U.S. House Speaker Tip O’Neill characterized President Reagan’s State of the Union address as little more than “clever rhetoric” from a “kindly old man.” Reagan had just turned 74 while O’Neill was 72. Said O’Neill: “He hasn’t been honest with the American people. They haven’t asked him for honesty.” The Democratic leader was highly critical of many Reagan assertions about finance, debt and deficits.

Months of discussion paid off when the Douglas County commissioners put the finishing touches on a formal purchasing policy. Chairman Nancy Hiebert said she was pleased to get such a plan to work with.

The chamber of commerce asked county officials to finance a $15,000 study of a proposed new Kansas Turnpike interchange in the Lecompton area. A plan that called for a south bypass around Lawrence was not presented at the time.

Officials in Washington continued to work with Haskell Indian Junior College officials about the best program to bring the Haskell governance policies up to date.