A memorandum in May 1972 from the department of foreign affairs to Dr N.S. Ó Nualláin, secretary of the department of the taoiseach, pondered the relative importance of a state visit from Mr Ronald Reagan, the former screen cowboy who was then governor of California.
In contacting Iveagh House about the visit, the American ambassador, Mr John D. J. Moore, had not discounted that Mr Reagan might be in line for high office.
He intimated that the governor would be meeting the Danish, Dutch, Belgian and French prime ministers, and that a call on Pope Paul VI had been arranged. Meetings with the queen of the Netherlands, president Pompidou of France and king Baudoin of Belgium had yet to be ratified.
"Even though Governor Reagan may be undertaking this trip for his own ends," the department noted, "it would scarcely be appropriate to refuse to receive him, particularly as he is being received in other European countries. In any event, if he should be earmarked for high office on the national scene in the United States, it would be just as well to retain his goodwill."
There were other pressing considerations to be taken into account. The memorandum pointed out that the government had been "urging the American ambassador, because of our present difficulties, to encourage Washington not to pursue this year their claim for landing rights in Dublin".
The timing of the Reagan visit would coincide more or less with the "crunch" decision on the air rights question.
This might colour public reaction to the visit, in the opinion of the department.
The Reagan visit might not be related to the landing rights question, but "they might use the fact of his visit, once it had been agreed, as possible leverage with Washington, to reconsider the landing rights question at least insofar as this year is concerned".
The minister for foreign affairs, Dr Patrick Hillery, recommended that Mr Reagan's visit be agreed to and that he be received by the taoiseach and the president, if convenient, the memorandum concluded.
A handwritten note, dated May 25th, indicated: "Taoiseach is willing, in principle, to see Mr Reagan on the 14th July next."
On June 30th, president Nixon wrote to president Éamon de Valera: "I ask you to receive Governor Ronald Reagan as my personal representative and friend - and as a friend of Ireland."