EAST-WEST: And Now, Moscow's Dollar Diplomat

Leonid Ilich Brezhnev came courting the U.S. last week. Money and trade might be in the air more than love, but by East-West standards it promised to be an extraordinarily warm visit. Late Saturday afternoon a sleek blue-and-white Soviet Ilyushin-62 touched down at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington. Out stepped the Soviet party leader, who was greeted by Secretary of State William Rogers and Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Walter Stoessel. There were smiles and handshakes at the airbase, but no bands, no fanfare, no formal speeches.

Important guests arriving unofficially at Andrews—even the most powerful Communist chief on earth—always receive a low-key welcome. But the understated formalities belied the potential significance of Brezhnev's visit. This week's Washington summit, regardless of the decisions reached, could not possibly match the drama of Richard Nixon's historic visit to the Middle Kingdom of Chairman Mao. Nor was it likely to repeat the cold-warring tension of John Kennedy's 1961 test of wills with Nikita Khrushchev in Vienna. Nonetheless, this summit had a drama of its own. Here was Leonid Brezhnev, a superconfident Soviet leader at the zenith of his power, who had staked much of that power and of his own reputation on the idea of revitalizing the Soviet economy by dealing with the West. And here was Richard Nixon, an American President weakened by a damaging political scandal, who nevertheless had done more than any previous President to establish a new attitude toward the East.

What was at stake in the talks between the two men was of inestimable importance to the future of East-West relations—and to peace. Was an era of detente evolving into a time of trade-oriented dollar (and ruble) diplomacy?

Could commerce between the world's undisputed superpowers provide the cement of coexistence for future generations? Those were the key questions that might find tentative answers at the Washington summit.

There had been fears that the summit might have to be canceled or postponed—despite persistent avowals by both leaders that they were determined to go ahead. Part of the suspense was provided by Brezhnev, who, as he frequently does, kept his hosts guessing about his plans until almost the last minute. Three days before he was due to arrive, U.S. officials still did not know whether he would bring his wife (he did not). And it was not clear until the middle of last week whether he would land on Saturday or Sunday. By choosing the earlier day, Brezhnev allowed himself the luxury of being flown by helicopter to the presidential retreat at Camp David, Md., to rest up from jet lag.

Brezhnev's eight-day visit—the first by a Soviet leader since Nikita Khrushchev was the guest of Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1959*—officially began on Monday with ceremonies on the White House lawn. The scheduled program:

Nixon and his top aides, including Secretary of State Rogers and Presidential Adviser Henry Kissinger, wait at the head of a red carpet extending from the White House diplomatic entrance. After a trumpet fanfare, a military band plays the Hymn of the Soviet Union, followed by The Star-Spangled Banner.