Office of the Historian

356. Memorandum of Conversation0

Washington, November 25, 1963.

SUBJECT

  • President’s Reception, November 25, 1963

PARTICIPANTS

  • President Johnson
  • Assistant Secretary of State Phillips Talbot
  • Her Majesty, Queen Frederika of Greece1

The President welcomed the Queen, recalling his long and friendly association with Greece. He reminded her that he had been the first member of Congress to speak in favor of the Truman Doctrine. She responded that she remembered that well, and that American actions had saved Greece. The President referred to Greece as a brave country and staunch ally, with whom we stand firmly.

In response to the President’s question about the current situation in Greece, she said it was going to be all right. The “present crowd” (the new Government) were a little nervous, because they had attacked “us” (presumably the Royal Family) while they were out of office. But they [Page 685] were learning that they could work with “us” and she did not foresee any great trouble. She wanted President Johnson and the United States to know as a certainty that so long as her husband was there, the Communists would never gain any power in Greece. President Johnson said he was sure this was true, and that we are proud of our friendship with Greece.

  1. Source: Department of State, Presidential Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 66 D 149. Confidential. Drafted by Talbot and approved in the White House on December 2.↩
  2. Queen Frederika led the official delegation to the funeral of President Kennedy on November 25.↩