Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher once observed that the great
lesson of the 20th century was that whenever the United States and Britain
fight together, they always win. But now Britain has to make a crucial decision
on its future—a future that could mean the demise of the special relationship
with the United States, ending a formidable, long-lasting alliance.
by Melvin Rhodes
It's been more than 80 years since the last state visit to Britain
by an American president.
The year was 1919 and the visitor was Woodrow Wilson, who had led America
into World War I on the side of the Allies to help ensure the defeat of the
central European powers.
Since then, many American presidents have visited London, but always on
an official visit. The difference? On an official visit the guest is received
as the head of a foreign government; on a state visit, he is received as a
head of state. Before World War I, most heads of state were reigning royalty
from the continent of Europe. Today they are more often executive presidents
who are often both heads of state and government. In the British system, the
monarch is head of state, while the prime minister is the head of government.
The practical difference is this: foreign leaders on state visits stay at
Buckingham Palace as guests of Queen Elizabeth II where they are wined and
dined at great expense—and there are only two state visits a year. The
last state visit was by Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
The state visit of President Bush to London emphasized the strengthened
relationship between the two countries. Often referred to as "the special
relationship," the formal alliance between the United States and Britain
goes back to the Atlantic Charter of 1941, when British Prime Minister Winston
Churchill met with President Franklin Roosevelt in Bermuda.
At the time, the British and their empire were standing alone against Nazi
Germany and needed help. The United States offered help, receiving in return
access to British military facilities throughout the Empire. The two nations
didn't know it at the time, but a long-lasting alliance had been formed
that would preserve the freedoms of the Western world for the remainder of
the century and beyond.
