Evening star., 1952-06-01
Mrs. Helm d
White.House
Institution
CONTINUED From Page d..

the old school. Small of stature,
she has an erect carriage, direct
blue eyes, and grey hair pulled
simply back from her face in soft
waves and fastened high on her
head in small knot. Her man
ner is dignified. but her eyes
twinkle merrily when. at her press
conferences, she occasionally gets
off an amusing remark on some
phase Of the White House social
scene.
Unfortunately, her little bon
mots never see the light of day.
Ladylike discretion always over
takes her Immediately after she
utters them. and she promptly
puts them off the record.
Her bi-weekly press conferences
with women reporters-at which
she subs for the press-shy Mrs.
Truman-are unique in a city
that is known for it's tough
minded reporters who harrasS
public officials mercileSsly in or
|der to pin down a story.
In contrast to Mrs. Eleanor
|Roosevelt's free-wheeling confer
ences, which ranged the wide
world for subject matter. Mrs.
Helms conferences are limited
strictly to a discussion of Mrs.
Truman's social program. The
atmosphere is polite and correct.
1t bears some resemblance to
classroom in select girls finish
ing school around the turn Of the
century.
Mrs. Helm always enters the
room exactly at the appointed
hour of II o'clock "a lady is always
punctualD One feels almost a
compulsion to rise, as when teach
er entered the room in by-gone
days. In her hand are mimeo-
graphed copies of Mrs. Truman's
social plans-partieS at the White
House and outside functions Mrs.
Truman will attend during the
next two weeks.
The Presidents social plans are
off limits for Mrs. Helm. Even
when President and Mrs. Truman
are going together to a dinner, for
instance, separate announcements
are made. Mrs. Helm solemnly
that Mrs. Truman will go.
The Presidents decision to attend
is announced by Presidential
Press Secretary Joseph Short, in
Office a block away.
News of Margaret Truman
comes from still another source
Miss Reathel Odum, Mrs. Tru-
mans personal secretary, who has
been living with Margaret in New
York and accompanies her on her
concert tours.
Aside from the bare listing Of
party dates, news is scarce. Mrs.
Helm is the acme Of gracious
charm. But one has the feeling
that instinctively she still adheres
to the old-fashioned idea that al
lady's name should appear in the
only three times-wiaen
she is born, when she marries and
when she dies.
Questions which she considers
inappropriate. Mrs. Holm turns
aside with such courtesy and
charm that no one Is ever Offend
ed. Women reporters who have
been known to throw barbed ques-
tions at President Truman and
other officials are somehow
stopped cold by the atmosphere Of
utter correctness.
Discussion turned one day to
the state Of health of Mrs. Tru-
mans mother, Mrs. D. w. Wal
lace. who makes her home in the
White House. Some one asked
AAOW OAO Wdo Mlo WdA1dSC. OAl,
said Mrs. Holm gently. Ladies
never discuss age" The question
has never been raised again.
On another occasion, when Mrs.
Wallace was known to be quite
i'll, a reporter was asked by her
Office to collect material on Mrs.
Wallace to have ready for a pos
sibly obituary. Out Of an excess
Of delicacy which Mrs. Holm
somehow inspires, the reporter
did not mention the ugly word
death to Mrs. Holm. She simply
asked for "a little material about
Mrs. Wallace to have for ourI
files" A few days later the rel
porter received q note from Mrs.
Holm. declaring Mrs. Truman
preferred not to have a story
about her mother in the paper"
That was that.