Office of the Historian

374. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Jordan1

Washington, May 19, 1980, 2114Z

131696. For Ambassador Veliotes. Subject: King Hussein Visit to U.S. Ref: Amman 3237.

[Page 1250]

1. (S) Entire text.

2. Please deliver2 following message from President Carter to King Hussein: Begin text:

Your Majesty:

I believe that an exchange of views between us on all issues of interest to both the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the United States would strengthen the relations between our two countries. I therefore would like to invite you and Queen Noor to pay an official visit to Washington, D.C. in the second half of June. Ambassador Veliotes will explore with you a mutually convenient date for your visit. Rosalynn joins me in expressing to you and Queen Noor the hope that you will be able to come at that time and we are looking forward to seeing you both. Best regards, Sincerely, Jimmy Carter End text.

[Omitted here are instructions for Veliotes regarding proposed dates for the visit and visit protocol.]

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 42, Jordan: 1–5/80. Secret; Special Encryption; Cherokee; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Ronald E. Neumann (NEA/ARN); cleared by W. Nathanial Howell (NEA/ARN), Saunders, Brzezinski, Chief of Protocol Abelardo L. Valdez, Deputy Executive Director Raymond G.H. Seitz, and Robert S. Steven (S/S–O); approved by Muskie.↩
  2. Veliotes delivered Carter’s message to Hussein on May 21. Hussein accepted the invitation for June 16–17 “with great pleasure.” (Telegram 3420 from Amman, May 21; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P900086–0485)↩