Getulio on the Bridge

When U.S. relations with Argentina get worse, U.S. relations with Brazil, Argentina's traditional South American rival, always get correspondingly better. Last week U.S.-Brazilian relations were proceeding famously: on the eve of a state visit by Dean Acheson, a U.S. task force led by the 37,000-ton carrier Oriskany, dazzled Rio in a whirlwind call.

Before the 3,000 bluejackets swarmed ashore on liberty, President Getulio Vargas was invited to come aboard for a 100-mile joyride. Getulio came--accompanied by his Vice President, four cabinet ministers, two ambassadors, ten admirals, twelve generals and a dozen congressmen.

From a 21-gun presidential salute to a double sundae at the Oriskany's ice-cream bar, the U.S. Navy gave Getulio the works. While he lolled in the captain's bridge chair, a dozen Banshee jets and 14 TBM3 torpedo bombers were catapulted off. The President ducked behind the bridge windscreen as the planes buzzed low over the carrier, and craned his neck as they skimmed over Copacabana beach. After watching the jets deliver rocket attacks on a towed target, he hastily stuffed cotton in his ears as the ships' antiaircraft guns opened up on the airsleeve.

Riding the plane elevator and the pilots' escalator, lunching on roast beef and strong Navy coffee, the old gaucho appeared to have the time of his life.. "In order for us to have ships like this," he told his party, "we must work very, very hard." Then, after a 5 1/2-hour visit, the President took off from the Oriskany, whirred back to Rio on his first helicopter ride. From shore he signaled back "praise for the precision and efficiency shown."

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