President Ford offered a toast to “the great people and government of Israel” here last night in the presence of President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and an audience of about 200 American and Egyptian diplomats and their wives attending a dinner given by President and Mrs. Sadat in honor of President and Mrs. Ford.
The Chief Executive had just received enthusiastic applause when he told the gathering that he had instructed Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger “to explore every possibility” to assure diplomatic success in the quest for peace in the Middle East. Then, raising his glass in a toast, Ford declared: “Let me say it is a pleasure and a privilege for me to offer a toast to you (Sadat) and the people that you represent, the great people and the government of Israel…of Egypt….Excuse me.”
The Sadat dinner for the Fords was held at Anderson House, a museum of the Order of Cincinnati whose members are descendents of the officers who fought under the command of George Washington in the American Revolution.
Sadat, who offered the first toast, expressed his “admiration and deep respect” for Ford. He said, “I have no doubt that he will play a most constructive role both in bringing about peace in the Middle East and in solving complex international problems.” Sadat awarded the President the “Collar of the Nile,” a medal established by the Egyptian government in 1915 “as a reward to individuals, native or foreign, civilian or military, for service to the welfare of Egypt.” He also presented the “Order of El Kemal” to Mrs. Ford, an award to women who contributed to the advance of Egypt.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
