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Polite—But Complete. For nearly two hours that afternoon, De Gaulle and Kennedy edged closer toward the major issues that divide them. When the Congo was discussed, Kennedy got a grudging admission from his host that the situation had improved since the U.N. intervention, but no commitment that France would help pay for the cost of maintaining the U.N. army. De Gaulle frankly voiced his view that U.S. aid to Africa should be supplemental to European efforts; without committing the U.S., Kennedy accepted the principle. Both men deplored the brutal Portuguese efforts to crush the Angolan rebellion, agreed to urge Portugal, quietly and discreetly, to adopt more liberal policies.
As time ran out, De Gaulle was explaining his reluctance to integrate French forces into NATO, his ambition to see France, Britain and the U.S. joined in a three-power directorate that would share equally in the strategic planning for the defense of the West. Kennedy proposed greater "consultation" on specific problems, but made no concessions on sharing U.S. nuclear secrets or U.S. deterrent strategy. The disagreement on France's role in NATO was polite—but complete.
Generally, the conferences were going well; as if in response, Kennedy unleashed a few flashes of wit during the day's ceremonial functions. He paid the traditional courtesy call on the U.S. embassy, told the 500 employees gathered to greet him: "I tried to be assigned to the embassy in Paris myself, and, unable to do so, I decided I would run for President." At the Hotel de Ville (Paris' cavernous city hall) before some 1,000 reception guests, Kennedy made reference to his own background in municipal politics: "I am the descendant, on both sides, of two grandparents, who served in the city council of Boston, and I am sure they regarded that as a more significant service than any of their descendants have yet rendered." Turning serious, Kennedy rocked back and forth in his best platform manner, stabbing the air with clenched fists. "I do not believe the West is in decline," he said. "I believe the West is in ascendancy. Even in the last 15 years, the strongest tide in the direction of the affairs of the world has been the rise of independent states, the desire of people to be independent."
Kennedy returned to his talks with De Gaulle, then dashed away to address the permanent council of NATO. Said he: "I want to restate again the strong commitment of my country to the defense of Western Europe."
Regal Pomp. As the grey Paris dusk turned to drizzling night, the Kennedys and their hosts drove the eleven miles from Paris to the Palace of Versailles, where staunchly republican France had prepared a display of regal pomp. In the glittering, candlelit Hall of Mirrors. 150 guests dined on coeur de filet de Charolais Renaissance from gold-trimmed china given to Napoleon by the City of Paris as a coronation present. After dinner the party moved to the restored Louis XV Theater for a command ballet performance.