Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
7337007
label
Arrival Ceremonies at Akasaka Palace, Japan [Pool Report]
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
7337007
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
Arrival Ceremonies at Akasaka Palace, Japan [Pool Report]
citationUrl
collections
White House Press Releases (Ford Administration)
Press Releases
subjects
Japan
largeImageUrl
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
7337007
levelOfDescription
item
productionDates
day
19
logicalDate
1974-11-19
month
11
year
1974
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
5aded02ebecfd331
ocrText
Digitized from Box 5 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
NOVEMBER 19, 1974
POOL REPORT
ARRIVAL CEREMONIES AT AKASAKA PALACE
The ceremonies follow the schedule.
The setting for the President's greeting of the Emperor was a main courtyard
of the Palace. The stone surface of the courtyard, was laid with red carpet
in the pattern to be followed by the dignitaries. Along one side of the courtyard
the diplomatic corps, all in frock coats, gathered well before the arrival of
the Japanese leaders.
As they waited, workers with small hand sweepers worked on the carpet to
remove every speck of trash that collected.
The Emperor's black limousine arrived arrived at 9:28. He stepped from the
car, bowed to protocol officials and walked down the line of the diplomatic
corps and government officials, including the Cabinet. Followed by Prince
Akihito, he followed a route that tock him to the front portico of the Palace,
where he was met by the President. Mr. Ford in cutaway and wing collar
towered over the Emperor. They spoke for 45 seconds, with the help of an
interpreter. After their greetings, they turned to the front while a military
band played the "Star Spangled Banner" and the Japanese anthem. Then there
were mutual introductions on both sides, with the Emperor presenting the
Crown Prince and Prime Minister Tanaka to the President. The Presi dent
got a bit ahead of himself at this point and started to step away from the
group, apparently overlooking the Crown Prince until the Emperor got his
attention.
The President then stepped into the brilliant sunshine and walked to a small
podium in the center of the courtyard to take the salute of the Japanese Honor
Guard. The military commands of the Guard Commander were in English.
Mr. Ford then reviewed the guard, with his long strides emphasizing that
his trousers were considerably shorter than those of the others who were
wearing formal dress.
His route then led him back to a corner of the courtyard where he presented
Secretary Kissinger and other U.S. officials to the Emperor and Prince
Akihito. The Chief of Protocol then led Mr. Ford down the reception line
of Cabinet officials and members of the diplomatic corps, a considerable feat
of memory since there were more than 75 in the group. To most, the
President's remakrs were, "It is nice meeting you Mr. X, or "It's nice to
see you this morning." Secretary Kissinger followed saying over and over,
"It is nice to see you. Kissinger spent more time talking to Foreign Minister
Toshio Kimura, Finance Minister Masayoshi Ohira and International Trade
and Industry Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone.
At the end of the line, members of the group chatted briefly before the
President joined the Emperor and the latter's limousine for the drive to
the Imperial Palace. The motorcade consisted of 29 cars not counting the
police escort.
Henry Trewhitt - Baltimore Sun
Oswald Johnson - Washington Star-News