Well, Norman, there's a saying that sometimes, memories may vary.
As you know, after WWII, Europe was occupied by the British/American/Russian forces. Let's ignore the French for the moment.

The "short" version was (as agreed at the Yalta Convention) that the military would provide stability and aid, whilst the former countries got on their feet, elected democratically elected governments, and eventually stand on their own feet.
After May 1945, the Russians immediatley renaged on that agreement, and formed the Warsaw Pact, effectively "keeping" all of the countries that they over-ran during the war; Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Checkeslovakia and others.

A MASSIVE force...

The reaction from the west was to form NATO in April 1949, as a DEFENSIVE force.

Now WHY would you invite Russia to join that "club" as you call it? When it was formed as a defence to the Warsaw Pact?

Remember, it was RUSSIA that didn't allow free elections & democracy in the countries that they over-ran, whereas the UK/USA supported & encouraged these countries to form governments.

After all, wasn't that the point of WWII?
To
A} Stop us being invaded and
B) To then free Europe from oppression, and give independance to each country.