No historian denies the fundamental role of Juan Carlos I in the democratic transition of Spain after the death of Francisco Franco. The legal powers granted to him by the Succession Law allowed him to reform and repeal the fundamental laws that articulated the structures of a Franco regime that boasted of having everything tied up and well tied after the disappearance of the dictator. But all this would not have been enough without the support and international recognition, which the monarch himself sought directly in the United States.
That is where the role that President Gerald Ford and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger played in that far-reaching political shift in which they were personally involved comes in, valuing the figure of the new young Head of State and the stability he could bring. to the south of Europe. In the region, the political situation in Italy and Portugal was worrying due to the threat that their respective communist parties could come to power at the polls, as had already happened in Chile, where Washington did not hesitate to intervene to support Augustus’ coup. Pinochet.
In this context, the King appeared at the White House on June 2, 1976 with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Carlos Arias Navarro, José María de Areilza. Former ambassador in Washington, secretary of the Privy Council of the Count of Barcelona and founder of the germ of the Union of the Democratic Center, De Areilza was not only fully trusted by Juan Carlos I, but had been the great architect of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Spain and the United States agreed in Madrid that same January, just two months after Franco’s death.
The document constituted the endorsement of the main Western power for the new direction that Spain was taking and invited NATO and the European Economic Community to count on Madrid as a new ally, equal to equal, something to which the previous regime could never aspire. To visualize it, Ford and Kissinger, in addition to meeting with the Head of State and the minister, invited the Kings of Spain to make an official visit to the country – the first by Spanish monarchs to America – and Juan Carlos I was able to address Congress. of the United States in a historic intervention that marked a new era in the history of Spain.
Beyond the video of the King’s intervention in the Capitol, from that visit there remains the memorandum that the White House made of the meeting held in the oval office by Ford, Kissinger, Juan Carlos I and De Areilza, a document that has already been declassified and that we reproduce slightly extracted. It distills the concerns of the Ford Administration regarding Europe and democratic and union communism and, on the other hand, the difficulties in undertaking the political reforms faced by the monarch, who explicitly referred in this meeting to the first demonstrations to requesting amnesty for political prisoners and the Statute of Autonomy after Franco’s death, which were held in Barcelona in February 1976.
From a distance, it is surprising that one of the King’s fears at that time was the calling of elections that could become a plebiscite for the new parliamentary monarchy that was trying to make its way, as were the municipal elections of 1931 that ended up leading to the exile of his grandfather, Alfonso XIII, and the proclamation of the Republic. The formula was simple: call beforehand the elections that the Constituent Cortes had to designate.
Gerald Ford: I’m used to it [they discussed the situation of the delegates]. We are very happy to have you here with us.
Juan Carlos I: We are delighted to be here.
Gerald Ford: We’ve been waiting for this for a long time. We regret that the Treaty [of Friendship and Cooperation between Spain and the United States] is not complete, but it is not due to any underlying problem.
Juan Carlos I: The Minister of Foreign Affairs told me that it is only procedural.
Gerald Ford: And you will receive a warm reception on Capitol Hill.
Juan Carlos I: I know it is an honor that is not given to many and I am very grateful. How do you see this latest move by Syria in the Middle East?
Gerald Ford: We would prefer there to be no intervention. But this seems like a limited action and if it facilitates the transfer of authority it could be useful.
Henry Kissinger: They didn’t tell us in advance. But it doesn’t seem important and, as the president says, there is no central authority, so any group can start the fight again.
Gerald Ford: It is a terrible tragedy, more than 30,000 dead. Anything that can be done to modify it would be helpful. I would be very interested in knowing the evolution of Spain since you came to power.
Juan Carlos I: All political parties did not want any sudden changes, so it has been slow and gentle. I think it could have gone a little faster, but it’s moving. We have gone through difficult times, last February, for example. And the press has not been helpful.
Gerald Ford: It never is.
Juan Carlos I: We have more than 150 political parties. We are telling them that they must unite. We will hold the national elections before the municipal elections. Because that was a mistake my grandfather made in 1931. They will be this fall and the local ones next spring.
Gerald Ford: We are pleased to see the progress you have made. As you know, we have taken a firm position that Spain must reintegrate into Europe. You know the position I took last May at NATO. We believe some progress is being made.
José María de Areilza: Yes. Secretary General Luns and General Haig have said that they would let some Spanish observers into NATO organizations.
Juan Carlos I: And then we are starting conversations with the Nine [members of the European Economic Community].
José María de Areilza: All Europeans are interested in the political progress we have made. We hope to start negotiations for full entry into the Common Market, but that will take years.
Henry Kissinger: The Dutch will cause you problems.
José María de Areilza: They weren’t that bad.
Henry Kissinger: The foreign minister is fine, but the prime minister is not.
Juan Carlos I: The Swedes are not very friendly.
Henry Kissinger: But they are not in the Economic Community.
José María de Areilza: What is happening with the Italian elections?
Gerald Ford: We are slightly optimistic, but very cautiously.
Henry Kissinger: It will be difficult whatever the outcome. It will be difficult to form a new government.
Gerald Ford: It’s good to see that the Pope has spoken out. But will he reach the parishes directly?
Henry Kissinger: He is more influential in Italy than in Spain. But about a third of the clergy have distanced themselves from him.
José María de Areilza: The Pope’s words reach the parishes of Italy. It will have a good effect.
Gerald Ford: What about the situation in Portugal?
Juan Carlos I: We think that [António Ramalho] Eanes will do well.
Gerald Ford: Is [Otelo Saraiva de] Carvalho a threat?
Juan Carlos: No, the truth is no. We are still worried about Portugal, but we believe that everything will work out.
Gerald Ford: All the chaos of more than a year ago should be a good lesson for your people.
Henry Kissinger: Are you following George Meany?
Juan Carlos I: Yes. Your example should be very useful. He is anti-communist and that is our problem in the unions.
Gerald Ford: How’s your economy?
Juan Carlos I: We still have too much inflation.
José María de Areilza: Is your recession over?
Gerald Ford: Definitely. Unless Congress intervenes, we believe we are on the path to stable, long-term progress. OPEC’s decision [not to raise oil prices] was very helpful.
Juan Carlos I: That was a blessing.
Henry Kissinger: We worked very closely with the Saudis on this. They told us we could even announce it.
