Description:

Khrushchev Nikita

"Spirit of Camp David" Presidential Dinner Place Card Belonging to Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrei Gromyko

 

Place card used at Camp David by Andrei A. Gromyko, Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs, during Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev's 1959 Camp David visit. Heavy card stock, cream with gilt beveled edges, with raised Presidential seal at top. The card reads: "His Excellency Andrei A. Gromyko." A small water stain at lower right, else near fine. Measures 4" x 2.25". Provenance: Family of Captain Henry "Hank" Hirschy, United States Navy.

 

This place card was used at an official dinner held at Camp David between September 25-26, 1959, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower hosted Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. Besides Eisenhower, Khrushchev, and Gromyko, dinner attendees included Secretary of State Christian Herter.

 

Nikita Khrushchev took a 12-day cross-country tour of the United States that included New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Iowa, and California in September 1959. Khrushchev's trip enabled him to conduct cultural reconnaissance as well as achieve certain political ends. The Communist Party leader tried his first American hot dog in Des Moines, and socialized with Hollywood celebrities. Khrushchev was genuinely outraged when refused entry to Disneyland because of security concerns.

 

The more serious part of the trip occurred towards its conclusion, when Eisenhower and Khrushchev convened at Camp David. In a joint communique published on September 27, 1959, the world leaders stated that the talks fostered mutual understanding and renewed their commitment to future negotiation. Eisenhower and Khrushchev promised to hash out such issues as disarmament, Germany, trade, and World War II debts during later summits. Khrushchev was convinced that he had forged a strong personal relationship with Eisenhower, and referred to their newfound bonhommie as the "Spirit of Camp David." Eisenhower denied ever using this phrase but said that it "must mean simply that it looks like we can talk together without being mutually abusive."

 

Provenance: Family of Captain Henry "Hank" Hirschy (1932-2015), United States Navy. Items were collected when then Lieutenant Hirschy was Supply and Logistics Officer for the Military Aides to the President and Officer-in-Charge of the Navy Mess in the White House during both the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. His duties also included taking care of the President’s needs on overseas trips, aboard the presidential yachts, and at Camp David. Hirschy served in the White House from May 1, 1961 through May 31, 1965.

 

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