Evening star., 1938-01-17
BY PAULINE FREDERICK.

ny PAULINE FREDERICK.
How would cabinet hostess 20
about interviewing a cabinet hostess?
This was the question put to Mrs.
Claude A. Swanson, petite, vivacious
and bue-eyed wife of the Secretary
OF the Navy, as she sat in the drawing
room of her home on r street early on
. winter evening.
Hair that once was of spun gold
showed white beneath her smart little
black hat. Her dress was of black,
shot with thread OF gold, and a silver
fox scarf was thrown across her shoul-
ders. Her gay repartee and frank OBJ
servations were of that same sparkling
variety that have made her the life
OF many a drawing room.
BY way of explanation it might be
said that the question had been put to
Mrs. Swanson because she seemed to
have more than adequate background
for answering it. In the first place.
she knew the hostess angle backward
and forward. having been the wife of
public figure for nearly decade and
a half. for Mr., Swanson was a mem
her of the United States Senate at
the time of their marriage. In the
second place. she was an associate
member of the Newspaper Women's
Club Of Washington and had shown
An avid interest in the work of the la
dies of the press.
So who better could answer such a
question?
interviewing a cabinet woman is
q difficult task said Mrs. Swanson
Delicate Position.
And this is why: On any of the vital
national and international problems of
the day. whether her view happens to
be her own, or one she shares with her
husband. the public is almost sure.
according to Mrs. Swanson, to feel
that she is speaking the opinions of
her husband and therefore official ones.
Thus Mrs. Swanson ruled off the
record one whole field of observation
and comment However, there still
was plenty left
Life itself-child life-is one of Mrs.
Swanson's favorite subjects, the one
nearest her heart. Her charity love-"
as she puts it. happens to be Children's
Hospital, and as she talked of the
little tots who there are being given
a new start her face lighted and her
enthusiasm mounted 1t is not alone
because she loves them so dearly that
Mrs. Swanson is devoting herself to
the cause Of children. In them she
sees the very hope of present-daX<
civilization.
You can't be around Mrs. Swanson
very long without realizing that there
are two very good reasons why she
makes a perfect hostess. One is her
vivacious self. The other is her
Southern background and training
she was born Lucy Lyons in Rich
nond. but was soon nicknamed "Lulie."
which she still is to her close friends
to this day.
Believes in CandOr,
President, Chief Justice, Senator
oiiN hAiloooooAOk Il0fC DCCli VI
the titles to mingle under their roof
And many feast has been spread
for the great and great on the
eXouisitely carved teakwood dining
room table
Since the Secretary's fall and SUBJ
sequent illness more than year ago,
however, Mrs. Swanson has consider
ably curtailed her social program at
home. She is much more concerned
over keeping her husband in trim
for directing Uncle Sans Navy.
Practicing candor to the fullest ex-
tent, she breaches the principle that
complete frankness is the one and
only thing" that really makes it pos
sible for people to get along with one
another happily. She pointed to the
sorrow that is engendered by lack
OF frankness, which only breeds mis-
Mrs. Swanson warned that she was