Indeed, he told aides earlier in the day that maybe the pain of defeat would hit him later.
A woman in her 80's was trying to go home to Galveston and, she told aides, get married.
On Sept. 8, the commander told his aides that he did not have time for the interview.
A rustle of movement followed as Members told their aides to check.
Later, he told aides that he would return to political life when the country's thinking caught up with his.
The president tried to convince them otherwise, but told aides that his message to the Muslim world was clearly not getting through.
"She feels as if our rudder isn't set right," the president later told his aides, according to the book.
He did not tell his campaign manager and other senior aides until about 10:30 p.m., they said.
When the case came to President Reagan's attention, he told aides to find a way to cut through the red tape.