Overview Paper for the Prime Minister: President Reagan’s visit to Ottawa

Paul Heinbecker “Overview Paper for the Prime Minister: President Reagan’s visit to Ottawa” undated but February 1981.

Considerable more diplomatic in wording than Kinsman’s memo, Paul Heinbecker outlines for Trudeau the American mood, Reagan’s desire for good relations with Canada and other neighbours but the importance of effectively communicating Canadian positions and perspective differences from the United States on economic, environmental and related issues, insightfully noting that because the two countries are so similar, “the differences can be so jarring.” Convincing Reagan that these did not pose threats, and that Canada was a committed ally, was identified as an essential objective that Trudeau needed to accomplish on the visit.