The Wilmington morning star., 1943-09-06
Washington Report
BY HELEN ESSARY
SHINGTON.-Brendon Brackenl

Nice name Say it again.
Brendon Bracken It comes trippngly off
the tongue. Out Of theatre program, maybe?
No. You're wrong. Brerdon Bracken is
chief Of the British Ministry Of War 1nforma-
ton He comes from London. No, definitely
not by way of Hollywood. He comes by way
Of Quebec, where he cheerily COMPOUNDED the
international press last week with his lack
of news concerning the last conference be-
tween Mr.. Roosevelt and Mr.. Churchill.
Mr.. Bracken is 100 pounds Of reality, al
though when he arrived at his first Washing
ton press conference on Tuesday, newsmen
and newswomen gasped inWardly
There simply couldn't be anybody who look
ed like Brendon Bracken. But there he was
Accompanied by British Minister Harold But
Ter he made his Capital debut, walking slow
ly down the aisle of the Pan-Amercan Room
of the Hotel Statler.
Mr.. Bracken and Mr.. Butler stopped at ia
bic arranged with pitcher Of water and chair
for stenographer and faced the Journalistic
inquisition. Minister Butler, in grayish suit
an distinguished tie and Waistcoat of sorts
was putting away at briar pipe. He looked
a proper John Bull.
Ii,
and terrific He wore well-cut black suit
and white striped shirt with collar of the
same material, black four-in-hand tie and
the most incredible wavy golden hair and pale
pinky-White skin. The golden hair was the
exact shade of his gold rim spectacles. 1t was
the sort Of hair for which any woman would
sell her hope for worthy character.
He couldn't avoid being dramatic No mat
ter where you'd place him, in a pea-soup fog
in no Of or in n OF on
party with celebrities, Mr.. Bracken would be
as conspicuous as Tyrone Power at a farm
ers union
Yet you liked Brendon Bracken at once.
You knew he had brains and courage. Also
steady brown eyes, poise, good temper, per-
sonal dignity, and adroit use OF phrases and
voice that said You and | understand each
other" He made joke of turning aside the
questions Of reporters whom he had invited in
to tell all ION the record" You knew by his
answer to question Number One that ne be-
longed to the school that believes Language is
given us to conceal our thoughts
He made the press laugh when he said the
Ministry of Information was the most kicked
around department of the British Government.
He minated that his good trlend Elmer
Davis" who at the moment does receive bou-
quets studded mostly with porcupine quilts,
must be prepared to suffer a while longer.
Such anguish, Mr.. Bracken said, was the re-
ward for directing information
l had seen Mr.. Davis half an hour before
at President Roosevelts press conference l
regret to report that he had not yet learned
to smile at porcupne quill bouquets.
For almost an hour Mr.. Bracken contlnued
to say nothing with charm and Wit. he did
use tough language in speaking OF the enemy
and fine phrase in that bit about a strong
France is essential to civilization.
When the conference was over, tnought l
detected the sound. of clinkng glasses ana the
whiz of soda water syphons. But l oiol m
vestigate the disturbance l had alreaoy mad
a thousand dollars worth OF entertainment IN
one afternoon.
| Mr.. Roosevelt put on such sooo sNo"
earlier at his press conference thal oi,e VI l'ie
newspaper men said as we Waiheo aeioss
Jackson Place on way TO lhe o'atiel no
tel 'Wouldn't old Andy-see MN up .neie oil
his iron horse-have enjoyed Frahkiill!
myself think Franklin's great! WISH we
| could afford him indefinitely.
Returning for moment to brenoo,i ~ aIAeii
you might as well learn more apoo. ii1 -.
He was Churchills whip in the Conliloils, nc
was and may still be publisher Oh 1lie 1id ~
cial News of England, which CORRESPONDS ~ ~ W
the Wall Street Journal, and director VI lne
Economist Likewise, he has heaVy ni'ei e;,'
in the publishing firm which mas W. w.,
on Bible sales Mr.. Bracken speht nis 10y
hood in Australia where it IS sala NC ,..tped
tend his fathers sheep. He was eu ~
| in London public schools, which nlean' ~
equivalent Of American private schooA''