John R. Block
Reagan U. S. Secretary of Agriculture

In my very first Cabinet meeting in January 1981, I asked President Reagan if he would be able to lift the Soviet grain embargo. My recommendation met with severe criticism from some other members of the Cabinet.

As you may recall, the president was shot that spring and went through recuperation but he didn't forget his campaign promise to lift the grain embargo. It was lifted. That set the tone for President Reagan's credibility and honesty in the eyes of the American farmer.