On 12 December 1971, two of the most powerful men in the world arrived in Terceira, the president of the USA and the president of France. They were at the time Richard Nixon and Georges Pompidou, respectively and the summit would be held on the island of Terceira, in the Junta Geral building, today the Regional Secretariat of Education and Culture.
On the following day, December 13, these two politicians met in order to discuss economic issues which were of concern to both countries at the time, namely issues related to currency and the economic crisis.
Pompidou arrived in the Concorde plane together with the Finance Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and was installed at the Serreta Inn, while Nixon came in the Air Force accompanied by the Secretary of State William Rogers, the Secretary of the Treasury John Connaly, the Security Adviser Henry Kissinger and General Vernon Walters. Waiting for them both was Marcelo Caetano, president of Portugal’s council of ministers.
They reached an agreement in which there was a devaluation of the American dollar by 8.57 % and a break in American protectionism, but then in December they met again also with other politicians from other countries.
Last modified: 26 de November, 2021
