anyone in OPD that I could tell today...
...probably the last time Porter will wait for Gray...
...How many more timesh this going to happen...
...Friday, February 5. On the way in Kevin said he talked with Ed Gray [director of OPD under Marty] yesterday...
...He may go to State, and is also exploring private sector opportunities...
...Later talked with friend in other part of White House...
...I called a friend at the Heritage Foundation to ask her about job ooportunities...
...As I got home, the phone was ringing...
...Back to D.C...
...I’mjust a relic in the way...
...Wednesday, February 3. A number of signs over the last couple of weeks suggest that Marty [Anderson] is preparing to leave...
...They could have been more honest with me...
...She asked if I’d be in tomorrow...
...But I feel particularly naked, having worked directly for Marty...
...on LOS matters, with four meetings and three memos...
...He noted that some people, such as some of the Baker crowd were the type of people who would do very well in the Kremlin: They would just tap into the power lines...
...Day consisted mostly of taking phone calls from people who wondered about my, Marty’s, and administration’s future...
...Friday, March 5. At lunch talked about couple former OPD people who are hanging on to "serve the President...
...I’m becoming paranoid...
...Talked with OMB staffer...
...he moved off in other direction when I mentioned it...
...It caught his interest, as 1 thought it would...
...Friday, February 12...
...No one listed for a strategic planning project that Harper had told me was so important in the next two months...
...He felt my intuition was right: Ed Meese simply "doesn’t realize" what’s going on-has to rely on others for information...
...Talked with one frustrated staffer, who noted with some asperity that loyalty to Reagan didn’t seem to mean much anymore...
...Went to lunch with classmate from Stanford and spent virtually entire lunch discussing my status...
...he said, "They’re sending you a signal...
...Talked with an OPD secretary who’s paranoid too...
...Kevin said, "What can one say on such a morning...
...Said nothing decided, and called this place "piranha heaven...
...He said he saw no real problem...
...A colleague at the State Department called...
...He calls Uhlmann, and Uhlmann calls me...
...Frayda [my research assistant] talked with some of the people at State...
...Of course there’s room...
...Was called at home by friend who had tried to contact me on Friday, but the White House signal office said my name was deleted...
...We talked about newspaper articles and critical comments from unnamed White House sources-"snipers in the dark...
...Barb said she was probably going to the Justice Department...
...Now he says he will see if he can stay...
...Am I paranoid...
...I understand that he may not want to or may not be able to, make me an offer...
...Tuesday, March 2. Frayda attended OPD staff support meeting...
...He said my stuff wouldn’t have to go out of the building...
...Attended my first and last Harper OPD staff meeting...
...Thursday, March 25...
...She talked with one of the people on "the 1ist"afterthe meeting, who thought everything would work out: if she only knew...
...Last week she could have gotten a half-dozen people from GSA...
...They said he was on the phone, and asked if Porter could wait a couple minutes...
...In turn, hoped they could smooth way for me, including my keeping my office, as probably won’t be there much longer than the60 days they mentioned...
...Later talked with a couple friends who hadn’t even heard about Marty’s decision...
...Not surprisingly, he offered little hope of something else in another part of the White House...
...Porter’s office called me to meet with him...
...Some getting their photo taken with her...
...Porter to be director of OPD...
...Harper called him, and wants me to go to Military Manpower Task Force meeting on Wednesday...
...Wednesday, May 5. On way in, heard on news that administration to impose sugar import quotas...
...Didn’t do much work-finding out latest rumors was more important...
...Into the office, but might as well not have...
...A friend of mine who’d left OPD left a note on my desk: "Doug: We’re counting the days!!-Ed and Roger...
...What do I care...
...He said that he thought there would be...
...Thursday, May 13...
...He also asked me my plans...
...One staff member even asked to have copy of Harper’s schedule each day to help better serve him...
...Friday, April 16...
...Perhaps I should have addressed him as God...
...He asked what I planned on doing, asked me to talk with him before I decided to leave...
...Will mail theirs before I mail originals to Harper and Porter, to let the people I regard as friends know first...
...Went over to the West Wing to check on the new arrangements...
...Virtually no business crosses my desk anymore...
