In November, Pandit Nehru, accompanied by Indira Gandhi, arrived in the US for talks with President Kennedy, who had spoken of Prime Minister Nehru’s ‘soaring idealism’. Kennedy remarked that Nehru’s was the worst visit of any leader he had hosted. The PM was jaded, tired and made a dull after-dinner speech. His address to the UN General Assembly too was serviceable, though uninspiring. B.K. Nehru had arranged for the boldest and the brightest in Kennedy’s White House to be at the breakfast with PM Nehru. They were all very excited about meeting him. But the PM remained silent. It was clear
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