I remember hearing about Miguel de la Madrid (assuming it was him) and the PRI offered to sell 3 Mexican states to the US. Reagan however declined the offer thinking Nafta would unite the US-Mexico-Canada. His thinking was why pay for something you'll be part of for free.
I can't seem to find any reference to this. I believe it was James Baker that recalled the story. I was trying to recall the states that were offered. I believe it was Northern Baja and Sonora. I don't remember the last one but I don't believe it was Southern Baja.
Does anyone have any more information on this?
Do you have the source? I can find no reference to this and mexican presidents are not actually allowed to do something like that (that was actually one of the sticking points during the US intervention in Mexico, even back then Santa Anna didnt had the right to sell the territories, only Congress could do that)., it also doesnt seem to fit the politics of James Baker towards Mexico.
It would also make no sense for the US to forgive the considerable debt Mexico had incurred at the time in exchange for territory as the expense (never mind the politics and legality of such a thing, for starters it would violate the international precept of self-determination) integrating those territories in such a way would have far out weighted any benefit they could obtain from such a thing in the 80's.