May 22, 2007 8:40 AM

What Would Reagan Do?
A look into The Reagan Diaries for immigration help.

By Kathryn Jean Lopez

Today is the official release date for The Reagan Diaries. Ronald Reagan was one of a handful of American presidents who kept a daily journal while in office. Historian Douglas Brinkley has gone through them and edited the volume that hits bookstores today.

No doubt there is something for everyone in there. But particularly timely is an entry from October 16, 1986, in which President Reagan wrote:

Thursday, October 16
Al Simpson came by to see if he had my support. After 5 yrs. of trying (during which I’ve been on his side) the House finally passed his immigration bill. They have one or two amendments we could do without but even if the Sen. In conf. cannot get them out, I’ll sign. It’s high time we regained control of our borders and this bill will do this.

Reagan did, in fact, sign the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. And, in case you didn’t notice, the bill didn’t exactly do what Reagan thought it would. “The 1986 act did not solve our illegal immigration problem,â€