03-AUG-2000 10:46

DR HENRY A. KISSINGER

It was in 1976 that the Queen and Prince Philip paid their first State Visit to the United States for nearly twenty years. Their previous visit had been in 1957 when President Eisenhower was tenant of The White House. Dr Henry Kissinger recalls some of the highlights of the '76 occasion. 'There were a number of celebratory events to mark the bicentenary of America and the Queen and Prince Philip came to several; first in New York, another at the White House and there was one splendid evening when she returned President Ford's hospitality and invited us to dinner on board the Royal Yacht. Britannia was anchored off Newport, Rhode Island and it made a magnificent spectacle, dressed overall with the Royal Marines Band playing. She appeared to enjoy it and we certainly did. I was lucky enough to be seated next to the Queen twice which made it even more enjoyable.'

It was during the visit to President Ford that Dr Kissinger made his memorable remark about the Queen "being a very interesting lady with a lot of savvy." 'The reason I made this assessment of her was that I had sat next to her shortly after she had returned from one of the Commonwealth Conferences. She painted vivid word pictures of various leaders which showed how completely in tune she was with what was happening in these countries. We also discussed other aspects of foreign policy when she has displayed a keen knowledge. She is a serious woman who is world class in her understanding of international affairs, and she is able to make shrewd judgements of people. And, far from being the mere figurehead

03-AUG-2000 10:47

she sometimes appears to be, she also knows a great deal about the electoral system in Britain. She knows all about the arithmetic needed by the different parties and how much of a majority is required to form a working government.'

Henry Kissinger is a man of whom it can truly be said that he knows everyone who is worth knowing. Presidents and potentates have sought his advice on security matters and world affairs, and among his many impressive awards are the Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1977, and the Nobel Peace Prize of 1973.

High on his list of distinguished achievements is his prominent role in negotiating the Viet Nam settlement in January 1973 and the following year when he carried out a similar task in the Middle East.

A former Secretary of State and Presidential Adviser on National Security, his pedigree is immaculate.

He has known the Queen and Prince Philip for many years, since just after Richard Nixon had been elected President of the United States. 'This was when I first met the Queen. Nixon was making a visit to England which was not a State occasion. I accompanied him and the Queen asked us to a lunch at Buckingham Palace. I thought from her public image that Her Majesty would be a very formal lady; very aloof and stern. But from the moment I met her - and this was confirmed on subsequent occasions - I was struck by how lively and animated she was and also her great sense of humour, without sacrificing any of her dignity.'

Among Henry Kissinger's many directorships, he was once on the board of 20th Century Fox and Ronald Reagan, a former movie star turned politician, used his connections to arrange a

03-AUG-2000 10:48

function at the Hollywood studios where both the Queen and Henry Kissinger were guests. 'It was the idea of Nancy Reagan and on this occasion I was nowhere near the Queen or Prince Philip. Someone, in their wisdom, had decided, with appalling bad taste, that the only people who would sit near the Queen would be those who were the major fund-raisers for Reagan. Anyway, we were all lined up in two rows, along which the Queen and Prince Philip walked, acknowledging the applause and stopping to have a word with some of the stars they recognised. Prince Philip paused to chat to me for a few moments. Immediately, a rather officious executive plucked at his sleeve urging him to continue the procession. He was having none of it, retorting, "Surely I can stop for a second to talk to an old friend without someone trying to pull me back into line?"

One of the nicest occasions when Henry Kissinger met the Queen was when he was knighted by her [Dr Kissinger was made a Knight Commander of The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George on 25 June 1995, for his services to international diplomacy, though, as a United States citizen he does not use the title "Sir" that goes with the honour.]

"The Queen was most gracious and gave me lunch at Windsor. It was during the meal that Prince Philip saved me from making a what could have been a faux pas. Towards the end of lunch the Queen's corgis came in and sat at her feet. Now I am very fond of dogs - in fact I regard myself as a 'dog-nut' and for the moment I forgot where I was, calling across the table to my wife Nancy, who was sitting next to Prince Philip, "Look what's sitting under the table." There was complete silence

03-AUG-2000 10:48

P. 05

and everybody - there were around forty of us present - stopped what they were doing. Prince Philip jumped to my rescue, making a remark about them being the bane of his life and everyone laughed. He had said it in a joking fashion that diffused the situation straight away and I was very grateful. On the same occasion, during Royal Ascot Week, I was invited to ride with the Queen and Prince Philip in an open carriage as they processed down the racecourse, in front of the grandstands and waved to the crowds. Even though I have never thought of myself as a man who is easily intimidated, I have to confess I was slightly overawed. What happened was that we left the Castle in a fleet of cars and drove down the Long Walk to the entrance to the racecourse, then changed over to the horse-drawn carriages for the final mile. It was fascinating because as we were being driven, the Queen was making comments about little mistakes she had spotted - but which nobody else would have noticed. She didn't do it in a nasty way; more humorous and witty. For example she noticed that the band had started a couple of beats too soon, little things like that. She made the whole thing very enjoyable.' Dr Kissinger also observed the attention to detail that accompanies all things Royal. 'When we arrived at the Royal Box everything was meticulously arranged. There was no scrabbling around looking for seats, everyone had an appointed place and the Queen knew exactly where everyone and everything should be. To the outsider it all looks so spontaneous, but the planning is brilliant and all done with excellent taste. She is a wonderful hostess.'

