President Ford–Vladimir Kirillin memcon (October 25, 1974)

by Gerald Ford, Horton Guyford Stever and Vladimir Alekseyevich Kirillin

MEMORANDUM

THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON

MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION

PARTICIPANTS:

President Ford
Vladimir Alekseyevich Kirillin, Deputy Chairman, USSR Council of Ministers
Dr. H. Guyford Stever, Director, National Science Foundation
Mr. Yuly M. Vorontsov, Minister Counselor, Russian Embassy
Lt. General Brent Scowcroft, Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs

DATE AND TIME:

October 25, 1974
1:45 p. m.

PLACE:

The Oval Office
The White House

[The press were admitted to take photos.]

President: I saw a picture of Chairman Kirillin and Brezhnev.

Kirillin: Yes.

President: You were in the Navy too.

Kirillin: Actually the Marines.

[The press left.]

Kirillin: Mr. President, I have the pleasure of conveying greetings from Secretary General Brezhnev, Chairman Kosygin, and President Podgorny.

President: I am looking forward to meeting General Secretary Brezhnev. We have had a number of communications back and forth, and it will be a pleasure to meet him.

Kirillin: You are not the only one to look forward to it.

President: We welcome the progress that has been made under the Science and Technology agreement. Say, you have a WIN button on. [Laughter]

Stever: Yes, we each had one, and Roy Ash came by the reception to give Kirillin another.

President: This is an area of cooperation where we have every reason to enhance our cooperation.

Kirillin: Thank you for meeting with us despite your busy schedule. Actually, our basic work has already been finalized. It went very well. We have not only worked out the machinery of cooperation but already have achieved results.

President: This is not exactly on the subject, but the Cosmonauts were here a short time ago and I took them to a policeman-fireman's crab picnic. They enjoyed it. I want to assure you and your leaders that this administration is as dedicated to detente as President Nixon was. I express this view to everyone because I want to make sure this point gets across.

How long will you be here?

Kirillin: I have a very interesting trip ahead, planned by Dr. Stever. I go home November 3rd.

President: I hope you will go elsewhere than the District of Columbia.

Stever: Yes, they will go to New Orleans, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston. They will see both production and academic research.

President: I must note, though, he didn't take you to the Heartland. You're seeing here, the west and the east, but not the midland.

Stever: I am saving that for the next time.

Dr. David wanted us to go to Chicago, but we couldn't make it.

President: Come back again and go to the Midwest.

Stever: The President is from Michigan, and the University of Michigan was on our list, but we thought it would be a bit obvious. The University has research in-all areas of science and is outstanding in one area of social science.

President: I am prejudiced because that is where I got a degree, but in general studies, not science. I wasn't smart enough to be with you guys.

We are very proud of our educational institutions. There is much research that I see emerging practically to help the U. S. and the world.

Kirillin: When I was here in 1963 I was acquainted with Harvard and MIT. Of course, these are not only institutions of learning, but of research. I met Dr. Kissinger there, who was a professor.

President: That was when I met him. I used to go up a couple times a year to talk to his siminar.

Kirillin: Then we met Professor Kissinger at the same time.

President: Please give the General Secretary my regards, and I look forward to visiting in the Soviet Union.