In the days surrounding the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) summit meeting in Helsinki, Finland, President Ford, along with Mrs. Ford, Jack Ford, and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, visited West Germany, Poland, Romania, and Yugoslavia. Although this European trip was not formally part of President Ford’s CSCE activities, the countries visited were specifically chosen for their positions within the sphere of Cold War tensions. The American party visited West Germany in order to emphasize US commitment to West German defense. Poland, Romania, and Yugoslavia were chosen as the least subservient countries within the Soviet bloc, and it was thought that a visit from the American President would further encourage their independence. While President Ford spent much of the trip meeting with heads of state and strengthening bilateral relations, the Fords also participated in a variety of other activities, including state dinners, attending picnics, reviewing troops, and visiting cultural sites.
Digital Resources and Galleries
July 26, 1975 - President Ford Leaves for Europe:
- President's Daily Diary - July 26, 1975
- White House Photographs - July 26, 1975
- Remarks of the President upon Departure from Andrews Air Force Base for Europe
- Press Secretary Briefings, 7/26/1975
- Mrs. Ford schedule for visit to Federal Republic of Germany, Poland, Finland, Romania, and Yugoslavia, July 26-August 4
- Mrs. Ford to be honored at tea given by Mrs. Schmidt
- Folders from Sheila Weidenfeld Papers
- Folders from Betty Ford White House Papers
July 27, 1975 - Bonn, West Germany:
- President’s Daily Diary - July 27, 1975
- White House Photographs - July 27, 1975
- White House Press Releases
- Text of Remarks by the President at Conclusion of Meeting with Chancellor Schmidt, Palais Schaumburg,
- Remarks of the President Following His Meeting with Chancellor Schmidt
- Statement by Federal Chancellor Helmut Schmidt (of West Germany) Following his Talk with the President
- Question and Answer Session with the President and Helmut Schmidt, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Remarks of the President at the United States and Federal Republic of Germany Troop Picnic, Kirschgoens Picnic Grounds
- Exchange of Toasts between the President and Walter Scheel, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, on the Rhine River, MS Drachenfels
- Schloss Gymnich to Palais Schaumburg
- Meeting of President Ford and Chancellor Helmut Schmidt
- Mrs. Ford Pool Report, Teahouse with Mrs. Schmidt
- Mildred Scheel Greeting First Lady Betty Ford outside of Villa Hammerschmidt in Bonn, West Germany
- Pool Report for Mrs. Ford Luncheon
- Guest List for Working Luncheon Hosted by Chancellor Schmidt, Sunday, July 27, 1975 at Schloss Gymnich
- Press Pool Report #4: Picnic at Kirchgoens, Germany
- Press Pool Report No. 6, Schloss Gymnich to Rhine River Boat Dock
- Presidential Speech: Reading Copy
- Memoranda of Conversation
- East Wing Press Release
July 28, 1975 - Bonn, Germany to Warsaw, Poland:
- President’s Daily Diary - July 28, 1975
- White House Photographs - July 28, 1975
- Press Secretary Briefings, 7/28/75
- White House Press Releases
- Exchange of Remarks between the President and Edward Gierek, First Secretary of the Polish People's Republic, Okecie International Airport
- Exchange of Toasts between the President and Edward Gierek, First Secretary of the Polish People's Republic, Palace of the Council of Ministers
- Joint Statement of the President of the United States of America, Gerald R. Ford, and the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Polish United Workers' Party, Edward Gierek
- Press Conference of Helmut Sonnenfeldt, Deputy Under Secretary of State for European Affairs, and Richard T. Davies, Ambassador to Warsaw
- Bonn, Germany to Warsaw, Poland, Monday, July 28, 1975
- Statement on Congressional approval of US/Romanian Trade Agreement
- Text of a Toast by the President to Be Delivered at a Luncheon Hosted by First Secretary and Mrs. Gierek, Warsaw, Poland
- Press Pool # 4, State Dinner at Wilanow Palace
- Remarks of the President in a Toast to Edward Gierek, First Secretary of the Polish People's Republic
- Statement on Congressional approval of US/Romanian Trade Agreement
- 7/28/75 - Introduction of After Dinner Entertainment, Warsaw, Poland
- National Security Adviser's Memoranda of Conversations
- Folders from Sheila Weidenfeld Files
July 29, 1975 - Krakow, Poland to Helsinki, Finland:
- President’s Daily Diary - July 29, 1975
- White House Photographs - July 29, 1975
- Presidential Speech: Reading Copy
- White House Press Release
- Folder from John Marsh Files
July 30, 1975 - Helsinki, Finland:
- President’s Daily Diary - July 30, 1975
- White House Photographs - July 30, 1975
- White House Press Releases
- Folder from Betty Ford White House Papers
- East Wing Press Releases
- View the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) digital resources for more information about President Ford's activities on this day.
