Evening star., 1947-05-04
Truman Friendship Helps Make
Mrs. Mesto Leading Hostess
Mrs. Mclean, 5 Deoth
Removed Chief Rival
For Capital Honors
By MoIuno Stephenson

-
Death and politics have combined
| to reinforce an Oklahoma- born
heiress, Mrs George Mesta, as the
Capitals leading hostess.
The passing OF Mrs. Eyalyn Walsh
Mclean leaves Mrs. Mesta in stra-
ftegic social position Mrs. Mclean,
the chateiaine OF famed Friendship
House, ruled the washington dinner
table for generation. but the last
two seasons found Mrs. Mesta a
close competitor.
Mrs. Mesta, I White House inti-
mate, already has become the Lead
| ing hostess for the Truman admins
| tration. The new outlook for Presi-
dent Truman in 1948 likewise bright
ems, her future in q Capital which
defers to White House prestige. Mrs.
Mclean got head start as a Wash
ington hostess during the Harding
administration when she had the
White House on her side.
Whatever circumstances may have
Influenced her decision, Mrs. Mesta
recently disclosed plans to establish
permanent headquarters here In q
house Of her own. She attained her
present position as hostess to the
official family In q rented mansion
which one belonged to former Presi-
dent Hoover.
Parties Frankly Political.
Mrs. Mesta frankly admits that
her parties, by the dozens, are polit-
ical. Having inherited two fortunes,
from her father and her husband,
Mrs. Mesta restricts her lobbying to
what she considers good men and
good causes.
President Truman is at the top of
her list now. His autographed photo
graph occupies a conspicuous place
IN her drawing room. Last year, Mrs.
Mesta gave what amounted to a
coming-out party for Margaret Tru-
man-the only such private party
for the Presidents daughter to date.
A longtime Republican who
worked ardently for Wendell Will
kie in 1910, Mrs. Mesta went Demo-
cratic sometime after the third
term. Now she gives the Democra-
tic Party full benefit of her money
and experience, while keeping a
weather eye cooked for Mr.. Truman's
political interests.
AS the Washington season waned,
Mrs. Mesta relinquished her lease
on the old Hoover mansion Now
living in an apartment, she is en-
1oying a breathing spell and taking
In the so-called little season here.
On June /, she will shift her social
operations to Mid-cliffe, her villa at
Newport. for the summer. Next fall
will find her back in Washington,
probably in her own home.
Entertain Great and Near Great.
In Washington, Mrs. Mesta enter
tains the official great and near
great. The Trumans have been her
dinner guests, and other notable
beats in the social competition saw
her entertaining Chief Justice and
Mrs. Vinson, Gen. and Mrs. Eisen-
hover, and Cabinet couples.
In turn. Mrs. Mesta has enjoyed
the benefits of full reciprocity. The
White House singled out Mrs. Mesta
with an invitation to the diplomatic
dinner, the most gilt-edged OF the
formal state functions. Often, she
is included In the Presidents off,
cial family at special events. Re-
Gently Mrs. Mesta was the only
guest, aside from Cabinet wives, at
a luncheon given for MRS. Truman
by the wife of the Chief Justice.
During the span of two world
wars, Mrs. Mesta has figured in
eastern society. She was courted by
Vice President Charles Curtis, and
a year later was presented at the
Court OF st. James's.
But the tides of political fortune
shift rapidly in Washington. Her
present position stems, in a great
measure, from a dinner party given
for the Trumans shortly after he
became Vice President. The friend
ship fowered, and the ascension of
the Trumans to the White House
found Mrs. Mesta In the inner OIL
|cial circle.
The Washington program was
only one side of Mrs. Mesta's ex-