Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-23

&AANAAAA&&A ee@W&Ss -. 49,
was q colonel In the Soviet &c
cret police. To my right was
Jack Parker, an American Sc
cret Service man.
We were working intently on
plans for handling 200 news
men ct the formal opening Of
the American national exhibit
In Moscow. But in the midst q
drawing diagrams on the floor
I was struck suddenly by the
unbelievable situation Of work.
Ing with the Red police.
Lenin Looks Down
As we scrambled to our feet
after completing the plans ]
noticed the wall above was
dominated by Q stern but gi-
gantic picture of Lenin adj
dressing students. No doubt 1t
would have been Q shock to
him to return to life and ind
Americans treading the scarlet
carpets which wind through
the endless Kremlin halls.
The Vice Presidents stan
found itself alternately ha-
raised and toasted as 1t dealt
with the various Soviet min
istries. &w
Mr.. Nixon,s two military
aides, Air Force Mai. J. d.
Houehes and Marine Brig Gen.
Robert Cushman had to nego-
tiate the hour-by-hour itin-
erary almost on an hour-by-
hour basis. Only on two occa-
sions were they able to. gain o
final agreement on q detailed
itinerary more than "A hours
ahead. f
The lesson pounded home to
all Of US was that the Rus
SLAMS, respected our requests
only when they knew we would
be tough in standing up to
them.
On the day Of the now IA
NOUS Kitchen summit" meet.
ing MIR. Nixon had three sep
arate debates with Soviet Pre-
mier Nikita s. Khrushchev.
The running discussion started
soon after the formalities were
through during a so-called
protocol call in Mr., Khru-
shchev's office. The two men
engaged in q battle Of minds
in the American exhibit TV
studio, and finally q climax
was reached when the Vice
President gave the Red Pres
mier q full, exposure to-
American facts In the kitchen
debate.
Guests at Dinner
The unbelievable happened
an hour later. Mr.. and Mrs.
Nixon and q half -dozen OF the
American official party were,
quests of Mr., Khrushchev at O
formal, many course luncheon.
There the Premier. with APP
parent new respect for the Vice
President, avoided all mention
Of the issues Of the day and
spent two hours exchanging
pleasantries.
One floor below in the Krem-
lin,. Mr.. Parker and Richard
Bean Of Lockheed Aircraft Corp.
and assistant press secretary
for the trip, found the secret
police using another luncheon
to try to force agreecent to
limit the area where American
newsmen could move when
covering o Khrushch chew Nixon
tour Of the exposition grounds.
Mr.. Parker and Mr.. Bean were
tough and won.
MY next major bout with the
Soviet Information Ministry
came during the second morn
ing we were in Moscow. I was
called suddenly to the foreign
ministry building and read q
set Of instructions which would
have limited news coverage out
side Of Moscow to - American
newSmen and would have
blocked much of the photo
coverage. ~
with others. / reacted immedi-
ately by demanding q reversal
of the decisions and by terming
the ultimatun, among otn&
things, ''unfriendly" and q
breach Of faith" A four-houI
deadline I set was met by q
Russian decision to allow all
Of the newsmen to make the
tour. The photo blockade con-
tinued until the Vice President
made firm demands Of Frol
Koslov, q first deputy premier,
two days later. This decision
also was reversed and the
photographers were allowed to
throughout the trip thi,
summing change Of attitude be.