Evening star., 1933-04-13
BY DOLLY GANN.

BY DOLLY GANN.
{ When my brother Charles was
Representative in Congress and l was
learning my way about, all guest at
the White House entered the front door,
checked their wraps on the hrst moor
and proceeded to the blue room. Presi-
dent Theodore Roosevelt added the east
corridor and for long time the ma
jority of the guests used that entrance,
sometimes waiting hours while the
chosen few dignitaries were being re-
ceived.
When brother became Senator, we
had cards for the southwest door,
whence We went by elevator to the
receiving line on the drawing room
floor. When he became Vice President.
we again entered the front door and
the Presidents aides escorted us up the
grand staircase to await in the oval
room the coming of the President and
Mrs Hoover.
: With these minor changes in the rou-
tine of approach, due to architectural
alterations or Encouragement OF the
buildings interior, have been slight dit-
ferences in reception methods. accord
ing to the taste of this or that occupant
OF the White House.
: In the Hoover administration the
cabinet members and their wives were
ranged according to rank in the oval
room. the Vice President at their head.
An aide announced the President and
Mrs. Hoover, who passed down the line
and greeted each person. One evening
the announcer called: The President
and Mrs Coolidge" and was overcome
with embarrassment. Mr.. Hoover came
to his rescue instantly, remarklng that
1t was a natural error. as the CoolldgeS
had been in the White House SO long.
: The greetings over, everybody started
downstairs, the aides leading the way
followed by Army and Navy men car
rying the American flag and the Pres
ident's flag, then the President and Mrs.
Hoover, brother and myself, the Sec
retary of State and Mrs. Stimson and
the other cabinet officers with their
wives as We reached the lower floor
the Marine Band sounded four -four
ishes for the President and all of us
stood still Then they played Hail to
the Chief" Proceeding into the blue
room, the President and Mrs. Hoover
crossed the floor and turned around.
whereupon the waiting line of invited
guests began to move past them.
Z When the reception was in honor OF
the diplomatic corps. the dean and his
wife were received first. the Ambassador
introducing the members of his staff
in turn and the lady standing by. The
other Ambassadors and Ministers went
Through the same ceremony, following
each other according to rank-and rank
depends upon length of service in
Washington.
4 Presentations were made by the CHIEF
military and naval aides while the other
aides stood at attention The two
chief aides might be married: all the
rest were bachelors. At one reception
] missed Gale PoindeXter, SON of the
former Senator who became our AM
bassador to Peru. Inquiring what had
happened, I was informed that Gale
had married That ended his career
as Junior aide.
At one time the wife of the Vice
President and all the women of the
cabinet stood in line with the President
and his wife at receptions, the huS-
bands behind them. I felt sorry for
the men. marooned behind that line
for hours. I don't remember who al
tered the procedure. Whoever did it
made good change.
Pleasing Innovation.
: Mrs Hoover was responsible for
pleasing custom at receptions. When
The end of the line was in sight the
band struck up THE Blue Danube
Waltz This was a signal for the
Vice President and his hostess and all
the cabinet group to assemble in the
red room and wait there, ready to
fall in behind the President and Mrs.
Hoover for the march upstairs. Light
Refreshments were served on the second
foor until the President said good
hiuhf Moatoyx-ii1a no hanI Ipuy, n ire
played for those who wished to dance
IN the east room. Before the music
stopped the President. his wife and
most Of the cabinet guests had called
it the end of a day. The dancing was
confined to those better able to stand
such gayety, with fewer responsibilities
on the morrow.
9 With minor variations such is
Formal evening reception at the White
House. For the last one in the recent
administration Mrs. Hoover invited
Several children, who stood where they
could see the presidential party descend
the grand staircase.
: In the Taft administration elaborate
Refreshments were served at all evening
functions, and this prec1 dent was fol-
1owed in the Wilson period. 1t was
later discontinued and has not been
revived
. The Presidents dinners are governed
by the same rules of precedence, though
there is no written code. The reason
Tor the rules is the necessity of orCer
: President Hoover entertained more
guests at dinner than any one else who
ever occupied the White House. At
State dinners the guests assembled i'll
the East room. e-cn beng announced
Gn entering. They we're introduced TO
one another before the President came
in. He ana Nh. EoJVer spoke i every
one in line. Then the President led the
way to the dining room. l accompanied
him on every Sucn occasion except when
he entertained the King of Siam and
escorted the Queen TO the table AMI
when l gave my place TO Lady Isabella
Howard At the dinner III honor Of the
British Prime Minister.
Frequently & state dinner was followed
b. a musicale and a hundred or more
additional guests were received in the
Gre-n room b. The P e .4dent ana ms.
Hoover After the guests were taken to
their .s2ts in the Est room, the hoGtS
were escorted to cnaIS in the center OF
the frCnt row. At the end OF the pro-
gram they rCcSiVtd the artists, who were
from the operate or concert stage and
were always glad to appear at the White
House The music over, the President
and MIS- Hoover were the first to leave
Only once year is the public well