Evening star., 1933-03-05
Who Has Taken O7 the Rs Whi House Social A0its Is the
7we-Sk WondrfuI
Ahhy-Iru1els 1pAane-Ke9y With Women in Politics.

carry ON their own modest menage
with ease, comfort and grace, but
Mrs. Roosevelt has the advantage
over them all. She is born execu-
tive and accompanying it is a clear
vision. She knows what is to be
done and she is accustomed to
direct others to do it. She Will
concern herself far more with
diplomats and politicians than
with coffee pots and the wares Of
the kitchen dresser. She will con-
tinue to feed hundreds of visitors
with only a few moments consid-
Grafton of the menu.
When one considers that q
slight slip in White House eu-
quette, especially where diplomats
are concerned, is equal to faux
pas in the Department of State
on some delicate but important
subject, political or international,
it Is easy to see how carefully the
social affairs at the White House
must be handled. 1t takes all the
painstaking care Of the division
of protocol where the Presidents
relative, Warren Delano Robbins,
is chief Of the division. or the chief
ceremonial officer, Charles Lee
Cooke, to advise on these matters.
and after that, If the head usher
fails to watch the every step OF
the important individuals who pass
the White House threshold, there
may be q social ruction that will
bring On q chesty correspondence
between two countries, If it be .
diplomat or merely a matter with
the State Department if it Is an
American resident.
THE general surmise is that only
! women are given to social
peeves, or sights, but strange to
say In the history of the country
men have taken the lead in all con-
tentions Of this kind 1t became nee
essary to decide what was what even
before George Washington took
the oath of Office as the first Presi-
dent, and Alexander Hamilton,
Secretary of the Treasury, who
had lived abroad and had a taste
Of detail, made the arrangements.
John Adams thought Gen. WASH
ington had too much pomp and
ceremony in the reception and en-
tertainment of guests as carried
on in the Presidents social life
and decided to discard many of the
usages. Even this change in the
almost untried social realm of this
country did not please Thomas JET.
ferson-was not sufficiently demo-
cratic-and again changes were
made. His "all men equal" was
not made for international social
amenities. and though he perhaps
made a hit, generally speaking.
with the Upper and Lower Houses
Of Congress and other political
friends, it was not rosy way for
diplomats. British diplomats, who
seem always to have been at the
front in our social ructions, were
this time concerned and Mr.. Merry
and his lady, who were shocked
when Mr.. Jefferson upset the gem
eral order Of things at a state
dinner and escorted a lady who
stood near him instead of Mrs.
Merry to the table, we're about to
call their coach and 60 back to
the legation without breaking
bread. For . fact, they did call
the coach, but deferred leaving
until the meal was over, when
they poutingly left the Presidents
house.
OF be necessary for Mrs Roosevelt
grave study Of precedent, but it is
meekly guided by those who have
he subject. There have been mis-
be mansion In past administrations
,ted to guide their social barqueS
. Official social shoals without aid
d themselves left in embarrassing
here are 50 many who are familiar
,cial life Of the Capital that there
r excuse for social blumders which
attributed to the mistakes of secre-