THE PRESIDENT-ELECT: Changing of the Guard

It was an occasion that might be touchy, and everyone around the world would be reading the signs. The 34th President of the U.S. was scheduled to meet the 35th to discuss the transfer of executive power. Each harbored some hard feelings: Kennedy was still smarting over Ike’s scornful campaign description of him as “this young genius”; the President deeply resented Kennedy’s repeated campaign argument that the U.S. had suffered a decline in power and prestige under the Eisenhower Administration.

But their meeting was carried through in perfect harmony—and both men, with a high sense of office, wanted the meeting to stand forth to the world as the sign and symbol of peaceful transition of authority in the U.S.

At precisely 8:58 on the morning of the meeting, the aluminum storm doors of the White House opened, and Ike emerged, ruddy-faced and in obvious good spirits. A minute later the Marine band struck up The Stars and Stripes Forever as a cream Lincoln drove slowly up the drive, through the ranks of an all-service honor guard. Kennedy stepped out, hat in hand, nimbly climbed six steps and took the President’s outstretched hand. Murmured he, in memorable understatement: “It’s good to be here.” Then, after posing for photographers for a moment, the oldest President in history ushered the youngest President-elect into the White House.

Clean Desk. After a brief and informal tour of the White House, for an hour and 45 minutes the two men talked earnestly together, each occasionally referring to notes. In broad outlines the President discussed some major problems—e.g., disarmament, the gold deficit—while Kennedy questioned him in detail. Ike, at Kennedy’s request, gave his personal impressions of Khrushchev, De Gaulle and Adenauer. On a lighter level, Kennedy expressed his admiration of Ike’s clean desk (his own is usually invisible beneath a clutter of papers and books).

After their personal talk, Eisenhower and Kennedy walked to the White House Cabinet room where waited State Secre tary Christian Herter, Defense Secretary Thomas Gates and Treasury Secretary Robert Anderson. For another hour and a quarter the discussions continued, with each of the Eisenhower Cabinet members describing the most serious problems in his area, and Kennedy boring in with his questions. “The President was extremely helpful,” reported Kennedy. “I want to express my thanks to him.” As for Ike, he soon thereafter telephoned a friend, said that he had always considered Kennedy a “young whippersnapper,” but at the White House meeting had been “tremendously impressed.”

Hour’s Chat. Throughout the rest of his busy week, Jack Kennedy provided ample evidence of becoming the best hide-and-seek player the presidency has ever had. One afternoon, after a quick visit to Georgetown University Hospital to see Wife Jacqueline and their new son, he vanished to the suburbs for an hour’s chat with Pundit Walter Lippmann. Next night in Manhattan two policemen knocked on his hotel door to ask if he would care for a midnight snack. Getting no answer, they went inside, found only a slightly mussed bed, a discarded Kennedy shirt; Jack had slipped away to visit friends. The following afternoon, with the connivance of the Secret Serv ice, Kennedy adeptly eluded the press to go on a Christmas shopping excursion to Tiffany’s and Sulka’s.

Predictably Proud. There remained another high moment in the life and times of John Fitzgerald Kennedy: the baptism of John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr. As the Rev. Martin J. Casey, S.J., pastor of Holy Trinity Church, intoned the words, John Jr. was held by Godmother Martha Bartlett, wife of Chattanooga Times Reporter Charles Bartlett, who was present as a stand-in for Godfather Prince Stanislas Radziwill, husband of Jackie’s sister and away in London. Jackie Kennedy was predictably proud of her tiny (6 Ib. 3 oz.) son, dressed in the christening gown his father had worn 43 years ago. “Look, Jack,” she whispered, “hasn’t he got the loveliest eyes?” The President-elect of the U.S. seemed to think so too.