The president of the United States, Donald Trump, is arriving in Israel for a presidential visit. His visit is being accompanied by feverish preparations and with great excitement. Not wanting to stay out of the festivities, we gathered some photos and reports of previous visits of American presidents to Israel, from the Photographs and Newspaper Collections at the CZA. A young John Kennedy in Israel
John Kennedy visited Israel in 1939, a long time before he became president of the United States. He was a 22 year old young man, the son of the American ambassador in London, Joseph Kennedy. Years later he would say that he visited Palestine at the time the White Paper was published, and this is how he became familiar with the Jewish-Arab conflict.
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John Kennedy in Palestine. Photograph: Zvi Oron
Another Kennedy in the Holy Land
Edward Kennedy, JFK's younger brother, came to Israel in 1962. In the photos, one can easily see the striking resemblance between the two brothers. During his visit he toured Givat Ram, and met David Ben Gurion and Yitzhak Ben Tzvi. .
Pictures of Edward Kennedy's visit to Israel. Photograph: Fritz Schlesinger
The First Lady, Elanor Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt never came to Israel, but his wife did, a number of times. She was very active in the humanitarian field, and came here a number of times during the fifties. She took an interest in Youth Aliyah, and was so impressed by the organization that she agreed to be the international patron of the organization. During her visits to Israel she met the State leaders, as well as visiting absorption centers throughout the country.
Eleanor Roosevelt at the President's Residence (Photograph: Fritz Schlesinger), With the prime minister (Keren Hayesod Collection), and at Einot Youth Village (Youth Aliyah Collection)
Richard Nixon's first official visit
Richard Nixon visited Israel for the first time in 1974, a mere two months before he had to bid farewell to capitol hill on account of Watergate. The Jerusaelm Post covered the banquet dinner that welcomed president and first lady Nixon, and described it all the way down to the menue the presidential couple enjoyed (melon, trout, white wine and chocolate mousse, in case you were wondering).
Former president in Israel
Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter are not the only presidents who came to Israel in the seventies. Former president Gerald Ford arrived here in that era after he left office.
A reception of the Jerusalem Municipality in honor of Gerald Ford, 1979