On January 8, 1979, President Mobutu held a positive lunch discussion with a U.S. citizen in Brussels, reflecting on his previous visits to the United States and expressing gratitude for an old plane he received from President Kennedy. He shared his experience of being given a vintage DC-3 instead of a new jet as a personal gift from JFK in 1963, which he ultimately appreciated despite initial disappointment. This telex highlights Mobutu's favorable view of U.S. relations, contrasting with broader opinions of that time.

1. Mobutu was very happy with old plane from
president Kennedy
Thierry Debels
@thierryd
17/7/16
FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0978
I HAD LUNCH WITH PRESIDENT MOBUTU TODAY JANUARY 8 IN HIS LARGE HOUSE
OUTSIDE BRUSSELS.
On Jan 8 1979, there was a lunch between president
Mobutu and a US citizen (probably the ambassador of
the US in Brussels).
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2. The lunch is being served in the house of Mobutu near
Brussels.
It is a very positive conversation.
Mobutu mentions the plane he received from president
Kennedy (in 1963).
HE SPOKE WARMLY AND AT LENGTH OF THREE PREVIOUS VISITS TO THE UNITED
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3. STATES, AND IN PARTICULAR OF HIS MEETING WITH PRESIDENT KENNEDY (WHO, HE
NOTED IN PASSING, HAD GIVEN HIM AN AIRPLANE).
Mobutu is very positive about the US and ‘he spoke
warmly of his 3 visits to the US’.
This telex is in stark contrast to the general opinion.
The meeting between JFK and Mobutu took place in
early 1963 in Washington. Mobutu was offered a gift
from the president of the USA, in order to underline the
enduring relations between the two nations.
Mobutu was major-general at that time.
‘Surprise for him, as this vintage “Jalopy” Aircraft
arrived: it was a personal gift from JFK after their
meeting, and indeed Mobutu was disappointed – no
brand new Jet, he got an 18 year old DC-3 instead’,
states dc3dakotahunter.com.
And in 1976 Henry Kissinger was aboard Mobutu’s
yacht.
Mobutu: “In 1963, I came to Washington to see President
Kennedy and in our discussions, he said I ought to have a
small jet aircraft so that I could more easily move about
the country; in those days I did not even have a Piper
Cub. But there was one colonel there who explained that
I did not need an executive jet. What I really needed was
a DC-3. If I want to fly from here to Lubumbashi in a
DC-3, it’s a five and one-half hour flight.”
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4. Kissinger: “And what did you get?”
Mobutu: “The Colonel prevailed. I got a DC-3.”
Kissinger: “They always like to get rid of their old
equipment.”
But as stated in the private conversation in 1979, Mobutu
was very happy with this ‘old equipment’.
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