January 4, 1952
Mr. Churchill came today. I met him at the National Air Port. I'd sent the Independence to Floyd Bennett Field on Long Island to meet him and bring him to Washington.
When he came down the ramp from the plane I was at the bottom of the steps to greet him. He said "How do you do, Mr. President." I reminded him of an agreement we had made on the way to Fulton, Mo., in 1946 that I'd call him Winston and he would call me Harry-an agreement made at his suggestion. He replied that on formal occasions, such as the one taking place then at the Washington Air Port, he felt that he should be formal. But that the agreement was still in effect.
I gave him as cordial a welcome as I could after having him meet all our public officials-the Vice President, the members of the Cabinets and the Ambassadors of all countries-but Russia and her satellites. Russia has no word for courtesy in the Russian language. It is too bad.
Mr. Churchill and I boarded my car and proceeded to the Blair House. Many people along the way cheered him.
We had pictures taken on the steps, as usual on arrival at Blair House.
At 1 P.M. we had a reception for the luncheon guests, and cocktails afterwards. The Prime Minister took tomato juice, of all things. Said he wanted to show that "sometimes" he didn't take liquor.
It was a very nice luncheon. The P.M. sat on my right and Anthony Eden on my left. The Vice President was across the table from me with the Secretary of State on his right and Sir Oliver Franks, the British Ambassador, on his left. The other guests were arranged as Mr. Protocol said they should be.
At the end of the luncheon I proposed two toasts-not the usual procedure. One to the King of Great Britain and one to the Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill. The Prime Minister returned the toasts by offering one to the President.
We adjourned the meeting. I went to the Williamsburg at 4 P.M. Mr. Churchill and the team with him, together with Dean Acheson, Mr. Snyder and several others of my staff, came aboard at 5:30 P.M.
We had dinner at 7 P.M. Mr. Churchill and I went into the lounge on the upper deck and had a conference after dinner. We then sent for Mr. Acheson and Mr. Eden and continued our talks for some time and then went down to the mess hall where everybody was allowed to say his piece and express his opinion. It was a most enlightening meeting.
Mr. Churchill was highly pleased. We discussed everything. I listened and said very little.