10 Other People Ronald Reagan's Diary Only Mentions Once

During last night's GOP debate, Mitt Romney attempted to minimize Newt Gingrich's connection to President Reagan:

"I looked at the Reagan diary. You're mentioned once in Ronald Reagan's diary. And in the diary, he says you had an idea in a meeting of young congressmen, and it wasn't a very good idea and he dismissed it. That's the entire mention."

We had a copy of The Reagan Diaries handy. Here's what the Gipper wrote about young Newt on January 3, 1983:

"Met with a group of young Repub. Congressmen. Newt Gingrich has a proposal for freezing the budget at the 1983 level. It's a tempting idea except that it would cripple our defense program. And if we make an exception on that every special interest group will be asking for the same."

But the former Speaker is in good company. The Reagan-Mentioned-Me-Once-in-His-Diary Club includes lots of big names. For example:

1. Drew Barrymore (October 17, 1984)

"Out on the South Lawn a ceremony recognizing the Young Astronauts program. Little Drew Barrymore — the child in 'E.T.' — was one of the children. She's a nice little person."

2. The A-Team (May 3, 1986)

"Dinner alone in my suite. I'll be glad when Nancy joins me. CNN has an English language channel in Japan. I ate dinner watching 'The A-Team' & 'Hart to Hart.' Then word came to me that we'd had our 3rd calamity in the Space program. A Delta missile carrying a $57 mil. weather satellite had to be blown up when it malfunctioned. You can't help but wonder about sabotage."

3. Harry Caray (September 30, 1988)

"...threw out the first ball at Wrigley Field, joined in play-by-play with announcer Harry Caray."

4. Vinny Testaverde (December 12, 1986)

"Noted military team in Holland cooperating on Suriname situation; photo session with Heisman Trophy winner Vinny Testaverde; Domestic Policy Council meeting with reports on reforming welfare program."

5. Shelley Long (February 28, 1984)

"...Cabinet meeting on containing 'Beltway Bandits,' advisory and consulting groups gaining unnecessary government contracts; greeted actress Shelley Long; state dinner, entertainment by Mel Torme and Peter Nero."

6. Muhammad Ali (January 24, 1983)

"Visit from Muhammad Ali, 'gave me an autographed Muslim Prayer Book.'"

7. Juice Newton (August 26, 1984)

"Picnic for female appointees, entertainment by Juice Newton; Vice President Bush learned by telephone that his daughter had a baby son."

8. Wayne Newton (June 28, 1984)

"Photo sessions with Bay Buchanan and with Wayne Newton; met with former secretaries of the Treasury and current secretary Regan in support of appropriation for International Monetary Fund."

9. Pat Riley (June 30, 1988)

"...meeting with congressional leaders on drug policy; lunch with basketball coach Pat Riley; desk work; cabinet briefing on nuclear power stations, commented, 'some were shut down because countries & or states refused to submit plans for emergency evacuation."

10. Burt Reynolds (March 21, 1982)

"Dined with Burt Reynolds, noted, 'Had not known him well in Hollywood so surprised at his seriousness and his sincere crusade spirit against drugs, etc.'" [I cheated here. Burt's mentioned twice.]