Ford-Rabin Fete Has Many ‘firsts’

America’s First Lady dancing the hora to the music of a red-coated U.S. Marine band in the White House ballroom last night was only one of a series of "firsts" marking the state visit of Israeli Premier and Mrs. Rabin to Washington.

Mrs. Ford joined a circle of enthusiastic pro-Israelis who were among the approximately 260 guests at the dinner and dance given by President and Mrs. Ford for the Rabins. The Rabins will reciprocate with a reception for the Fords tomorrow night at the Shoreham Hotel.

The size of the number of guests also was seen as a first. Usually, invitations for a Presidential state dinner go to about 120 persons of whom about 100 attend. Last night 160 came to dinner and an additional 100 joined in the entertainment and champagne later.

Although the Rabins, Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger and Vice-President Nelson Rockefeller retired early, the Fords stayed on the dance floor until early morning. Among Jewish community leaders attending were David Blumberg, Melvin Dubinsky, Max Fisher, Guilford Glazer, Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg, Frank R. Lautenberg, Mrs. Rose Matzkin, Rabbi Israel Miller, Sam Rothberg, Dr. Maurice Sage, Rabbi Alexander M. Schindler and Elmer L. Winter.

Members of the U.S.-Israeli Joint Business Council present were John R. Bunting, Raymond N. Carlen, James P. Horn, and William B. Nicholson. Among celebrities were actor Danny Kaye; author Herman Wouk; quarterback Terry Bradshaw of the Pittsburgh Steelers football team; Olympic skiing champion Suzy Chaffee; tennis player Christine Evert; and Carlton Fiskin Boston Red Sox baseball team catcher.

TOASTS TO FRIENDSHIP AND PEACE

Ford began his toast to the Rabins with "shalom," and concluded with "lahayim." Rabin also toasted with "lahayim."

Applauding Rabin’s "statesmanship," that had "contributed so much that has been achieved so far" in the diplomatic process. Ford observed that "our personal friendship and relationship now facilitates the closest consultation on the very complex problems that we face."

Ford also noted "no peace-making process, as you well know, is easy, but important steps have been taken and we are proud of the role that America has played in working with your country. I know that all Americans deeply desire to see the process continued toward this goal of a just and secure peace." He praised "the unbreakable spirit of the people of Israel" that "remains its strongest defense."

In his response, Rabin pointed out that he and the President had discussed during Ford’s presidency "every possibility, everything that can be done to encourage every option, every avenue to move from war towards peace, to achieve tranquility and stability in the area as long as peace has not been achieved and I appreciate always your attitude that whenever there is a confrontation, the efforts to bring about peace must be done from the standpoint of strength because no totalitarian regime will tolerate a weak democracy and only a strong democracy can expect to achieve peace with dignity, peace that is worthwhile."

Rabin, noting that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East, drew laughter in remarking that when the U.S. was founded 200 years ago, its total population was 3,000,000 which, he said, is exactly Israel’s population now. Israel maintains the same policy as America’s founding fathers, he said, to help build a country by "maintaining the basic principle of open gates to waves of immigrants."