Evening star., 1951-05-14
By Katherine M. Brooks

by Katherine M. Brooks
The President and Mrs. Tru-
man were the ranking guests o1
the Gridiron Club yesterday
Afternoon when the organization
entertained in honor of its own
president. Mr.. James T. Berry
man. and Mrs. Bergman. Mr.
Bergman took office as chief
executive Saturday evening. The
custom of giving a dinner. to
which members were permitted
guests, was discontinued when
The war situation became serious
However. the spring dinner, for
members only. was given Satur-
day evening to induct the new
president. Mr.. and Mrs. Berry
man stood at the head of the re-
eeiving line just inside the door
Of the Congressional Room at the
Hotel Statler, assisted by the new
vice president. Mr.. Paul r. Leach
and Mrs. Leach. Also through
the reception hour members OF
the Executive Committee of the
club and their wives took turns in
assisting. These included Mr.. and
Mrs. Richard L. Wilson. Mr.. and
Mrs. Lyle C. Wilson, Mr.. and Mrs
James Lloyd Wright. Mr.. and
Mrs.. Lewis Wood and Mr.. and
Mrs. Walker S. Buel. Mrs. Berry
man wore a particularly becoming
costume of changeable taffeta
street length and with standing
rolled collar and. deep squarely
cut neckline in front. She wore
green orchids and about her neck
an antique necklace and pendant
of old gold. Her small hat match
Ing her dress had a mesh veil in
q darker shade. Mrs. Leach was
In navy blue with white acces-
sories.
The President and Mrs. Truman
were accompanied by their daugh-
ter Margaret and were met at the
front door by Mr.. and Mrs. Berry
man and Mr.. and Mrs. Leach and
escorted to their places to hear
the short program.
Undoubtedly the President had
heard many of the songs before
as the Gridiron Chorus. accom-
panied by the Marine Band Or
chestra, presented hits from the
clubs entertainments through the
past Is years.
Mr.. Bergman gave the greeting
to the distinguished guests and
members and paid tribute to the
work of the chairman of the party
Vice President Leach; the master
of ceremonies, Walker Buel: the
conductor of the Marine Band
willie" Santelmann (Maj. VIII
liam Santelmann):; the soloists
Gene Archer, Ned Brooks, George
Meyers, Arthur Pierce, Bill Ray.
mond and Dwight Rorer. Com
mendation also went to Paul
Wooton. who had charge of seat
ing. never an easy task in Wash
lngton. ..= ,-
Mr.. Buel introduced the num-
bers giving bit of a background
on which the words of the song
were based. Thus the program
last evening not only brought back
some of the clubs past hits. but
gave a brief resume of history
which has been made. Soloists
and members of the Music Com
mittee were introduced as we'll as
the first and only member of the
Senate to have place as member
of the Gridiron, Senator Blair
Moody of Michigan.
The first number was Harry
from the April 1948 dinner, the
second from the 1910 program
Taft wants a job just like they
gave to dear old dad" Then fol-
lowed an imitation of former Sec-
retary of Labor Frances Perkins as
she might sing Poor Little New
Dealers have lost their Way from
the 1945 dinner.
THE Show Boat of the State
Department Policy Makers sailing
carefree and lazy down the Mis-
souri, River under the guidance OF
James F. Byrnes" was hit from
the December 1945 dinner. The
number repeated its success yes
terday. Just here the music was
interrupted for a monologue from
the December 1884 party when a
sleeping car porter on the Pros
perity Special finds Henry Ford
and William Green with the same
berth reservations which was the
number Of a National Recovery
Administration directive.
Mr.. Buel offered as the "high
point of all Gridiron prophesy
There aint goin' to be no third
term" sung at the December din
ner in 1886. The words were set
to the famous Fire Music from
die Walkure," a favorite of the
late President Roosevelt until he
heard that song.
There were other, similar prog
nostications from more recent
parties, one from a year ago on
Senator Byrd's advice to the