Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-30
U. S. OFFERED, HOME
FOR VICE PRESIDENT
BY MRS. HENDERSON
Continued Prom First Page.)

mansion, since sold to Spain for an
embassy, for the vice presidential home
Mr.. Coolidge at that time had just
recently arrived in Washington as Vice
President. They were living in a suite
at a downtown hotel while in Wash
ington and in small rented house at
their home town, Northampton, Mass.
But Mr.. Coolidge figured that the main
tenance of such an establishment would
not feel like asking Congress to provide
the upkeep. Accordingly Congress
turned down the offer.
The house offered by Mrs. Henderson
today cost 100000 and was completed
in 1929. 1t is a mansion of some 30
rooms and 10 bath rooms. It contains
a large banquet or ball room, with con-
veniently arranged reception rooms on
the first and second floors. The plot
on which the building stands has a
frontage of $50 feet on Fifteenth street
facing Meridian Park, which Mrs. Hen
derson donated to the Government.
The depth of the plot is about 200 feet,
with a rear entrance. There is, per-
haps, no more unobStructed and beau
tiful view in Washington from all four
sides than from the spacious windows
of this mansion.
The French embassy is almost di-
across Meridian Park. The legations of
certain other countries are nearby, and
their sites were either purchased from
Mrs. Henderson or donated by her. The
Castle, Mrs. HenderSon'S home, is on
Sixteenth street near the French en-
bassy. 1t is now closed and in charge
of a caretaker, but completely furnished
and ready for her to move into If the
Government sees fit to accept her Fiji
tpoOtb street. mansion.
Coolidge Quoted on Need.
Having reached nearly fourscore and
ten years, Mrs. Henderson feels that
the present offer to her Government
may be the last one she will have the
privilege of making. Slender, frall and
silver haired, Mrs. Henderson has a
sprightly step, takes two walks daily in
the open air, retires at 8 pm. and
arises at am. She is the foe of to-
bacco and strong drink. Her fathers
brother was a United States Senator
before the Civil War and during it.
Her husband was Senator during that
great conflict.
autobiography writes as follows on the
subject of the need Of home for the
Vice President:
1T had been our intention to take
a house in Washington, but we found
none to our liking. They were too small
or too large. 1t was necessary for me
to live within my income, which was
little more than my salary and was
charged with the cost of sending my
two boys to school. We, therefore, took
two bed rooms with dining room and
large reception room at the New Will
lard, who're we had every convenience.
1T is difficult to conceive a person
finding himself in situation which
calls on him to maintain a position he
cannot pay for. Any other course for
me would have been cut short by the
barnyard philosophy of my father, who
would have contemptuously referred to
such action as the SenSeleSS imitation
of a fowl which was attempting TO
light higher than it could roost. There
is no dignity quite so impressive and no
independence quite so important as nv-
ing within your means. In our country
a small income is usually less embar-
RAISING than the possession OF large
one.
"But my experience has convinced |
me that an official residence with suit
able maintenance should be provided |
for the Vice President. Under the pres |
ent system he is not lacking in dignity, |
but has no fixed position. The great |
Office should have settled and per- |
manent habitation, and a place, ire |
spective of the financial ability Of its |
temporary occupant. While was glad |
to be relieved of the responsibility of a |
public establishment, nevertheless it is |
duty the second officer of the Nation |
should assume. 1t would be much more |
in harmony with our theory of equality |
If each Vice President held the same |
position in the Capital City" l