Henry Kissinger also has a great respect for Prince Philip.

03-AUG-2000 10:49

In spite of Philip's reputation for being aggressive and overbearing on occasion, Dr Kissinger enjoys his company, 'I've never found him to be difficult. He's always the same to me. I like his honesty and the way he says what he believes.'

Britain has long liked to think it enjoys a special relationship with the United States. Henry Kissinger believes the character and personal qualities of the Queen make a significant contribution. 'Whenever I see her with American Presidents, I cannot believe she can behave the same way with every other country. She has made a unique and enormous contribution to Anglo/US relations. There is no doubt in my mind that she is admired and respected here more than any other Head of State.'

JUL-31-2000 17:02

KISSINGER ASSOCIATES

212 759 0041

P.02/06

DR HENRY A. KISSINGER

It was during the visit to President Ford that Dr Kissinger made his memorable remark about the Queen "being a very interesting lady with a lot of savvy." 'The reason I made this assessment of her was that I had sat next to her shortly after she had returned from one of the Commonwealth Conferences. She painted vivid word pictures of various leaders which showed how completely in tune she was with what was happening in these countries. We also discussed then—and have done so—of number of times since other aspects of foreign policy when she has displayed a keen intelligence. She is a serious woman who is world class in her knowledge of international affairs, and she is able to make shrewd judgements of people. And, far

knowledge

Additional HAK
edits

JUL-31-2000 17:03

KISSINGER ASSOCIATES

212 759 0041

from being the more figurehead she sometimes appears to be,
she also knows a great deal about the electoral system in
Britain. It might come as a surprise to some people that she
knows all about the arithmetic needed by the different parties
and how much of a majority is required to form a working
government.'

He has known the Queen and Prince Philip for many years,
since just after Richard Nixon had been elected President
of the United States. 'This was when I first met the Queen,
Nixon was making a visit to England which was not a State
occasion. I accompanied him and the Queen asked us to a lunch
at Buckingham Palace. I did not at that time know a great deal
about the Monarchy and I thought from her public image that
Her Majesty would be a very formal lady; very aloof and stern.

JUL-31-2000 17:03

KISSINGER ASSOCIATES

212 759 0041

P.04/06

Among Henry Kissinger's many directorships, he was once on the
board of 20th Century Fox and Ronald Reagan, a former movie
star turned politician, used his connections to arrange a
function at the Hollywood studios where both the Queen and
Henry Kissinger were guests. 'It was the idea of Nancy Reagan
and on this occasion I was nowhere near the Queen or Prince
Philip. Someone, in their wisdom, had decided, with appalling
bad taste, that the only people who would sit near the Queen
would be those who were the major fund-raisers for Reagan.
Anyway, we were all lined up in two rows, along which the
Queen and Prince Philip walked, acknowledging the applause and
stopping to have a word with some of the stars they

Prince Philip recognised Her Majesty paused to chat to me for a few moments

Prince Philip, who was on the other side, came across to join her. Immediately, a rather officious executive plucked at his sleeve urging him to return to his own side of the场. continue the procession

'The Queen was most gracious and gave me lunch at Windsor. It
was during the meal that Prince Philip saved me from making a
what could have been a faux pas. Towards the end of lunch the
Queen's corgis came in and sat at her feet. Now I am very fond

3

JUL-31-2000 17:03

KISSINGER ASSOCIATES

212 759 0041

P.05/06

of dogs - in fact I regard myself as a 'dog-nut' and for the
moment I forgot where I was, calling across the table to my
wife Nancy, who was sitting next to Prince Philip, "Look
what's sitting under the table." There was complete silence
and everybody - there were around forty of us present -
stopped what they were doing. Apparently one does not refer to
Queen's dogs on occasions like this.
Prince Philip jumped
to my rescue, making a remark about them being the bane of his
life and everyone laughed. He had said it in a joking fashion
that diffused the situation straight away and I was very
grateful. Then came the real treat: It was during Royal Ascot
Week, and I was invited to ride with the Queen and Prince
Philip in an open carriage as they processed down the
racecourse, in front of the grandstands and waved to the
crowds. It was an incredible experience - and even though I have
cap.
never thought of myself as a man who is easily intimidated, I
have to confess I was slightly overawed. What happened was
that we left the Castle in a fleet of cars and drove down the
Long Walk to the entrance to the racecourse, then changed over
to the horse-drawn carriages for the final mile. It was
fascinating because as we were being driven, the Queen was
making comments about little mistakes she had spotted - but
which nobody else would have noticed. She didn't do it in a
nasty way; more humorous and witty. For example she noticed
that the band had started a couple of beats too soon, little
things like that. She made the whole thing very enjoyable.'
Or Kissinger also observed the attention to detail that
accompanies all things Royal. 'When we arrived at the Royal
Box everything was meticulously arranged. There was no

