Evening star., 1941-01-17

him best as an amateur entertainer
who has rescued more Washington
banquets from boredom than any
man in history.
The business executive turned to
entertaining as a relaxation from
his work. He made friends with the
great and the near great with
Presidents, statesmen and politi-
clans, many of whom were drawn to
him by mutual taste for informal
music.
Known to Many as George"
Congratulations poured in today
upon the executive who for years
has been known to thousands in
all walks of life as George" the
willing minstrel. whose songs could
be relied upon to revive the dullest
assembly, and whose good d-natured
jokes and anecdotes never carried
sting.
Mr.. O'Connor's talents as an en-
tertainer developed early. They
soon endeared him to prominent
men whose attendance at official
dinner parties was almost compul-
sory-tc Presidents, members of
Congress and high public officials,
glad for a relief from political ora
tory.
Presidents from the days of Nc
Kinley knew Mr.. O'Connor by first
name, including the two Roosevelts.
They welcomed the informal inter.
ludes he often introduced into the
tedious routine of their official lives.
Mr.. O'Connor, it was said, was one
of the few men who could make
Coolidge laugh outright.
Mr.. O'Connor met President and
Mrs. Coolidge at a reception ten
dered the presidential couple by the
Massachusetts, State Society. How
comes 1t you're from Massachu-
setts?" asked the President.
I'm not from Massachusetts"
Mr.. O'Connor replied, i've been
sick, that's the reason look this
way"
Why Coolidge Laughed.
The Presidents laughter surprised
other dignitaries in the receiv-
ing line Representative Underhill
asked. George, what did you say
to the President? I haven't seen
him laugh like that since we were
In school together" Mr.. O'Connor
repeated the remark.
oh" chuckled Mr.. Underhill.
"that accounts for it. You know
he still claims he's from Vermont"
As a high school youth, Mr..
O'Connor won the applause Of
Grover Cleveland with his rendi-
ton Of ''The Bowery" In George
town University he was a glee club
and minstrel star. During this
period he ran across Matt Horne, a
natural accompanist.
Mr.. Horne, who later became a
policeman and an agent for the
Department of Justice, and Mr..
O'Connor performed at a Gridiron
Club dinner given two weeks after
McKinley's Inauguration. The new
President got great kick out Of
their pieces, my Gal Is a High
Born Lady" and "Mammy's Little
Alabama Coon"
Time to Win Degrees.
Despite his numerous engage.
mentS at dinner parties and
IS, young O'Connor acquired
M. and LII. B. degrees at George.
town and an LII. M. at the National
University Law School. He was
admitted to the District bar and
the bar of the United States Su-
preme Court.
The busy Theodore Roosevelt and
his self-contained Vice President.
Mr.. Fairbanks of Indiana, found
time to relax and laugh with fellow
banqueters at the antics of the
amateur team,
1t was said that during this ad.
minlstration the British Ambassa-
DOR refused an invitation to a stag
party and then changed his mind
when he heard George O'Connor
was going to introduce a new song
Mr.. O'Connor once revived the
dropping spirits of President Taft.
who had been attending official
functions until his morale had sunk
to new low, with a song, "It Amt
No Disgrace to Run When You're
Scared" Mr.. Taft often asked for
the song afterward.
Entertained Wilson Often,
The team entertained President
Wilson at his first official banquet
IN Washington and by the close Of
that administration Mr.. O'Connor
was so often at the White House
that mail was addressed to him
+I,ara Ifr f,;o -n{I