Evening star., 1945-10-07
Truman Thrills Virginia Town as Best Man
At Wedding of Clark to British Actress
Marine LieutenuntHus
Honor Of Receiving
President Alone
BY MARION WADE DOYLE,
Rtar STAFF r,orresnonaent

AAallACu GOQdy W tlOlct t1cIuiIlk,
British-born actress, in century-old
Grace Episcopal Church here.
Following the wedding, a recep-
ton was held at nearby Balclutha,
estate of Mr.. and Mrs. James M.
Thomson. Mrs. Thomson Is the
sister of Mr.. Clark. A few minutes
before the wedding, Mr.. Thomsons
nephew, Marine 1t. James Thomson,
received the President and his wife
and daughter when they entered
the rectory instead of the church.
At few minutes after IL am,
shortly after the President and his
party had arrived, 1t. Comdr. Harry
F. Byrd, jr., U. S. N. r., son of the
junior Senator from Virginia,
escorted Mrs. Truman to a front
pew. Close behind her, Margaret
Truman was escorted by 1t. Thom-
son.
Bride in Wine Silk Suit.
The wedding march was played
at l1:12 am. and the bride walked
down the aisle on the arm of Capt.
Richard Duncan Gatewood, U. S. N,
an old friend. She had no attend
ants.
Half the 40 invited guests turned
to look at her. She wore a wine
silk suit and pink feathered hat.
Many other eyes turned to the left
anteroom where the President came
out behind Mr.. Clark and the Rev.
DR.. Henry G. Lane, officiating min
lister.
The President stood back a bit
difidently as the couple joined arms
before the minister at the simple
wooden altar. Mr.. Clark looked at
him and the President moved in a
little closer.
Throughout the brief ceremony
the President stood with bent head
except, when loud knocking from q
radiator caused him to look around
startled.
President Ready With Ring.
When Mr.. Clark held out his hand
for the ring, the President had il
ready. Then, when DR.. Lane pro-
nounced the couple man and wife
the groom turned and bowed slightly
toward the President, who smiled
at him.
Mr.. Clark kissed Mrs. Clark and
they turned to walk back down the
aisle. Behind them, the President,
still smiling, hesitated a moment
and then walked a few steps to
stand beside Mrs. Trumans pew.
Outside, the crowd of spectators
took one look at the bride, saw the
President was not behind her, and
raced to the rear of the church to
see him leave.
Holding on to the arm of her hus-
band, the actress smiled happily for
photographers. At 81, it was her
first marriage. Mr.. Clark, SIS. was
married before. His first wife is
dead. ..-,,v=-
Slight Mixup.
The honor of receiving the Presi-
dent just before the wedding fell to
1t. Thomson as a result of a slight
mixup in the schedule for the event
Near wedding time, 1t. Thomson
who came from his station at the
Artillery School at Quantico, Va, to
serve as an usher, went across a rear
alleyway to the rectory, few yards
from the church. The President and
his wife and daughter were expected
to drive into the alleyway and be
received by Mr.. Clark, the Chief Ex-
ec,ltive's old friend and Senate as
sociate, in rear anteroom of the
church.
AS 1t. Thomson was starting in.
side the rectory to speak to DR.. Lane
cars crunched into the driveway
Secret Service men piled out.
short man in business suit helpee
out gray-haired woman and {
blond girl.
Marine on the Alert.
But instead of turning into tht
church, President Truman led hi.
wife and daughter up to the dool
of the rectory. 1t. Thomson tolc
friends at the wedding reception
later that he knew something hac
to be DONE" Across the alleyway
he said, there was the groom anc
a man with at least the rank ol
lieutenant commander to greet the
President. But the President wa.
coming into the rectory where 1t
Thomson stood alone.
so I just stepped forward anc
said, Good morning, Mr.. Presi-
dent" 1t. Thomson said. Rapidly
reviewing Marine regulations, hi
recalled that he did not have tc
salute the commander in chief be-
cause he did not have his cap on
The lieutenant gave his name tc
the President. He had been pre-
sented to the Truman family and
several of the accompanying digni-
taries before Mr.. Clark rushed
across to the rectory. After the Pres
ident and the bridal couple had
left the wedding reception at Bal
clutha, Comdr. Byrd recounted the
story of 1t. Thomson's responsible
ity.
Baruch Among Guests.
I was just the only member OF
the family there" 1t. Thomson said
Il knew it was up to me-"
Among the guests at the wedding
reception were Bernard Baruch, Ad-
miral E. C. Kalbfus, Senator Briggs
Democrat, of Missouri; former
Idaho Senator D. Worth Clark and
Senator and Mrs. Byrd.
| The bride cut the wedding cake
for President and Mrs. Truman
who ate theirs. But Margaret Tru-
man, the Thomson family reported
wrapped hers in napkin and car
ried it away. Maybe to sleep on,
the new Mrs. Clark said, de-
lightedly.
The couple, Mrs. Clark in brown
suit, left about Q pm. for a short
honeymoon. They will return Sat.
urday, when Mr.. Clark will be sworn
in as justice of the Court o1
Appeals.
| The citizens of Berryville mean.
while were talking over the presi.
Dental visit, the first since Presi.
dent Mckinley came there in 1899
They we're disappointed, they tole