...Talked with Kevin’s assistant in the morning...
...I commented that I should tell Porter that I’d decided to heed Meese’s advice of two weeks ago, and stay...
...She plans on staying...
...Hard tostomach...
...I rather liked the idea of them being irritated...
...Hah, hah...
...He felt he couldn’t stay in his position...
...Totally unexpected...
...1 did get frustrated-neither Porter nor Harper commented on my draft article...
...He hoped I was still on the payroll...
...But another person said Ed just sent over a bunch of things for framing, as if he was getting ready to leave...
...He may have genuine problems, but I feel so humiliated...
...I already had my first message, and it wasn’t even 8:OO...
...Left me feeling the sort of uncertainty that some of my friends in other agencies, such as the NSC [National Security Council], have been feeling...
...I don’t plan on coming in on Saturday for that, and feel no desire to try to impress him with my dedication...
...But if he complains, 1 can point out that the memo is dated the week before...
...He’d been obnoxious then, so I’d tried to avoid him...
...Is playing cards close to his chest...
...On May 14, 1982, I left the White House staff, where I served as a special assistant to the President under then-domestic policy adviser Martin Anderson in the Office of Policy Development (OPD...
...I called Harper, and said that I would have problems doing it, as I am here [New York], and it is there...
...The new order...
...He said they gave the message in an unmistakable way to several people on Monday...
...Saturday, March 6. Went into office to talk with OM B official on possible job...
...Packed up in office, and left for New York...
...He thinks Harper will clean house...
...What a thing to be worried about...
...I said I would be very interested...
...It took them real effort not to check my name...
...I felt like puking...
...He’d heard I was leaving, said if I changed my mind, to let him know, and he’d see if could work something out...
...Was full of euphemisms...
...Found out my stuff is sitting in vacant office in OPD...
...Went back to my office and discussed the meeting with Frayda and others...
...Knocked out my agenda for the meeting and had me more confused than ever...
...Spent much of day calling around to give away tickets to the Kennedy Center...
...The new conduit to power...
...Found calendar of events going to everyone in OPD as "FYI" Everyone, that is, except me...
...But it has such symbolic importance...
...In particular, I’d like a commitment on keeping my office...
...Gee thanks...
...Just twisting slowly, slowly in the wind...
...First call in was from assistant secretary ofstate whom I’d dealt with on LOS...
...Frankum was not wearing a suit-in fact, hasn’t since the decision was announced...
...He had thought wouldn’t have to do till after 1 left...
...The new power relationship...
...I felt a bit reassured...
...Where is people’s pride...
...Also, floor plans being readied we are undoubtedly about to be kicked out...
...This person first said he wouldn’t work for Harper...
...That is likely only if Marty is planning on leaving...
...I mentioned she was detailed to State, and he wanted to know when she’d be off the payroll...
...Kind of a nice ring to it, even though it is really a demotion, since I go up less than others...
...The White House game of grabbing on to the coattails of the people above you, Later talked with staffer who said that I couldn’t expect my office to sit for two months while I’m up in New York for LOS...
...He said he hopes I’d stay on...
...Monday, April 5. Had to return to Washington for LOS meeting...
...He was cordial and reassuring, but also fairly uninformative...
...They said that Porter seemed single-minded in getting specific people off the payroll, irrespective of any problems they might be having...
...Found out I am now a deputy assistant director of OPD for legal policy...
...Called them again...
...apparently gone are her dreams of being a presidentially commissioned officer...
...As I walked by open offices of OPD, no one seemed to be doing much of anything...
...Doug Bandow is the editor of Inquiry magazine...
...I said I appreciated that, though noted that nothing was final...
...He said no decisions had been made...
...Heard that Gray’s assistant held up distribution of the press release on Harper to OPD staffers because she thought it was critical of the current staff...
...Talked with one OPD person, who had worked with Harper in the Nixon administration, who said she didn’t think he would take it...
...Talked with one of my OPD colleagues who met with Harper...
...Wednesday, March 3. Day not terribly eventful...
...Later talked with friend on staff about Meese meeting...
...A number of people becoming assistant directors of OPD-a title Marty discarded because the office doesn’t direct anything...
...Harsh, though probably true...
