THE PRESIDENCY by HUGH SIDEY: A Timely Friend in Need

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He queried Kissinger at some length about whether the cottage at his country retreat, Zavidova (the equivalent of Camp David), would be appropriate for Nixon, or should the Soviets build something new along the lines of Camp David? Kissinger, who has stayed at Zavidova, thought the quarters were just fine. But at the White House dinner, Brezhnev sent his interpreter over to whisper in Kissinger's ear, asking if he thought the Soviet leader could tell Mrs. Nixon, his dinner companion, about the cottage.

Weeks ago Brezhnev was asked what gift he wanted. A Lincoln Continental, came the reply. They hid the car at Camp David, drove it out during one of the sessions, and when it was in place Nixon suddenly halted the meeting, took Brezhnev out to see the auto. He was delighted. Nixon suggested they go back to the meeting. Brezhnev insisted on a spin. He put Nixon inside, ignored the idea he stay on the Camp David roads and roared out on the highway. That too—automobiles and highways—seemed a part of the future, as Brezhnev saw it, in partnership with Nixon.

When the President pointed out one morning at the White House a 6-ft. 4-in., 250-lb. Iowa Congressman and said, "That's Bill Scherle, he's agriculture," Brezhnev leaped at Scherle, looking up a full head above himself. How are crop prospects? Brezhnev wanted to know. Yes, he remembered Roswell Garst, who lives in Scherle's district, the man who had brought hybrid seed corn to Russia. They were studying productivity of crops and cattle-building up, Brezhnev told Scherle. When he moved on, Brezhnev left no doubt that during summit No. 4—that would be in 1975—he would like Richard Nixon around to take him out to the corn belt for a firsthand look.