Word: summiteers
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...summit was designed to help clear away misconceptions on both sides. The participants knew, however, that they were going to Vienna somewhat impaired, Brezhnev by his age (72) and ailments; Carter by his loss of political support (the latest polls show him with only 30% approval). Neither leader had any illusions about making major breakthroughs. At a Kremlin dinner before his departure, Brezhnev expressed only the hope that the summit would "become an important stage of further development of Soviet-American relations." As Carter left Washington, he warned that progress toward peace is "often measured in inches...
...Vienna. "We follow the polls. We read all your eminent columnists who write about the political ineptitude of the White House. Of course, it is not without precedent for us to deal with a U.S. President who is politically wounded." The mischievous reference was to Nixon and his second summit with Brezhnev in Moscow in 1974. If the Soviets had followed normal protocol, the SALT II signing would have taken place in Washington, but Moscow insisted on the neutral ground of Vienna. The usual reason given was Brezhnev's health, but the Soviet diplomat seemed also to be suggesting that...
Despite all these wary precautions, a summit conference is a momentous event. Finally Thursday came, and it was time for Carter to head for Vienna. At precisely 8:10 a.m., he emerged from the White House with Rosalynn and Amy. He was going to the summit, Carter said, "with hope but without false expectations." To well-wishers led by Vice President Walter Mondale, the President added: "I'll certainly do the best I can." Then the Carters boarded a helicopter on the South Lawn and choppered to the gleaming blue and white Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base...
...since the Kennedy-Khrushchev meeting of 1961 had Vienna been the site of a modern superpower summit, and the Austrians were determined that this one would go smoothly. Reinforcements from the provinces increased the police force to 6,000 men. Armed guards were assigned to Carter and Brezhnev, even though both brought phalanxes of their own. More than 100 taxis were diverted to summit duty, chiefly because the press corps of more than 2,000 had reserved long in advance nearly all of Vienna's chauffeured limousines. The summit principals had brought their own transportation: a black Cadillac and Lincoln...
...slight limp by the honor guard and then was driven straight to his quarters in the Soviet embassy, a tree-shaded stone building that was built in the 19th century. Members of the Soviet advance team had taken great pains to portray Brezhnev as alert and eager for the summit and in no way hampered by ill health. Still, Austrian officials took no chances. They quietly ordered several hospitals throughout the city to keep beds and life-support equipment at the ready in case Brezhnev needed them...