Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-05-15
By Betty BeoIe

The Gridiron Club proved yes
terday afternoon that the absence
of top executive Government fig
ures in no way dimmed enthusi-
asm for it's annual spring recep-
ton. If anything, yesterdays
show vowed the several hundred
guests more than anything they
had seen in many a year. The
men who had heard the songs that
barbed officials at the dinner the
night before and the feminine
contingent hearing them for the
first time clapped and. clapped
until they got one encore after
another.
So stirring was the finale, one
of the few serious songs to come
from Gridironers,, that soloist
Gene Archer became choked up
and could hardly get through the
chorus. Impersonating Secre-
tary of State Acheson. he had
sung. when you walk through a
world torn by storm and strife.
you won't be afraid of the gale,
If you're strong to defend your
own way of life. :" At the close
of it, I heard Lawrence Spivak
say what everyone must have been
thinking-"It's a great country"
Not only was President Truman
missing from the big follow-up
reception given at the Statler
Hotel but also the Vice President
and the entire Cabinet. Mr.. Bark
ley was out of town because of a
speaking engagement he had had
for a year; Mr.. Acheson is in Eng
land and other Cabinet members
were en- route to Chicago or had
already arrived in the Windy City
for the big Democratic rally at
which the President will speak
tonight. The only currently
talked-of presidential candidate
present was Republican leader,
Senator Taft of Ohio.
Although President Truman
hasn't attended a Gridiron din
ner and reception since he was
severely roasted last spring, he
has promised that he will be on
hand for the next one in Deem
Der.
In the absence of the Chief Ex-
ecutive, the Chief Justice of the
United States and Mrs. Vinson
were the honored guests. The
party had been going for an hour.
however, before their scheduled ar
rival at 6. The new president of
the Gridiron and his wife, Mr..
and Mrs. Thomas L. Stokes, re-
ceived in the Congressional Room
with the Vice President and Mrs.
James T. Bergman. Both ladies
wore becoming broadrimmed black
hats-Mrs. Stokes topped black
dress, Mrs. Bergman, a pink one.
In the continuous line of new
arrivals they greeted were the
next Senator -to-be from Florida
and Mrs. George Smathers, Sena-
tor and Mrs. Harry Darby with
Mr.. and Mrs. Richard r. Nelson
OF Kansas City, Mo-, Deputy Sec
rotary OF, Defense and Mrs. Steve
Early, the French Ambassador
and Nine. Bonnet, Minority Lead
er Of the House Joe Martin, Air
Chief of Staff and Mrs. Hoyt Van
denberg, Maj. Gen. and Mrs. AL
fred Gruenther-the General in
his dress blues; Mr.. and Mrs. Sam
nel H. Kaufman, the latter in a
trim black and white spring cos
tune: Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt
Whitney with Mr.. and Mrs. James
Van Allen of New York, and Mr..
and Mrs. Peter Miller. Mrs. M. in
? navy blue dress with new style
sleeves of white embroidered Or
CANDY that button on above the
elbow.
Z Everyone was seated in the
Presidential Room by the time
the Chief Justice and Mrs. Vim
Son were ushered into their places
In the front row. High On the left
gall was the lighted gridiron in
It's usual field of red roses. Up on
the stage were props used the
night before including superb
caricature portrait by Jim Berry
man of President Truman in his
familiar fishing cap and bow tie.
Z Tom Stokes welcomed the as
eemblage to the tea" then intro
duced the club members response
bic for arranging it-Lowell Mel
let. Paul Wooten and William K.