Evening star., 1940-06-28
BY VIRGINIA IRWIN.

Edith Willkie, wife of the Repub-
lican nominee, isn't pinching herself
these days over the fact that her
husband has in three short months
risen from a political nobody to a
political sensation. After more than
% years of being married to Wen-
dell Willkie, nothing could surprise
her.
She entered quietly on the Phila-
delphia scene. 1t is "Wendell's s
show" she says, and she can't see
any reason why folks should be max
ing fuss over her-but they are.
when my husband Is so voluble,
why should talk" she asked, laugh
ing. "And besides, remember let
ter I received early this month while
my husband was on a whirlwind tour
around the country. 1t was short
letter, signed An American Citizen,
and it said, 7 hope you will keep
quiet. The people are interested in
Mr.. Wilkes views and not in yours.
Perhaps that American Citizen was
right"
Only feet 2 inches tall and
weighing 110 pounds, Edith Willkie
is as conversationally comfortable
when you know her "as the pro-
verbal old shoe" think she breads
being unfavorably and unfairly
tagged as q publicity hound. .
Never Sought Interviews.
"As a girl when I had to give
piano recitals or recitations I al
ways felt as if I were going to die
and hoped I would" she confessed,
"and all this being in the limelight
is something like that. But one
thing the press can never say is
that Mrs. Wendell Willkie sought to
be interviewed. Why, do you know,
I hadn't had my picture taken since
my marriage until just recently and
that was at meeting of the Asso-
ciated Women-for- Willkie Clubs in
New York. The caption on the pic
ture the next day said Mrs. Willkie
Poses Graciously.' I did nothing of
the sort. I didn't even know the
picture was being taken"
The persuasion necessary to in
duce Mrs. Willkie to grant this per-
sonal interview came from Wendell
Willkie himself, who called her up
and asked her to see me.
During the interview twitted
Mrs. Willkie with apparently not
being the boss in the Willike family
Can Be Firm at Times.
Around home you should hear
Wendell and my son Philip call me
II Duce and Der Fuehrer," she
laughed. Il can be very firm at
times. Saturday morning, for in
stance, before my husband left for
the convention, I determined that
nothing short of an earthquake
would wake him up before he opened
his eyes of his own accord. The
phone rang constantly. Men in
sisted that it was a matter of life
and death in my husbands political
career that they talk to him. I an
swered each one firmly that nothing
was more important than my hus-
bands rest. AS result he got IL
hours sleep Friday night and Sat-
urday morning-the first he had
had in weeks. It was a sleep OF
exhaustion. But he went off to the
convention without a haircut. ]
called his barber while he was asleep
but before I knew it he was out of
the house and off for the conven-
ton still very badly in need of q
haircut"
Haircuts are, of course, the least
of Wendell WILKES thoughts these
days But he's just naturally for
getful of such minor things in life
He even forgets anniversaries, Mrs.
Willkie admits.
Il think it is nice when men re-
member birthday and wedding ami
versaries, but it is not important" !"
she smiled. 1.-THE really important
thing is how they treat you every
day. Wendell has worn extremely
well. have no complaints"
Met at Friends Wedding.
Edith Wilk met Wendell Willkie
just about "a years ago. She lived
in Rushville, Ind, he in the neigh
boring town of Elkwood. One day
Edith went over to Elkwood to be