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State Dinners - 9/25/74 - Italy (2)
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46740348
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State Dinners - 9/25/74 - Italy (2)
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Sheila R. Weidenfeld Files (Ford Administration)
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The original documents are located in Box 30, folder "State Dinners - 9/25/74 - Italy (2)" of
the Sheila Weidenfeld Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Some items in this folder were not digitized because it contains copyrighted
materials. Please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library for access to
these materials.
Digitized from Box 30 of the Sheila Weidenfeld Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
Capitol Punishment
1 Helping Hand
For the Needy
By Art Buchwald
Once in a while I have a fantasy that is so great
want to share it with everybody.
This is my latest pipe dream:
A man comes into my office with a large suitcase.
"Hi," he says. "My name's Nelson Rockefeller, but my
riends call me Rocky."
"I'm sorry," I say. "I'm not interested in buying any
hing."
"No, you don't understand, I'm going to be Vice
President of the United States and, in order to prove
here is no conflict of interest, I've decided to give up
Il my worldly goods."
By Harry Naltchayan, The Washington Post
"That's very nice, but why come to me?"
President and Mrs. Ford toast Italian President Giovanni Leone at last night's state dinner at the W hite House. At far right is Mrs. Leone
"Well," Rockefeller replies, "I just don't want to
five my worldly goods to anybody. I want to give my
ortune to a person who has a responsibility toward
he public and will not abuse the power that money
A Fine Evening for Italian-American Relations
rings-someone who won't just throw it away on wine,
romen and song."
By Donnie Radcliffe
other guests during toasts in
Italy and the United States,
Mr. Ford, emphasizing
and awareness of beauty."
of the problems of Europe
and Dorothy McCardle
the State Dining Room.
the Atlantic Alliance as "an
"I can see that," I say.
that around 10 per cent of
"Mark Twain once wrote
and the rest of the world.
Later, Mrs. Egidio Ortona,
instrument for detente and
the American people have
--and he was not very com-
Leone appeared touched
"Happy and I were talking the other night with some
President Ford will go to
wife of the Italian ambassa.
peace," a need to build a
ancestral ties or backgrounds
plimentary to foreigners-
by the Fords' hospitality and
riends and your name came up. They said you would
Italy sometime in the near
dor, said no definite date
united Europe to comple-
originating in Italy, lauded
but he said once the creator
e the only person who would know what to do with
future and his acceptance of
had been set for the visit.
ment that alliance, Leone
'the superb artists, out-
noted the special attention
made Italy from the designs
reat sums of wealth
The mention of the forth-
concluded with his country's
standing individuals in
paid to his wife and three
that invitatio was an
of Michaelargelo. It was
coming Italian trip was a
support of the United States'
science, very renowned
sons, who have accompanied
I blush. "That's very nice, Rocky, but I just couldn't
probably the best thing he
nounced last night by Italian
brief one in the remarks by
policy of detente.
him.
athletes, and many, many
ever said about any for-
ccept your money. After all, I hardly know you."
President Giovanni Leone at
Leone. It came at the end of
"If these four points are
'In Italy we tend to hide
people in public life" who
eigner.
"Look," Rocky says, opening up the suitcase, "I've
a White House state dinner
a warm response to Mr.
reconfirmed and they al-
have contributed to the
our family away and I have
Mr. Ford lauded what he
in the visiting leader's
Ford's toast, and the Italian
ready have been confirmed
broken away to bring my
alked it over with my brothers and they are in com-
growth of this country.
termed a "frank and can-
honor
President focused on four
in our talks today-then I
He said the "broadest"
wife and sons, a fine family
lete agreement. They want to make you an honorary
did" talk with Leone about
"We assure you of warm
major reassertions."
nember of the family. They can't think of anybody
thank God for allowing me
of sound moral values."
relationship with Italy came
mutual problems and hailed
welcome from our people,"
Mentioning a faithful and
to represent Italy in this
in its contributions to
The remarks held special
hey'd rather share their empire with,"
his visitor's "wise statesman-
Leone told Mr. Ford and 120
loyal friendship between
great country,' he said.
