Paying Calls on Two Presidents

IT was the first time that I had visited a president since my private call on Kennedy ... in January 1963. The contrast between the two visits could hardly have been greater. Kennedy saw me alone, talked for an hour on subjects of close mutual interest, and, despite the fact that I was merely a back bench member of Parliament of no great significance, showed himself closely informed about my background and interests. Johnson saw me with several aides (and our ambassador) and filled up any vacant space wi th a posse of photographers ... and a bartender who asked me to make a written choice between root beer, Coca-Cola, milk, or 7-Up, and then twice reappeared to bring and remove the glasses.