4

JUL-31-2000 17:03

KISSINGER ASSOCIATES

212 759 0041

P.06/06

scrabbling around looking for seats, everyone had an appointed
place and the Queen knew exactly where everyone and everything
should be. To the outsider it all looks so spontaneous, but
the planning is brilliant and all done with such excellent
taste. She is a wonderful hostess.

Cap.

in spite of Philip's reputation for being aggressive and
overbearing on occasion, Dr Kissinger enjoys his company,
'I've never found him to be difficult. He's always the same
to me. I like his honesty and the way he says what he
believes.'

Britain has long liked to think it enjoys a special
relationship with the United States. Henry Kissinger believes
much of this is due to the character and personal qualities of
the Queen. 'Whenever I see her with American Presidents, I
cannot believe she can behave the same way with every other
country. She has made a unique and enormous contribution to
Anglo/US relations. There is no doubt in my mind that she is
admired and respected here more than any other Head of State.'

SIR:

In the previous draft this
line read "Henry Kissinger gets
on well with Prince Philip" and
you deleted it. Do you want
to delete it as it reads now?

5.

to

TOTAL P.07

TOTAL P.06

JUL-31-2000 14:20

KAI DC

212 753 7248 P.03

OR HENRY A. KISSINGER

It was during the visit to President Ford that Dr Kissinger made his memorable remark about the Queen "being a very interesting lady with a lot of savvy." 'The reason I made this assessment of her was that I had sat next to her shortly after she had returned from one of the Commonwealth Conferences. She painted vivid word pictures of various leaders which showed how completely in tune she was with what was happening in these countries. We also discussed then—and have done so—a number of times since other aspects of foreign policy when she has displayed a keen intelligence. She is a serious woman who is world class in her knowledge of international affairs, and she is able to make shrewd judgements of people. And, far

A knowledge
A understanding

1

JUL-31-2000 14:20

KAI DC

212 753 7248 P.04

He has known the Queen and Prince Philip for many years,
since just after Richard Nixon had been elected President
of the United States. 'This was when I first met the Queen.
Nixon was making a visit to England which was not a State
occasion. I accompanied him and the Queen asked us to a lunch
at Buckingham Palace. I did not at that time know a great deal
about the Monarchy and I thought from her public image that
Her Majesty would be a very formal lady; very aloof and stern.

JUL-31-2000 14:20

KAI DC

212 753 7248 P.05

Prince Philip recognised Her Majesty paused to chat to me for a few moments
Prince Philip, who was on the other side, came across to
join her. Immediately, a rather officious executive plucked
at his sleeve urging him to return to his own side of the
line-up. He was having none of it, retorting, "Surely I can
stop for a second to talk to an old friend without someone
trying to pull me back into line?"

continue the
procession

3

JUL-31-2000 14:20

KAI DC

212 753 7248 P.06

of dogs - in fact I regard myself as a 'dog-nut' and for the
moment I forgot where I was, calling across the table to my
wife Nancy, who was sitting next to Prince Philip, "Look
what's sitting under the table." There was complete silence
and everybody - there were around forty of us present -
stopped what they were doing. Apparently one does not refer to
the Queen's dogs on occasions like this. Prince Philip jumped
to my rescue, making a remark about them being the bane of his
life and everyone laughed. He had said it in a joking fashion
that diffused the situation straight away and I was very
grateful. Then came the real treat. It was during Royal Ascot
Week and I was invited to ride with the Queen and Prince
Philip in an open carriage as they processed down the
racecourse, in front of the grandstands and waved to the
crowds. It was an incredible experience and even though I have
cap. never thought of myself as a man who is easily intimidated, I
have to confess I was slightly overawed. What happened was
that we left the Castle in a fleet of cars and drove down the
Long Walk to the entrance to the racecourse, then changed over
to the horse-drawn carriages for the final mile. It was
fascinating because as we were being driven, the Queen was
making comments about little mistakes she had spotted - but
which nobody else would have noticed. She didn't do it in a
nasty way; more humorous and witty. For example she noticed
that the band had started a couple of beats too soon, little
things like that. She made the whole thing very enjoyable. '
Dr Kissinger also observed the attention to detail that
accompanies all things Royal. 'When we arrived at the Royal
Box everything was meticulously arranged. There was no

On the
same
occasion