At that time I was negotiating a Master Labor Agreement for a large construction union. The other side, management, was one chapter in a national management organization, one which had regional and national meetings and officers, etc.

They had a convention in DC, and because a couple of the local people were national officers they were in a group afforded a brief audience with Reagan. Their report to us was that Reagan had said if this area wanted any Federal construction money, both labor and management had better get behind the Administration and support that cause.

And if our Congressional representatives didn't, we could count on Federal money for construction becoming very difficult to come by.

That's a very heavy-handed approach taken with an insignificant delegation by a sitting President.

And you're right, such activities rub the chrome off the turd which is often American foreign policy. Once someone has seen them for what they are you can't go back.

Arf