(4 of 7)
Goot Mawrning & Goodbye. Not long after Kozlov's plane landed in Washington, he was treated to a warm, off-the-cuff welcome by Dwight Eisenhower at the presidential press conference. Asked his impressions of Kozlov, Ike replied genially: "Well, of course in most of the personal visits with representatives of the Soviet government you find that you have had a rather pleasant personal experience. They are outgiving, they apparently like to have fun, they appreciate a joke, they see humor in a number of things and so, by this standard . . . you might say I found a man that was very friendly, and frankly I enjoyed the visit I had with him. It was entirely personal." But Ike admitted that in the formal conference set for that morning, he was braced for more serious talk than the Manhattan chitchat.
Kozlov, who had been met at the airport by Nixon and exchanged unproductive words with Secretary of State Christian Herter, arrived in the White House lobby with a well-rehearsed "Goot mawrn-ing." He, Herter and the President talked for more than an hour without so much as a flicker of change in the Soviet position on Berlin. "The cardinal question," said he to reporters, as he came out solemnly, "was a question of peace, and I hope peace will prevail throughout the world. Goodbye."
Equally unproductive was his long speech next day before a luncheon sponsored by the National Press Club and Overseas Writers. In 3,000 carefully chosen words he proclaimed the worn Kremlin line ("peaceful coexistence," "cessation of nuclear arming," "disengagement" —all on Soviet terms). Consenting to answer written questions, provided that he could screen them, Kozlov cheerfully fielded a few easy ones.
Q. Had he brought any new proposals from Khrushchev? A. No. Q. Could a summit conference break the current deadlock on Berlin? A. It would "be useful." Q. What about the report from Russia-touring Averell Harriman that Khrushchev thinks the balance of power has shifted to the Russians? A. "I was present . . . and there was no rough talk with Harriman." Q. Is Kozlov to be Khrushchev's successor? A. "I know Comrade Khrushchev very well. He feels fine and he will live a long life." On only one question did Kozlov narrow his eyes and speak in a menacing tone. The question of force on the Berlin problem, said he, "is being studied. If we fail to reach agreement . . . then our government will be compelled to conclude a peace treaty with the German Democratic Republic with all the consequences this entails. If force is encountered, force will be met by force."
Sawed Off. As he and his entourage wandered through the tourist-packed Capitol, Kozlov seemed to show far more interest in the people than the sights.