July 31, 1975 - Helsinki, Finland:
- President’s Daily Diary - July 31, 1975
- White House Photographs - July 31, 1975
- White House Press Releases
- View the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) digital resources for more information about President Ford's activities on this day.
August 1, 1975 - Helsinki, Finland:
- President’s Daily Diary - August 1, 1975
- White House Photographs - August 1, 1975
- Photograph of Electrical Engineer Jan Ahlfors Giving President Gerald R. Ford and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger a Briefing in the Control Room during Their Tour of the Icebreaker URHO in Helsinki, Finland
- Photograph of First Lady Betty Ford Meeting with the Media in Helsinki, Finland, During the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe
- White House Press Release
- View the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) digital resources for more information about President Ford's activities on this day.
August 2, 1975 - Helsinki, Finland to Bucharest, Romania:
- President’s Daily Diary - August 2, 1975
- White House Photographs - August 2, 1975
- Photograph of President Gerald R. Ford, First Lady Betty Ford, Romanian President Nicolae Ceaușescu, and Mrs. Ceausescu Dancing with Folk Dancers in Bucharest, Romania
- White House Press Releases
- Q&A; Session with the President and Henry A. Kissinger, Secretary of State and The Air Force One Pool, Aboard Air Force One
- Exchange of Remarks Between the President and Nicolae Ceausescu, President of the Socialist Republic of Romania
- Exchange of Toasts Between the President and Nicolae Ceausescu, President of the Socialist Republic of Romania, Council of State in the Palace of the Republic
- Ford-Brezhnev Meeting: Air Force One, Helsinki-Bucharest
- Press Pool Report #2 and #3
- Press Pool Report on the picture session at the start of the Ford-Ceausescu meeting
- Press Pool Report #4 - State Dinner, Marble Dining Room, Palace of the Republic
- Press Pool Report #5, Bucharest, Romania, August 2, 1975
- National Security Adviser's Memoranda of Conversation
- Folder from Sheila Weidenfeld Files
- Presidential Speech: Reading Copy
- National Security Adviser's Memoranda of Conversation
August 3, 1975 - Bucharest, Romania to Belgrade, Yugoslavia:
- President’s Daily Diary - August 3, 1975
- White House Photographs - August 3, 1975
- Photograph of President Gerald R. Ford Taking a Swim at the Spring Palace during a State Visit to Bucharest, Romania
- White House Press Releases
- Exchange of Remarks Between the President and Nicolae Ceausescu, President of the Socialist Republic of Romania at the Signing Ceremony, Peles Castle
- Joint Communiqué - Official Visit of the President of the United States, Gerald Ford and Mrs. Elizabeth Ford to the Socialist Republic of Romania
- Remarks of the President Upon Arrival to Belgrade, Yugoslavia, Surcin Airport
- Remarks of the President at a Dinner with Josef Broz Tito, President of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Federal Executive Council Building
- National Security Adviser's Memoranda of Conversation
- Presidential Speeches: Reading Copies
- Folders from the Sheila Weidenfeld Files
August 4, 1975 - Belgrade, Yugoslavia:
- President’s Daily Diary - August 4, 1975
- White House Photographs - August 4, 1975
- Photograph of President Gerald Ford and First Lady Betty Ford in front of the Spirit of ‘76 Airplane before Departing from Belgrade, Yugoslavia
- Press Secretary Briefings, 8/4/75
- White House Press Releases
- Exchange of Remarks Between the President and Josip Broz Tito, President of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Federal Executive Council Building
- Exchange of Toasts Between the President and Josip Broz Tito, President of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, City Hall
- Joint Statement of the President of the United States of America, Gerald R. Ford, and the President of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Marshal Josip Broz Tito
- Statement by the President, August 4, 1975
- Working Lunch
- Statement by the President, August 4, 1975
- National Security Adviser's Memoranda of Conversations
- Presidential Speeches: Reading Copies