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Oral History Interview with Admiral Robert L. Dennison Graduate of U.S. Naval Academy, 1923; Assistant Chief of Naval Operations, 1945-47; Commander of the U.S.S. Missouri, 1947-48; Naval Aide to President Harry S. Truman,1948-53; Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Command, Commander of the Atlantic Fleet, and Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic, 1960-63. Washington, D.C. November 2, 1971 By Jerry N. Hess HESS: You also wanted to mention Mr. Churchill's visit to the United States in January of 1952. DENNISON: Early in 1952 members of the new British government headed by Winston Churchill came to Washington for a series of talks. Churchill was accompanied by Lord Cherwell, Lord Ismay, Anthony Eden, and Sir Oliver Franks. On the day of their arrival, Saturday, January 5, the President invited the British party to meet him aboard the Williamsburg for a cruise down the Potomac. In addition to the President, Secretaries Acheson, Snyder, Lovett, Ambassador Gifford, and Averell Harriman were also invited. The President wanted complete privacy so there were no reporters present and no photographers. We were to make an overnight cruise on the Potomac. I was aboard in my usual role, accompanied by Chief Petty Officer Paul Begley who was a member of my staff. Chief Begley always accompanied the President to take pictures for the record. On this particular occasion the President and his party met with the British in the afterlounge [206] of the Williamsburg. The forward bulkhead of the lounge contained a fireplace which seemed an ideal background for a photograph of the President and the Prime Minister. At least so I thought. I asked both of them if they would mind posing for their picture. They readily agreed. Just as Begley was about to snap this historic picture I noticed that over the mantel hung a painting of the engagement between the U.S.S. Constitution and the H.M.S. Java on December 29, 1812, off the coast of Brazil. In this engagement the Java was destroyed after Captain Lambert had surrendered to Captain Bainbridge. I stopped Begley and went up to apologize to the Prime Minister and the President, explaining, as of course the President well knew, that this was not deliberate but perhaps they would prefer a more neutral background. The Prime Minister put on his glasses, examined the painting, and then, putting his glasses down on the end of his nose, turned to me and said, "Young man, that was many years ago. Go ahead and take your picture." The President, of course, was amused.