Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume VI, Soviet Union, October 1986–January 1989

106. Memorandum for the Record¹

Washington, December 7, 1987

SUBJECT

• Secretary’s Ride with Gorbachev December 7

Following his evening meeting with Shevardnadze,² the Secretary reported to General Powell, Ambassador Matlock, Charlie Hill, Mel Levitsky and me on his long ride back from the airport with Gorbachev, and Mrs. Shultz’ with Mrs. Gorbachev.

He said Gorbachev was in a fine and excited mood. Compared with what he had been in Moscow (in October), the Secretary said, he was a man who had come up for air and was off and running. Of course he was not freewheeling, but he clearly wanted to do business. He was heavily focussed on START. He had stressed the importance of the U.S.-Soviet relationship, and the importance for East-West relations generally of making progress in it.

Gorbachev had asked the Secretary about critics here; he said there were critics of what was happening in the USSR too. The Secretary had told him that those who were most vocal here did not represent all that much, but that moving forward in our relations cannot be like coming into a dark room and throwing on the light. Gorbachev had been taken by that. He had said it was exactly the way he described perestroika at home: it could not be a question of overnight change. The Secretary had said that should be the concept of our relations: building a relationship by solving concrete problems.

Gorbachev said he liked to go out and meet with human beings, so he was sorry he could not do more in Washington. The Secretary had replied we were too, and hoped he would some day. Gorbachev had said he would like to, either as General Secretary or not as General Secretary. The Secretary asked if he had not lost weight. He said he had. He worked hard, and sometimes wore other people out, but that was the way he had to live his life; afterwards someone else could do it.

Gorbachev had also mentioned the many letters the Central Committee and he had received from American individuals, all on the theme of peace.

The Secretary said Mrs. Shultz had found Mrs. Gorbachev different from in Geneva, softer and very curious (and quite knowledgeable) about Washington. Matlock pointed out he had passed on some materials at Soviet request; the Secretary commented that she seemed to have studied them. She had seemed very interested and excited.

1. Source: Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/S Records, Memoranda of Conversations Pertaining to United States and USSR Relations, 1981–1990, Lot 93D188, Washington Summit, 12/87. Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Simons.
2. See Document 105.