THE PRESIDENCY: State Visit

At Rouses Point, on the U.S.-Canadian border, the twelve-car train jerked to a stop, and three Canadian cars, loaded with officials, were spliced into its middle. A small crowd of Canadians and Americans, bundled in overcoats and Macki-naws, stamped their feet and waited along the siding until a sleepy-eyed man in blue pajamas and a maroon dressing gown appeared on the rear platform. He ran a hand through his sparse hair and grinned. “Hi, there,” said Ike Eisenhower. “I’m sorry I’m not dressed.” He shivered a minute in the near-freezing cold, glanced at the scarlet-coated Canadian Royal Mounted Policeman who had just taken his post by the door. Then, with a friendly wave to the crowd, he retreated to the warmth of his private car. A few moments later the presidential train crossed the border and President Eisenhower began his two-day state visit to the Dominion.

In Ottawa, a few hours later, Ike and Mamie stepped out onto a freshly whisked crimson carpet in Union Station and shook hands with the welcoming delegation, headed by Governor General Vincent Massey and Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent.

“Hey, Hey.” Outside the station Ike was greeted by a 21-gun salute, another blast of frigid air, and a warmly friendly reception. In Confederation Square, 50,000 Canadians started a polite, gloved pitter-patter of applause, with an occasional, highly proper cry of “hey, hey” (cheering is considered improper in austere Ottawa). After he placed a wreath of red carnations and white chrysanthemums on the Cenotaph, Canada’s war memorial, Ike joined Mamie and the Governor General in an open Cadillac, tucked a lap robe around their knees and rode off through the city to Rideau Hall, the Governor General’s official residence.

That afternoon, after a brief rest and luncheon preceded by a prim round of sherry, Ike and Mamie emerged from the forbidding mansion to plant two ceremonial maple trees on the frozen lawn. That night, at a glittering, full-dress state dinner, the President was toasted and in turn proposed the toast to the Queen. The President wore the British Order of Merit, awarded him by the late King George VI.

Thump, Thump. The next day was Mamie’s syth birthday, and the carillon in Peace Tower tinkled out Dixie and Yankee Doodle as she drove to Parliament House. In the oak-paneled, green-carpeted House of Commons, the President addressed a joint session of Parliament.

His hesitant opening remarks completely surprised and delighted the Quebeqois M.P.s, and touched off a great burst of applause. “Mes salutations s’adressent également à mes amis Canadiens qui parlent Français,” said Ike. “Je sais que je fais preuve d’une grande témérité en essayant de m’exprimer, si peu soit-il, dans cette langue.”*

Afterward, Ike mopped his brow, grinned, then grew serious. “You of Canada and we of the United States can and will devise ways to protect our North America from any surprise attack by air. And we shall achieve the defense of our continent without whittling our pledges to Western Europe or forgetting our friends in the Pacific.” The latest Soviet communique to the West, he noted soberly, “is truculent, if not arrogant, in tone. Our security plans must now take into account Soviet ability to employ atomic attack on North America . . . We must be ready and prepared. The threat is present.” Throughout the speech, Ike was interrupted periodically by applause and the traditional desk thumping.

That night, after a busy afternoon—meetings with Cabinet ministers, lunch with St. Laurent, and a second big dinner at the U.S. embassy—the distinguished Americans boarded their train for the homeward trip. In the station there were cries of “We like Ike” and “We want Mamie.” As the train started to pull out, the First Lady stepped out on the platform, flanked by two Mounties. Until the train was nearly out of the station, she stayed there, blowing kisses, waving and calling “goodbye.”

*”I include in my salutation Canadian friends who speak the French language, although I’m more than bold to attempt even this slight venture into the speaking of that tongue.”