Evening star., 1948-10-08
Kay Summersby Stands Ground
As Press Fires Queries on Book
Former Secretary
To Eisenhower Meets
Questions With Ease
By Nav McGrory

In her first major encounter with
the Washington press, Kay Sum-
merspy, Gen. Eisenhower's wartime
aide and secretary, carried the day
with a GOODNESS under fire that was
worthy of veteran.
1t was a fIll-scale operation in the
Wardman Park Yesterday, with
recording machine, some 80 re-
porters Gncluding much-berib-
boned colonel representing the Field
Artillery JournaD sending over a
barrage of questions and fash bulbs
from five cameras, exploding at
steady intervals.
Formidable" was the svelte,
self possessed Miss Summersby's
word for it, but she was quite at
ease through it all. She didn't
fioeet. and she didn't hedge, al
though she skilfully side-stepped
queries about her famous chiefs
personal opinions on his high-brass
sutordinates or about war strategy,
which she said was "a bit over my
head"
LOOKS 1OuHScT 1HdH 81.
Here to make personal appear
arces in connection with her newly
published and highly controversial
book, Eisenhower Was My Boss"
the Irish-born former. WAC cap
tain. who Is now becoming an
American citizen, wore a suit Of
burgundy wool with jacket finely
striped IN blue and white and a
solid color skirt. Her hat was blue
with a broad, up-turned brim and
flowers at the side.
She wore a double-strand pearl
necklace. pearl earrings and an Or
child corsage. Tall, dark and blue
eyed, she has a turned-up nose,
fresh complexion and crisp voice.
She is 81 years old and doesn't
look it.
Gen. Eisenhower, whom she
hasn't seen since he became presi-
dent Of Columbia University, hasn't
read her book about their wartime
experiences yet, although he has
promised to do so as soon as he gets
time. In the writing, which took
about seventh months, she had the
help of Michael Kearns, onetime
WMAL news writer.
Mss Summersby didn't retreat
m inch from her much publicized
position about the slandering of uni
formed women overseas by Wash
ington Army wives, but she refused
to comment further about it.
Met Mrs. Eisenhower.
She emphatically was not referr-
Ing to Mrs. Eisenhower in her crit
icism of home-front detractors OF
servicewomen, she said. She met
the supreme commanders wife dur
ing a Washington visit during the
war, and she couldn't have been
more charming or delightful" &C
cording to Miss Summersby.
Now living in New York hotel,
where she cannot keep Telek, the
scottie presented her by Gen. Eisen-
hover at wars end, Miss Summers
by has no love interest at the
moment. About her recently broken
engagement to a San Franciscan.
she said simply. "It was just one:
Of those things. 1t didn't work,
out"
Once her present round of auto
graphing parties and radio engage
ments is completed, she'll take of
on a six-month countrywide lee
ture tour
She Sincerely hopes" that Hol-
lywood will buy the book; but If
they do, she won't play herself in
the picture She was never, as has
been reported, "a London actress"
she said, and only did occasional
extra parts in British films, when a
lot of her friends were doing it.
Completely in command Of the
situation, Miss Summersby asked,
during a pause, If there were any
more questions. The much-im-
pressed press said no thank you