Evening star., 1933-04-10
MRS. GANN RECALLS.
1929 INAUGURATION.
Tells of Shaking Hands With
5000 Persons at Charity
Ball.

This is the ninth OF a series OF
daily articles in ,rhich Mrs. Dolly
Gam, sister of Charles Curtis, Vice
President in the Hoouer ddministra-
tion, is giving "reminiscences OF her
interesting experiences in politics and
society in Washington.
BY DOLLY GANN.
The retiring President, Calvin Cool
idge, invited the incoming President
and Vice President to dinner the eve
ming before Inauguration day, 1929. I
was not as completely happy at that
farewell dinner as one might have sup
posed, though the next day was to see
my brother Vice President. I was so
fond of the Coolidges I felt sad over
their departure.
| Mrs. Coolidge, If she had regret, did
not show it. She received us with her
usual gayety. A young woman Demo-
crat once said this First Lady's smile
was worth a million votes to the Re-
publicans At least that many!
After dinner we talked a while, then
my brother Charles and I left for the
Hotel Willard to meet the Governors
and others in Washington for the inau-
guration. I began to realize there the
extent of our duties the next four years.
We were escorted to the large ball room.
The orchestra was playing and Marines
were lined up to form a pasSageway to
our box, where all our family and house
guests were waiting. Standing at the
front of the box Charles and I greeted
hundreds as the line filed past.
~, tnn
myself of an experience which gave the
family a laugh at my expense. had
received a letter from an Oklahoma
woman, an old friend, whom had not
seen since we were schoolmates. She
asked me to have three rooms reserved
in hotel from which she and her fam
ily could see the Inauguration parade.
When I had known her people they
were in very modest circumstances, and
I felt sure she had no idea of the cost
of such rooms. So I asked hotel
clerk to write her letter telling the
price Brother laughed and told me
my friends husband was worth mil
lions as he had become an Oklahoma
oil baron. =.
After we went home from the Willard
my niece's husband, Webster Knight, I'd,
suddenly raised an outcry: MY trou-
sers!" he shouted. II haven't got 'em!''
Unpacking, he had discovered the ab-
sence of neither garments to be worn
with his cutaway coat, and here he was
with no fitting raiment in which to see
his father -in-law installed as vice
President.
Nephew Webby's Plight.
We dragged out all the spare trou-
sers we had. my brothers and my hus-
band Billy's. None fitted; they were
either too short or too broad-beamed.
Webby did not get much sleep; he was
I'D at o'clock hunting clothing
shop. A watchman telephoned the
proprietor of store, and he opened the
place. He found pair OF trousers SIX
inches too long, and routed out tailor
to cut them off. All was well.
For the inaugural ceremonies wore
a dull blue crepe dress, gray tweed coat
and blue straw hat, with corsage bou-
quet of orchids given me by my nleces
father-in-law, Prescott knight. was
amused to read in paper that my cos
tune had been blue chiffon with many
ruffleS.
The sidewalks were lined with crowds
as we drove down Pennsylvania avenue.
President Coolidge and President elect
Hoover rode together, OF course. MIS-.
Hoover was with Mrs. Coolidge. Brother
occupied a car with several committee
men. I was with Mrs. Charles Dawes
Whoever else attracted the cheers OF
the onlookers, felt 1t was Mrs. Cool
idge's day, for the applause seemed TO
reach its maximum wnen sne rooe py'
smiling and waving.
All the official world was represented
at the Inauguration ceremonies in the
Senate Chamber. America sees no more
impressive ceremonial than this gath
ering. What it meant to me can be
imagined. Vice President Dawes, as soon
as the President had been an
nounced and was in his place, admin
istered the oath of office to my brother.
In closing his address, he said:
ITO my successor in office, my dear
friend and the dear friend of us all,
Senator Curtis, I wish the great sue
cess which his fine character, his ability
and his long experience in this body
make certain
Sees Hoover Take Oath.
After the ceremonies in the chamber.
everybody went out to the east side OF
the Capitol to see President Hoover
take the oath and deliver his address,
then we started for the White House
for luncheon. Meantime, rain had be-
gun. Such downpour l nave never
seen, and I was disappointed when
noticed that the waiting cars were
closed, People had been standing Tor
hours, willing to be drenched II tney
could see the new President.
Mr.. Hoover was quick to appreciate
this, and the top was lowered IN the
car in which he and Mrs. Hoover RODE
This meant ours should come down, TOO.
The rain continued unabated. RlVulets
trickled from brothers high hat, ana
fAIf tLa yrot
feet sloshed about in small lake at
the bottom of the car.
AS we came to Seventh street heard
a yell and some one called, Miss Dolly"
There stood the colored cook OF one OF
my friends, waving frantically.
A bedraggled group, we arrived at
the White House. Though we had dlned
there only the evening before, mere we
were to have luncheon and review the
inaugural parade with an entirely new
host and hostess. Everything went as
smoothly as though there had been no
change-all because Of the splendid
management of the chief usher, Ike"
Hoover, at the White House more than
40 years.
learned that day that Mrs. Hoover
is one of the most conSiderate persons
in the world. While We were at lunch
coma small gathering on the second
floor, with buffet service, while many
more were being cared for downstairs
in the state dining room-she sent out
my coat and hat to be dried. So was
fairly presentable when we went to
the reviewing stand.
President Hoover took of his over
| coat and laid it on the floor in front
of him, whereupon his granddaughter
Peggy Ann climbed on 1t and thus was
able to look out the window as the show
passed.
OF all the features in the pageant the
one that thrilled me most was lone
Indian, riding bareback, clad only in
breech-cloth. He looked like a bronze
statue
That evening we attended the charity
ball which has taken the place of the
old inaugural ball. I am told brother
and I shook hands with 5000 persons.