Thirty years ago, Ronald Reagan clashed with Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi  for the first time. The details of that encounter must be revisited — particularly President Reagan's sense of resolve and clarity of purpose — as President Obama deals with our most intense crisis with Libya since the 1980s.

One of us (Clark) was there in Washington, serving as acting secretary of State, in the absence of Secretary of State Al Haig, when the news hit regarding Gadhafi's latest antics. Clark was in constant communication with Reagan and Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger. All had been close friends, colleagues and confidants dating back to California in the 1960s, when Clark was Governor Reagan's chief of staff.