...Porter came out of Harper’s office and asked to see Gray...
...Guess I should be thankful for small favors...
...Asked if he had found anything-he said not yet...
...Had lunch with friend from Labor Department...
...We had good laugh over the whole thing...
...And now a couple layers below where 1 used to be...
...Then went over to West Wing and talked with Barb Honegger [Marty’s assistant...
...An OMB person came by and asked if I had thought about doing job of associate program director for the health and human services area...
...Funny-lots of people crowding around to talk with Emily...
...wasted three weeks while he felt he might have arole...
...Everyone is desperate for information...
...Went back to my office...
...Almost had trouble as it was...
...I could be wrong, but real sense that ’they want to get rid of me...
...Office situation seems a bit less tight than Porter had said...
...The Day They Stop Returning Your Calls by Doug Bandow Editor’s note: Whenever there is a change of personnel at the upper levels of government, something happens that few people outside of government understand...
...Damn...
...A couple of OPD staffers were standing in the hallway as 1 entered my office looking downcast and unsure...
...After the meeting went up to talk with Barb [formerly Marty’s assistant], who was not mentioned at the meeting...
...Another sell-out...
...Interesting...
...Flipped through my Rolodex pulling out cards for people to call about potential jobs...
...Ran into person in other part of White House...
...I also noted need to return to Washington for appointment with Meese next week...
...Looked at latest White House phone directory...
...Wednesday, March 24...
...He said Marty had said I’d had a nice offer...
...So do I. Called signal office...
...But frankly true...
...Form over substance...
...Urp...
...A nice way to travel...
...He must have leaked his own story...
...Everyone questioning the future...
...Mission...
...As 1 went up the steps, one person, who had continually rejected the idea of working for Kass when the rumor circulated of his taking over OPD, smilingly-congratulated Kass on his promotion, saying it was "long overdue...
...Also, OPD is to have new form book, with memos to be "clean, crisp, freshly laundered...
...Later talked with people over newest memo from on high, requesting that Harper’s schedule not be given to the press...
...He said that if I needed to return to D.C., OK...
...Harper has a problem: can’t get rid of too many people too soon, or will have a stink...
...Spent almost four hours on the phone today...
...Thursday, February 11...
...I then talked with Marty...
...His bad luck is that he is lower on the status level than me...
...someone is overanxious...
...Before I left, I put a memo in inter-office mail for Porter, to tell him an op-ed piece of mine on the draft is to run in The New York Titneson Monday...
...Marty’s old office area in transition...
...There is good reason not to give it to the press, of course...
...Called Marty’s assistant to see when I should drop by to talk with him...
...The bureaucracy still marches on...
...I didn’t say I’d enjoyed working with him because I’d neither worked with him nor particularly enjoyed our contact...
...Talked with one OPD staffer who’s very worried...
...Called by Uhlmann [my new boss] at the U.S...
...Oh well...
...Turns out the White House switchboard also has my name crossed off...
...Frayda talked with some people and was told that Harper supposedly bringing in a deputy from California...
...Started saying goodbyes...
...In a rather irritable mood, which Frayda noticed...
...How much more is this going to happen...
...Canceled-Emily forgot to call me...
...Monday, March 1. The New Order has arrived...
...For first time since we began working here, Kevin is getting more mail than me...
...Would help everyone if I disappeared...
...How will my position change...
...The vultures will be coming...
...Fulsome letters on desk from Harper and Porter...
...Thursday, February 4. Story in The Washington Post...
...Talked with Frayda, and her reaction was "we’ve been conned...
...Started me wondering if 1 misjudged Harper on wanting to get rid of me...
...Final day of Anderson era...
...Made some copies, which I’m going to send to people like Ed Gray and Ed Meese...
...He said renovation of one of the offices is moving faster than had been expected, so they will have to movethat occupant...
...Can’t even use my office equipment, which someone else has taken...
...It was Marty, to tell me that tomorrow he will announce his resignation...
...Over to West Wing to get Ed Gray’s signature on last photo of OPD staff meeting...
...1 spent afternoon talking with different people, about my earlier meeting with Meese...
...Talked with another aide who called...
