President Reagan takes a "mind-boggling" deficit to the people
The Great Communicator was back from the nation's heartland, his spirits buoyed by the belief that he had made headway in the most difficult selling job so far in his presidency: convincing Americans, particularly skeptical Republicans, that they should accept his record 1983 budget—and its record $91.5 billion deficit. Relishing the fight and his underdog status, the President told three Republican congressional leaders at the White House that Midwesterners were with him. Said Reagan: "Over and over again, I was told, 'Don't change course, especially on taxes.' " When his trio of guests...