Topaz - Leon Uris [111]
The “FASTEN SEAT BELT—NO SMOKING” sign flashed on as the plane made its approach to Orly Field. The landing gear clumped down and locked into place. The plane slowed and lowered itself. André Devereaux felt as though he were strangling.
Part V
Columbine
Prologue
THE PRESIDENT OPENED HIS official day posing for photographers in the garden with the regional winners of the National Spelling Bee. He was in a jovial mood, signing an Aid to Education Bill before the youngsters and passing out the pens as a souvenir.
Lowenstein came up from his basement office and went over the first draft of the pending speech to the nation on Cuba. They discussed revisions and made numerous marginal notes.
“Look up Wilson and Roosevelt’s declaration-of-war speeches to the Congress and work up a draft ... in case we need it,” the President said.
There was a meeting with the space-program people. The President was concerned that defense of the gargantuan budget could be a campaign issue in the off-presidential-year elections the next month. The NASA head advised him that a twenty-odd orbit attempt would be made the following May.
Before noon the President’s Executive Council came to order for its first of two daily meetings. For the most part the President listened to the reports and views, jotted notes and asked a few questions, but mainly stayed out of the discussions.
Stu Taylor, Chief of the Latin-American desk, was next on the agenda. He advised the President that the delegates of the Organization of American States would be meeting simultaneously with the announcement of the quarantine ultimatum to the nation. Taylor felt certain the President would get near unanimous support from the OAS.
Throughout the previous night two American units, one armored and one infantry, broke camp in their Southwest and Far West bases. Flatcars at the sidings were loaded with tanks, artillery, and mobile equipment. The trains moved east. Long convoys of trucks filled with combat soldiers moved into military airfields to be airlifted to the East Coast.
Before lunch, the President and his children took a dip in the White House pool.
After lunch the President received the Indian Ambassador and agreed to push a surplus wheat shipment.
General St. James reported that all key officers of the general staff had cancelled any trips and remained on standby for “special budget planning meetings” at the Pentagon.
At Hampton Roads, Virginia, a squadron of destroyers passed the lightship, then sped south. Sealed orders were opened. They moved into blockade position across the Caribbean sea lanes to Cuba. Their ammunition was made ready for instant use.
In the late afternoon, McKittrick, the Press Secretary, and General St. James expressed concern over press inquiries on the troop movements into Florida.
They agreed with the President they should stick to the story of special maneuvers.
More photographic evidence was shown the President. Unusually heavy tonnage was strung out on the Atlantic heading for Cuba from Soviet bloc ports.
At five-thirty, the President was briefed in advance of his meeting with Vasili Leonov, the Soviet Foreign Minister. Leonov was due at the White House at six for an hour of semiformal discussions.
Leonov was one of the few surviving old hands in Soviet politics and by far the most knowledgeable on American affairs, having served as both ambassador and leader of the United Nations delegation.
The President greeted the Russian, twenty years his senior, with warmth. When they were seated comfortably the two men were left alone and conversed in English.
A small number of matters were touched upon and then the talk got around to the Berlin situation. Vasili Leonov assured the President that no pressure would be applied to Berlin until after the American elections the following month.
Each of them expressed views on Berlin long known to the other. The Soviets continued to press for an open-city status and considered the presence of Allied troops as an advance NATO