Obama to meet the Queen

Marlene A Eilers Koenig

I love the Daily Telegraph. It's one of my favorite papers to read. Perhaps, I am biased, as I used to work for the paper as the researcher in their D.C. bureau.

Sadly, Andrew Porter didn't do his homework:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/4944627/Obama-to-meet-Queen-in-London.html

"It is unusual for a United States President to meet the Queen outside a state visit."

Utter nonsense. It should be noted that American presidents actually make very few state visits. The only state visit that former President Bush made was to the United Kingdom in 2003. Not all of the Queen's visits to the USA have been state visits, and even during the non-state visits, she has met with US presidents, here in the USA, and in the UK.

Queen Elizabeth II has met all of America's presidents since Harry Truman with one exception: Lyndon Baines Johnson. Elizabeth was still a princess when she met President Truman.

In June 1959, President Eisenhower joined Queen Elizabeth for the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in Canada. Two months later, President Eisenhower visited London, Balmoral and Chequers for an informal visit, and met with Prime Minister Macmillan and the Queen.
In June 1961, during a private visit to the UK, President Kennedy met with Queen Elizabeth.
In February 1969, Richard Nixon, during an informal visit to the UK, was "received" by the Queen.
In October 1970, President Nixon met informally with the Queen and also with Prime Minister Heath.
President Carter attended the economic summit in London in May 1977, and met with the Queen.
In June 1982, President Reagan met at the Queen at Windsor. He also addressed Parliament, but this was not deemed a state visit.
In June 1984, President Reagan was back in London - and met with the Prime Minister and with the Queen. Following the economic summit, President Reagan and others, including the Queen, went to Normandy for the 40th anniversary of D-Day.
In June 1988, President Reagan was in London and met with the Queen
In early June 1989, President Bush was in London and met with the Queen and the Prime Minister.
In June 1994, President Clinton was in London and met with the Queen. Both also took part in the 50th anniversary of D-Day.
In November 1995, President Clinton returned to London, met with the Queen and the Prime Minister and addressed Parliament. This was not a state visit.
In December 2000, President Clinton visited Belfast and London, where he met with Queen Elizabeth II.
In June 2001, President Bush was in London and met with the Queen and Prime Minister Blair.
In November 2003, President Bush became to the first US president to make a state visit to the United Kingdom .. and he met the Queen.

Queen Elizabeth had made four state visits to the US, as well as an official and several private visits to the US.
The first state visit was in 1957, during Dwight D. Eisenhower's first administration.. The second state visit was in July 1976 when Gerald Ford was president. In 1991, the queen made her third state visit to the USA, and this was during President George H.W. Bush's administration. The fourth state visit was in 2007, during the second administration of George W. Bush.
In March 1983, the Queen visited the Pacific coasts, and met with President Reagan. This was not, however, a state visit. The Queen did not come to Washington, D.C. It was an official visit because duties were carried out. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh hosted a dinner for the Reagans, which was reciprocated by a dinner at the Reagan's California home.
The Queen has also made several private visits to Versailles, Kentucky, and one private visit to Wyoming.

I would describe President Obama's forthcoming visit to London, and meeting the queen, as usual and normal for an American president who goes to London.
As I said above, U.S. Presidents make very few state visits to other nations.


In June 2008, President Bush was back in London and met with the Queen, as well as Prime Minister Blair.