The Omaha guide., 1946-11-23
Former Omahan
Visits Whitehouse
Meets Presidents Wife
oath and Oklahoma Ave-, N. E.
Washington, D. c..
November II, 1916

Following are impressions re-
ceived by a home-town-person who
was a guest of Mrs. Truman, wife
of the President.
We met promptly at nine O'Clock
in the auditorium of the Temple
of Labor located at 14th and Con
~stitution Ave-, N. W., one of our
beautiful commanding buildings
of the Capitol, a huge auditorium
seating about 1900 persons. There
was a fine group of women re-
presenting a large number CT
states; well dressed and refined.
teeming with interest and agrees
sive in every respect, for the
rights of women in every phase
of progressive enterprise.
Admission cards, with a shadow,
picture Of the White House in
the background with our names
thereon. were distributed to the
nearly four hundred guests, after
which, Mrs. Bethune, our worthy
president, gave us a patriotic lift
as to Jul right as citizens and tax
payers to be received as guests in
our White House. Instructions as
to our line of march, general ap-
pearance and conduct.
Promptly at eleven o'clock a. m.
were ushered through the east
gate entrance. guards stationed
there noted we had our cards. we
entered the spacious hallway re-
splendent with fernery and pot
plants on either side that led to
the East Room. This room is re-
markable for the lovely chande-
Tiers Of crystal three in number.
A beautiful large grand piano
supported by eagles, large paint
ings of George Washington and
Martha Washington, beautiful
Grapes over the windows, settees
placed appropriately. After obser-
wing this room, we were usherej
into the Green Room, equally as
beautiful. Aides were stationed at
each door to supply information
we desired.
We passed into the Blue Room.
Each room was furnished as one
would expect the official home Of
the nation to be. We were received
by Mrs. Truman in the Red Room
and we marched single file and
presented us to her. She smilingiy
acknowledged us with an air that
ma6a Tic fool UnI0nmo
To the right of Mrs. Truman.
our first lady of the National Coun
Gil of Negro Women stood, a liv-
ing monument as it were to pro-
gressive womanhood. We entered
the State Dining Room with It's
walls of carved mahogany.
Beautiful clusters of candle sticks
(six in each cluster) at intervals
around the walls Of the room. 4
large double cluster of silver can
dlesticks suspended from the Gen.
ter ceiling, a large portrait of A
braham Lincoln over a beautiful
marble mantle.
We proceeded to the Main Front
Lobby. There we we're awed in
silent tribute to a portrait of our
departed Commander in Chief,
efforts in behalf Of world
fellowship will go down in his
tory as the greatest of all Presi-
dents. Other portraits were there,
Taft, Hoover, Wilson, Mckinley.
We met and shook hands with
some of our outstanding leaders
in Washington Civic History, Mary
Church Terrell, Julia West Ham
ilton. others too numerous too
mention. Mrs. Mae Frank Rhoades
(white) a Nebraskan, who lived
Omaha, was affiliated with the
board of directors of the Omaha
League, a member Of the
Unitarian Church and engaged in
interracial work through he-
church connection while in Oma-
Ia was among the visitors receiv-
ed by Mrs. Truman in our group,
Respectively submitted,
Dorothy E. Lee,
Midway Hall