Memorandum for the President
DECLASSIFIED A/ISS/IPS, Department of State E.O. 12958, as amended September 4, 2008
DEPARTMENT OF STATE Washington, D.C. 20520
April 12, 1971
TO:
The Acting7cretary
THROUGH: S/S FROM:
ARA - Charles A. Meyer
SUBJECT: Memorandum for the President: Request that President Nixon receive General Anastasio Somoza Debayle, President of Nicaragua - ACTION MEMORANDUM DISCUSSION: This year marks the 25th anniversary of President Somoza's graduation from West Point. He plans to visit the Academy around June 5 to commemorate the event. During his visit to Nicaragua last December, Secretary Stans invited Somoza to come to Washington when he was next in the United States to attend a lunch to which Secretary Stans will invite American businessmen interested in investing in Nicaragua. Nicaraguan Ambassador Sevilla-Sacasa is now working on the preparations for the Somoza trip and has requested that some sign of special attention by President Nixon be arranged for the Somoza visit to Washington. I believe this request should be met. Somoza has been a steadfast friend of the United States, and has long been interested in a visit to Washington with some official character to it. As a result of an agreement he recently reached with the major opposition party in Nicaragua, it is clear now that Somoza will be stepping down from the presidency at the end of his elected term of office on May 1, 1972. Thus we cannot gracefully look forward to some "future opportunity" if we turn down this request.
DECLASSIFIED A/ISS/IPS, Department of State E.O. 12958, as amended September 4, 2008
The attached memorandum to the President recommends that he receive President Somoza. If he agrees, Somoza's stay in Washington will be treated for protocol purposes as a "Private Visit with a Call on the President". The dinner for the 25th anniversary Class of 1946 of the U.S. Military Academy, suggested in the memo to the President, would meet the desire of Ambassador Sevilla-Sacasa without substantial departure from the precedence involved in the private visit. Since Secretary Rogers will be in Europe through June 8, I would hope that your schedule will permit you to offer either a luncheon or dinner in President Somoza's honor, in addition to the luncheon Secretary Stans has agreed to offer. The attached memorandum indicates that you will do so if your and Somoza's schedules can be arranged. RECOMMENDATION:
That you sign the attached memorandum for the 1. President. 2. That you agree in principle to schedule a social function in Somoza's honor if he is received by the President.
i
Approve_
Disapprove_ Attachment: Memorandum for the President
DEPARTMENT OF STATE Washington, D.C. 20520
April 12, 1971
TO:
The Acting7cretary
THROUGH: S/S FROM:
ARA - Charles A. Meyer
SUBJECT: Memorandum for the President: Request that President Nixon receive General Anastasio Somoza Debayle, President of Nicaragua - ACTION MEMORANDUM DISCUSSION: This year marks the 25th anniversary of President Somoza's graduation from West Point. He plans to visit the Academy around June 5 to commemorate the event. During his visit to Nicaragua last December, Secretary Stans invited Somoza to come to Washington when he was next in the United States to attend a lunch to which Secretary Stans will invite American businessmen interested in investing in Nicaragua. Nicaraguan Ambassador Sevilla-Sacasa is now working on the preparations for the Somoza trip and has requested that some sign of special attention by President Nixon be arranged for the Somoza visit to Washington. I believe this request should be met. Somoza has been a steadfast friend of the United States, and has long been interested in a visit to Washington with some official character to it. As a result of an agreement he recently reached with the major opposition party in Nicaragua, it is clear now that Somoza will be stepping down from the presidency at the end of his elected term of office on May 1, 1972. Thus we cannot gracefully look forward to some "future opportunity" if we turn down this request.
DECLASSIFIED A/ISS/IPS, Department of State E.O. 12958, as amended September 4, 2008
The attached memorandum to the President recommends that he receive President Somoza. If he agrees, Somoza's stay in Washington will be treated for protocol purposes as a "Private Visit with a Call on the President". The dinner for the 25th anniversary Class of 1946 of the U.S. Military Academy, suggested in the memo to the President, would meet the desire of Ambassador Sevilla-Sacasa without substantial departure from the precedence involved in the private visit. Since Secretary Rogers will be in Europe through June 8, I would hope that your schedule will permit you to offer either a luncheon or dinner in President Somoza's honor, in addition to the luncheon Secretary Stans has agreed to offer. The attached memorandum indicates that you will do so if your and Somoza's schedules can be arranged. RECOMMENDATION:
That you sign the attached memorandum for the 1. President. 2. That you agree in principle to schedule a social function in Somoza's honor if he is received by the President.
i
Approve_
Disapprove_ Attachment: Memorandum for the President