"grace, humanity, tolerance
ship" and "great knowledge"
See DINNER, B3, Col. 2
I hold up my hand. "I'm sorry, but taking another
aan's fortune is out of the question. Just for curiosity's
Washington Star-News
Thursday, September 26, 1974
Section C
portf
A Ragtime
Night for
The Leones
By Isabelle Shelton
Star-News Star Writer
There was something for everybody at last night's
White House State Dinner for President Giovanni
Leone of Italy.
Those down-and-out stock brokers that Council of
Economic Advisers Chairman Alan Greenspan was
bleeding for last week might have found some comfort
in the after-dinner entertainment in the East Room,
nothing to do with politics - just his health and
supplied by Gunther Schuller and his New England
spirit.
Conservatory Ragtime Ensemble,
WHEN REPORTERS pressed for more details on
the latter, Kissinger said: I think what I saw Ron
THE GROUP presented a program composed al-
Ziegler say on TV was right, It's a terrible adjustment
most entirely of Scott Joplin music, and one of the
for him.'
numbers was called "Wall Street Rag.' Schuller ex-
Asked why the former president is getting weekly
plained it had been written 60 years ago by Joplin to
memorialize."a kind of crash on Wall Street back in
foreign policy briefings, which are flown to San Cle-
1908.
mente on a government courrier plane, Kissinger
replied: "Because the President wants him to.
Themes in the song, he said, memorialized "the
Mrs. Burger said her husband came home from Be-
melancholy of the stock broker," and a suggestion
thesda Naval Medical Center where he had been
that "good times are a comin'," as the crowd in the
packed East Room laughed.
recuperating from his bicycle accident, because 'he
Greenspan, who was a guest, disappeared before
was freezing out there. They don't turn on the heat in
the hospital until October 1." She "put him to bed
reporters could ask his reaction to the song.
with a heating pad and some warm blankets, and he is
For the fashion minded, there was the Italian presi-
getting along fine," she reported.
dent's wife, her thick black hair and deeply tanned
For the three young sons of President Leone who
skin handsomely set off by a white crepe sleeveless
accompanied him on the trip, the White House party
gown by Italian designer Valentino. The bodice and
was a gay evening. The Fords' 17-year old daughter
skirt of the dress were decorated with sequins and
seed pearls, and white ostrich feathers lined the hem
Susan, and her date, Gardner Britt, the three young
Leones and a friend they had brought along, plus four
For reporters, there was news from Secretary of
young girls rounded up by Susan, made up their own
State Henry Kissinger about phone calls he has re-
table of 10 in the State Dining Room. "We hit it off just
ceived from former President Nixon, and from Mrs.
fine," Susan said.
Warren Burger, wife of the Chief Justice, there was
The other girls in the group were three schoolmates
news about her husband, who was injured last week-
of Susan's at Holton-Arms School: Barbara Manfuso
end in a bicycle accident.
and twins Elison and Reagan Golubin, plus Lise
Kissinger said he had spoken to Mr. Nixon on the
Courtney Howe, 21, who is the daughter of Betty
telephone several times since the former president re-
Ford's special assistant, Mrs. Nancy Howe
turned home to San Clemente, Calif., after his resig-
Lise Courtney reported that the Italians all spoke
nation early in August. He indicated that Mr. Nixon
fluid English, and seemed well aquainted with con-
had initiated most of the calls, and said the most re-
temporary American goings on They commented
cent call-made by Nixon-came about week ago.
about Linus in the 'Peanuts'' comic strip, among
"It had nothing to do with foreign policy and nothing
other things,
to do with the pardon," the secretary of state told the
ring of reporters who surrounded him in the Blue
THE AUDIENCE in the East Room obviously
Room. Asked what the two had discussed, Kissinger
said: "I don't think I ought to talk about it. It had
See LEONES, C-4
42
c
family food fashions furnishings
THE NEW YORK TIMES, MONL
Italy's First Lady: Effective Boo
By BERNADINE MORRIS
her knees and she is delighted that hem-
Most of the time, Donna Vittoria is
When President Giovanni Leone of
lines are lengthening.
dressed by Valentino who, she feels, has
Italy pays a state visit to Washington on
"I can understand when a dress is
Wednesday, the slender, attractive wo-
shorter, it can make a woman look
the proper touch of elegance and refine-
man with the thick, dark wavy hair at
younger," she explained, "but I prefer to
ment. But she will occasionally add
his side is bound to command more than
wear this length because I don't like my
clothes by such designers as Princess
knees."