...A couple people rather obviously playing up to Harper-"you’re absolutely right, in my opinion...
...Still have to check out, so haven’t felt the full impact yet...
...Friday, February 26...
...Said they had always liked him, and that he was so intelligent...
...He said yes, should find out next week...
...Really feel nothing at all...
...Feel numb-so totally screwed...
...Almost too much-the office manager later told me I might get moved again...
...The office manager had yet to find an office for me...
...Another staffer also thought that the reality was clear, whatever Ed [Meese] thought...
...Also, said as soon as I tied down my outside job-assuming no hang-ups-I would give them the date to smooth my departure for them...
...We discussed different issue areas for me...
...He said no, but if anything opened up, he’d keep me in mind...
...After some talk on Law of the Sea, I told him I felt wouldn’t be a place for me in OPD after reorganization was complete...
...I wouldn’t mind so much if he simply said he wanted his own team...
...after end of conference...
...Probably not...
...Then went by to talk with Ed [Gray...
...They talked with Stockman a half hour before, and he felt I was too young...
...His mortgage payment must be getting to him...
...Rather chilling...
...Bureaucrat to bureaucrat, with love...
...Beginning to look forward to next seven weeks in New York...
...Feel like a vulture fighting over the last piece of rotten carrion...
...Virtually no work was done-but Marty and Gray didn’t seem to notice...
...Meeting with Harper was reset for today...
...Shouldn’t feel sorry for myself, as got here through politics, leaving through politics...
...They went outside in the cold for that...
...Some favor...
...We’re all very suspicious...
...I’d love to see his react ion...
...A red tag item there-I’m to prepare a memo for him to send to Weinberger...
...The unknown impact is on the departing official’s subordinates, and on what they do-or don’t do-all day as a result of the change...
...Yet come back to the list...
...Frustrating...
...Finally went to TGIF for OPD staff...
...They didn’t invite Harper or Porter, but one of the other guests felt it was bad political form not to, so he invited Harper...
...He also had no knowledge of why Harper and Porter wanted to get rid of me...
...One of the silly titles which Marty had abolished...
...Went by for Harper meeting...
...Some friends held informal going-away party for me...
...He was in a very relaxed mood...
...Why can’t they just be upfront about that...
...Newest rumor circulating is that Ed Gray is getting what he wanted-the Office of Policy Information...
...Talked with a conservative friend...
...Wednesday, February 10...
...Wednesday, February 17...
...Friday, May 14...
...In earlier meeting with Harper, he said he was willing to write recommendations if I wanted to leave, but that he hoped I’d stay on...
...Saturday, April 3. Typed up resignation memo to Harper and Porter...
...Back to New York...
...He’d made no decision, though had a number of possibilities...
...A friend tried me through the White House operator and was told I was no longer there...
...He didn’t know his situation...
...Back to D.C...
...Kevin later told us that Gray just patted him on the back and said everything would be OK...
...Sunday, April 25...
...Facing very difficult confirmation hearings and desperate for help...
...if he’d thought I’d stay, he would want me working with his team...
...I will start getting phone calls early...
...Tuesday, April 20...
...While at the staff meeting, I thought that they could be starting firing rumors to get us to quit if they feel they really can’t fire us because of political constraints...
...Thursday, March 18...
...One rumor is that Ed Gray may keep his office doing something else...
...Monday, May 3. Back in D.C...
...He agreed there was no future for me in policy division at White House, and that I’m not being paranoid...
...Wonder how long it will take the system to realize that I’m gone...
...As was leaving for home, ran into someone who has shifted to work for Harper...
...Thursday, April 15...
...Harper said major changes are coming in the way policy decided...
...Several of us laughed over a colleague in OPD who yesterday said he "didn’t have time" to keep up with some magazines...
...We discussed personalities...
...The final act was getting holes punched in my ID...
...Went by West Wing to see Gray...
...Immediately went off to track it down...
...He said, with more than a little asperity, that I could figure out how to carry out my responsibilty...
...They had no idea he was unhappy...
...Talked with an OPD staffer...
...Helped Barb move...
...1 decided to see Porter tomorrow and essentially say let’s make it smooth on both sides...
Vol. 14 • September 1982 • No. 7
