Evening star., 1941-07-28
E. B. Mclean, Former Publisher
Of Post, Dies of Heart Attack
Was Close Friend
Of Harding; Funeral
Rites Tomorrow

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Sheppard and Enoch Prett Hospital
in Towson, Md, where he had been
for eight years. Death was said to
have been caused by heart attack.
Mr. Mclean was the son of the
late John Roll Mclean, publisher
of the Washington Post. and grand
son of Washington Mclean, one OF
the founders of the Cincinnati
Enquirer. He became editor and
publisher of the Post in 1916. after
his fathers death, severing his con-
nection with the newspaper in 1888,
when it was sold to Eugene Meyer.
In 1908 he married Miss Evalyn
Lucille Walsh, daughter of the late
Thomas F. Walsh, Colorado mining
operator. They met while he was
covering the Democratic National
Convention in Denver for his
fathers papers.
Their wedding trip took them
around the world. Shortly after the
marriage, Mrs. Mclean acquired the
famous Hope diamond, defying the
legend of i'll fortune it was supposed
to bring to its owners. She once
wore the diamond in Moscow night
club.
Lived at Walsh Mansion.
Following their wedding trip the
McLeanS made their home at the
famous Walsh mansion, 2020 MaSSa-
chusetts avenue NV. They moved
to Fifteenth and I streets NV. after
the death of the elder Mclean, later
taking up residence at the Friend
ship estate on Wisconsin avenue.
The street house was torn down to
make way for the Lafayette office
building
Mr.. Mclean, well known for his
interest in sports, played golf fire.
quently and at one time was owner
of farm near Leesburg. Va, where
many racing horses were bred. His
clubs here included the Metropoli-
tan, Chevy Chase and Riding and
Hunt Clubs.
Born here in 1886, Mr.. Mclean
was educated under private tutors
and studied law in the Offices of
Wilton J. Lambert. He received
his early newspaper training as a
reporter on the Post. He spent
much of his time as a youth at the
home of Admiral George Dewey of
Manila Bay fame.
Friend of President Harding.
! A close friend of Warren G. Hard
ing, Mr.. Mclean was appointed
chairman of the committee for the
Harding inauguration. Following
the Presidents death, he served on
the Harding Memorial Commission
/ that erected a memorial to President
Harding in Marion, Ohio.
Mr.. McLean's name, was men
toned in the trial of Albert B. Fall,
President Hardings Secretary of the
Interior. on a bribe- taking charge.
Fall said he had borrowed from Mr..
Mclean the money with which he
purchased New Mexico ranch. The
court, however, found that the
money came from Edward Doheny
oil operator.
The poker parties in which Pres
ident Harding and the millionaire
publisher played were held in the
! White House, in downtown
dwelling. which became known as
the little green house on K street, -
and the l street home. Some of
the dinners and breakfasts there
were reputed to have cost $4,000
to 100000, but Mrs. Mclean once
said her most expensive parties ran
only to $4,000.
Outstanding Social Events.
One of the outstanding social
events of Washington for many
years were the New Year Eve
parties of the McLeans, at which
300 were invited for dinner and
500 more invited for dancing and
champagne later.
Indication of rift between the
McLeans became apparent in 1880
when Mrs. Mclean filed in the
District Supreme Court a suit to
compel Mr. Mclean to support her
and her three children, asking
$4,000 a month. At that time. she
claimed that although Mr.. Mclean
had an income ranging as high as
S1,000,000 year, he had refused to
maintain her and the children, al
though able to do so. The court
allowed $500 a month.
Mr.. Mclean filed suit for divorce
in Mexico in 1881, but was enjoined
from prosecuting it by the Dis
trict Supreme Court. He went to
Riga, Latvia, and sought a divorce
there. Mr.. Mclean was cited for
contempt of court in the District
Supreme Court for sending home a
Christmas box containing a sum-
mons ordering his wife to appear
before Latvian court as defendant
in the divorce proceedings. The
divorce was granted in Latvia in
1882, but was not recognized in the
! United States.
Relieved From Trusteeship.
In June, 1882, Mr. Mclean re-
signed as head of the Post Co.
A formal order was signed in Dis
trict Supreme Court that month
! renewing MIN from CruSJeeSnlp OF
his fathers estate so far as they
concerned the Post In 1888 the
court placed the paper in the hands
of receiver.
In March, 1888 Mrs. Mclean an
nounced that she would oppose to
the utmost any attempt to sell the
paper outside her family and au-
thorized a statement the following
month saying that 'it is perfectly
true that I am trying to raise some
money on the Hope diamond and
other jewels of mine to try and save
my children's estate, particularly the
Washington Post, which I regard as
their greatest heritage"
Mrs. Mclean, who said she bid
100000 for the paper, watched the
paper sold for a higher amount