Irene Galitzine, Pino Lancetti and Rena-
the usual attention.
Even when her husband was simply a
to Balestra, all couturiers in Rome. She
One reason will be her wardrobe. Vit-
successful Rome lawyer and she didn't
fills in her custom-made wardrobe with
toria Leone, the President's wife, wears
have to worry about diplomacy, Donna
ready-to-wear, including simple summer
clothes well, enjoys wearing clothes
and, beyond that, is regarded by her
Vittoria never went to Paris to buy
dresses; a long skirt, shirts and pants
clothes.
because "I'm always running out of
countrymen as their ambassador of
things at the last minute," she said. Be-
fashion.
"Sometimes, when I went to a bou-
sides, "It's fun to pick them from the
Last year, on a state visit to Belgium,
tique, [would see something French and
rack-I really don't like fittings.'
Luxembourg, Holland and even France,
I'd buy it if I liked it," she said. "I don't
her dresses dazzled. In Italy, where
do that any more."
Fittings aside, Mrs. Leone loves shop-
ping and regrets she doesn't have as
fashion-from fabrics and accessories
She regards this as a small sacrifice.
much time for it as she used to.
through clothes-is the number one in-
When she's alone in the palace or
spending weekends in her country place
"I like the search," she said. "I'm al-
dustry (automobiles rank second), this is
near Ostia, just outside Rome, Mrs.
ways expecting something marvelous in
more than a matter of pride.
Leone generally wears pants. But she
the next place."
Italians feel that having an attractive,
clothes-minded First Lady can call at-
never does in public-another sacrifice.
Mrs. Leone's husband and their three
Like Queen Elizabeth II, Mrs. Leone
sons are her worst critics.
tention to the country's products and
wears small hats that show her face
spur exports. After all, Italy still gener-
"Sometimes," she recalled, "I want to
ally ranks second to France in the world
when she appears in public, but she said
buy something funny and frivolous, and
fashion stakes, and in a country beset
she prefers small hats anyway.
then the family gets upset and they tell
with the economic difficulties that Italy
has, having someone like Mrs. Leone to
act as a showcase is an important fac-
tor.
So today, just before she leaves for
the United States, Mrs. Leone will have
Valentino, Rome's leading couturier, su-
pervise the final fittings of her ward-
robe. It includes a white evening gown
for dinner at the White House Wednes-
day and a pink one for a dinner at the
Italian Embassy the following night.
Valentino cut short a trip to New York
to be present at the fittings.
Well Fitted for Her Role
"She's the only First Lady we've had
since the Queen [Queen Maria José, who
left along with King Umberto in 1946]
who can serve as a showcase for Italian
fashion," said Count Rodolfo Crespi re-
cently. A social figure around Rome
with ties to the fashion industry, he ad-
ded, "There's no other chance for Italy
-the only other showcase we could
have is actresses, and Sophia Loren is
dressed by Dior."
Though Donna Vittoria, as she is
known to Italians, worries sometimes
about appearing too frivolous, she ad-
mits a long-standing interest in clothes.
"I always liked dresses," she said. And
she takes the trouble to acquire the per-'
fect handbag and the right shoes to go
with them. As a result, Mrs. Leone, who
is of medium height-she appears taller
than her husband-always is immacu-
lately groomed.
Mrs. Leone said she honestly believes
Italian fashion is the best in the world.
"I like the fantasy, the inventiveness,
the marvelous color," she said in a re-
cent interview in one of the myriad
drawing rooms of the 16th-century Quiri-
nale Palace she has called home for the
last two and a half years. "Our design-
ers are very clever, full of taste."
She was dressed neatly but elegantly
in a pale gray satin shirt and narrow
gray wool skirt. The skirt covered her
knees, but then her skirts always cover