President Reagan on the Line

Last week Ronald Reagan tried to reach out and touch someone. Dan Rather. The President was alone in his White House study last Tuesday evening watching the 6:30 Baltimore telecast of the CBS Evening News when Anchorman Dan Rather introduced one segment of the network's coverage by saying, "Taken together, Mr. Reagan has now reversed policy and infuriated conservative members of his own party on two scores: first the tax increases, now China." With that, recalls one White House adviser, the President "went through the ceiling." He telephoned Aides Michael Deaver and James Baker to say he wanted to complain. Their advice: call Rather yourself. So Reagan did—just as CBS was beginning its second broadcast of the Evening News at 7 o'clock. Minutes later, on the air, Rather related the conversation to CBS's viewers. Reagan was "concerned and upset" about coverage of the Taiwan

story. Said Rather: "Mr. Reagan told me, 'There has been no retreat by me, no change whatsoever. We will continue to arm Taiwan.' " Later, Rather said he admired the President's courteous manner: "He spoke his mind but didn't raise his voice ... Hope he won't hesitate to call again."