There was only one flaw in this plan. The Russian plane carrying the first family arrived an hour late, so the DC mid-day rush hour was over, and it looked like a ghost town. When Khrushchev first arrived, his first view of American life was not of prosperity and the blossoming post war economy. It was of the slums that bordered Washington …show more content…
The United States Government went all out to satisfy the security to protect the premier, as well as welcome him with open arms from the best in the government, but there were no school children there to welcome him, or citizens. It was only government officials.
Eisenhower was waiting at the bottom of the stairs leading to the plane, when Khrush opened the doors and descended to step foot for the first time on American soil. Khrush was the first ever communist to set foot on American soil. Ike still holding the grudge that Khrush did not withdraw in Berlin, was still mad when he shook the Premier’s hand. But it never showed in his speech welcoming the dignitary.
Ike led Khrush and his family up the podium on the tarmac, and it was there that they watched the US soldiers who Ike had commissioned to be there that day, give Khrush the 21 gun salute as well as the pleasure of listening to both the United States and the USSR’s National Anthem being performed. It was the first time a foreign leader had gotten full treatment only designated for