C
CONFIDENTIAL
DSR 11C
PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES
25-30 SEPTEMBER
GENERAL BRIEF: UNITED STATES
ulc
WL/C
to thi
Commission Central America Amenia
Introduction
1.
By the time the Prime Minister arrives in
Washington, Preident Reagan may well have made up his
mind whether to stand for re-election in 1984, though for
tactical reasons he may make no announcement for a
further few weeks. The balance of probability is that he
will run again in spite of his age and the prospect that
- in 1984 the Senate may follow the House of
Representatives in falling to the Democrats.
Mr Reagan
is the only Republican candidate who stands a reasonable
chance of success against the main Democrat contenders
(Mr Mondale and Senator Glenn).
2.
The President's personal popularity is higher now
than at the beginning of the year, partly as a
consequence of a significant improvement in the economy, although his attempts to woo groups such as the Women's
movements and the Blacks have so far produced little
result. The President's attempts to win support for his
policies on defence and disarmament questions and Central America have had some modest success though his attempts
and
at a bipartisan approach particularly the appointment of Dr Kissinger have been criticised from the right of his
own party.
CONFIDENTIAL
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