Just Wee Geordie for a Day

Ready and willing to parade his down-home political style abroad, Carter launched his summit schedule with a trip to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, George Washington's ancestral home in northeastern England. TIME Correspondent Stanley Cloud accompanied the President on his excursion into the British byways. Cloud's report:

As Air Force One landed at London's Heathrow Airport, hundreds of journalists from all over the world waited in the rain to record the event. The British, who are not uncomfortable with imperial trappings--as their guest professes to be--rolled out a rich red carpet for him. The President stepped from his plane, carrying an efficient little briefcase instead of his usual suit bag. He stood in the nighttime chill, without an overcoat, and listened as British Prime Minister James Callaghan remarked that the task before the summit meeting was "nothing less than to overcome poverty, to get people to work and our economies in a healthier state than they are now."

But Jimmy Callaghan and Jimmy Carter had more, or less, than summitry on their minds. Even as Callaghan was speaking at the airport, his Labor Party was losing badly to the Conservatives in Britain's county elections, largely because of voter dissatisfaction with the country's sorry economy. The Prime Minister, who is in a fight for his political life, could use help from any quarter. And the next day he got some from a foreigner. Carter showed him--handshake by handshake--the art of politicking American-style.

Several weeks ago, when Callaghan visited the U.S., the President had expressed an interest in taking a side trip outside London when he came to England for the economic summit. Carter mentioned Wales, the birthplace of his favorite poet Dylan Thomas. But Callaghan, concerned about possible problems with Welsh nationalists, suggested Newcastle-upon-Tyne (pop. 295,700), a grimy coal town that is rife with unemployment as it attempts to shift to cleaner industries. Besides being the home of Washington's ancestors, Newcastle is a stronghold of the Labor Party (although the Conservatives did surprisingly well there in last week's elections).

Callaghan and Carter set out for Newcastle early Friday morning, followed by two planeloads of reporters. Carter seemed to be running for office all over again and, as always, was a politically-minded dresser. The blue cashmere suit he wore was made from a bolt of cloth that Callaghan had given Carter when the P.M. visited Washington in March. The discreet gray pinstripes are formed by the repetition of Carter's --and Callaghan's--initials (see sample at right). Carter no sooner arrived at Woolsington Airport near Newcastle on this cool and sometimes cloudy day than he plunged into a crowd to shake hands, heft babies and pat schoolchildren on their blond heads and pink cheeks.

The President was in fine, trust-winning form as he and his entourage descended on Newcastle. At the city's modern civic center, he was greeted by Lord Mayor Hugh White, splendidly turned out in scarlet robes with ermine collar and fringes. The Lord Mayor declared Carter to be an "Honorary Freeman" of Newcastle. Among the privileges that go with this ancient honor: permission to graze cattle on the city's moor.

In his acceptance speech, the President surprised and delighted the crowd of 8,000 by beginning with a phrase in the local dialect: "Ha'way the lads," a popular cheer for the local soccer team. Said Callaghan afterward: "I don't know where you picked that up from, but I tell you that you couldn't find a way more quickly to the hearts of our people." Accepting his new privileges, Carter mentioned the name by which people of the region are known. "I'm glad to be a Geordie," he said --and the crowd roared.

It went that way for the President all morning and into the afternoon. Thousands lined the streets as he and Callaghan drove by in the Prime Minister's black Daimler sedan. Hundreds pressed themselves on the American President at every stop. Old Carter campaign posters and even a couple of bright new Confederate flags mysteriously appeared.

At Washington New Town, a suburb of Newcastle, the President visited the manor where George Washington's forebears lived from 1228 to 1613. After walking to the village green, he planted a tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) seedling that came from descendants of trees Washington himself had planted in the U.S. at Mount Vernon.

Carter reveled in it all, while Callaghan hoped that some of the good will for the Yank would rub off on him. Was Carter campaigning for Callaghan? "Absolutely not," said Press Secretary Jody Powell. Perhaps. But by the end of their five hours in the Newcastle area, Callaghan was working the crowds, pressing the flesh with both hands, beaming and performing. The next day he even wore his own J.C. pin-striped suit. The P.M. had learned a lesson --from a master.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so viewer discretion is required.