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REWIND: Great moments of Indo-US bonhomie

Ahead of US President Barack Obama's visit to India, rediff.com goes back in time to bring you some memorable moments from part American presidential visits to India.

Ageless beauty of the Taj Mahal, India's great monument at Agra, proved to be an inspiration for President Dwight Eisenhower and daughter-in-law Barbara during a tour conducted by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on December 13, 1959.

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REWIND: Great moments of Indo-US bonhomie

President Eisenhower drove in open car to small village Laraonda in Punjab to get the glimpse of rural India on December 13, 1959.

REWIND: Great moments of Indo-US bonhomie

Prime Minister Nehru and Vice President S Radhakrishnan look thoughtful during Eisenhower's address to Parliament in which he outlined his peace policies.

REWIND: Great moments of Indo-US bonhomie

President Eisenhower paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial at Rajghat.

REWIND: Great moments of Indo-US bonhomie

President Richard Nixon' was the next US President to visit India. His motorcade on its way to Rashtrapati Bhawan on July 31, 1969.

REWIND: Great moments of Indo-US bonhomie

President Nixon is greeted on his arrival by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi (in blue saree) and other officials on July 31, 1969.

REWIND: Great moments of Indo-US bonhomie

President Nixon inspects a Guard of Honour on arrival at the airport July 31, 1969.

 

REWIND: Great moments of Indo-US bonhomie

President Jimmy Carter was the next to come calling. Swati, the three-year old granddaughter of President Sanjiva Reddy, gives her personal welcome to Carter at Rashtrapati Bhawan on January 1, 1978.

REWIND: Great moments of Indo-US bonhomie

Acknowledging a gift: Rosalynn Carter wears a shawl presented to her by the villagers in Daulatpur Nasirabad, India, as President Carter smiles approvingly. She also sported a tilak on her forehead. The name of the village was permanently changed to Carterpuri in honour of their visit.

REWIND: Great moments of Indo-US bonhomie

President Jimmy Carter is accompanied to his plane by President Reddy, Prime Minister Morarji Desai and Minister of External Affairs A B Vajpayee on January 3, 1978.

REWIND: Great moments of Indo-US bonhomie

President Carter addresses a mammoth gathering in New Delhi

REWIND: Great moments of Indo-US bonhomie

President Bill Clinton came in April, 2000. Here he admires decorated elephants at Amer Fort. Though he declined an elephant ride, Clinton said he was happy to be in the company of such friendly elephants, a reference to the Republican Party whose best known symbol is the elephant

REWIND: Great moments of Indo-US bonhomie

President Clinton and his daughter Chelsea greet President K R Narayanan at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

 

 

REWIND: Great moments of Indo-US bonhomie

President Clinton greets Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, who were then in the Opposition.

REWIND: Great moments of Indo-US bonhomie

Clinton being introduced to former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao inside Parliament by Speaker GMC Balayogi. Former President Ramaswamy Venkataraman is seen to Rao's right.

REWIND: Great moments of Indo-US bonhomie

President Clinton pays obeisance at Rajghat along with daughter Chelsea

REWIND: Great moments of Indo-US bonhomie

President George W Bush then came calling in March, 2005 and took Indo-US relations to new heights. Here he hugs Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after addressing a press conference in New Delhi

REWIND: Great moments of Indo-US bonhomie

President Bush with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S R Reddy at dairy production plant on March 3, 2006