Evening star., 1952-04-27
Courageous
Comeback
Rep. V. Buchanan
Wins Return to
C0pitoI Hill
By lsobeIIe Shelton

dark-eyed Congresswoman, Mrs.
Vera Buchanan.
Tuesday the Congresswoman
won denomination as Democratic
candidate in a landslide victory
over two male opponents, John
j. Cusick and Frank w. O'Brien.
Almost complete returns showed
her receiving more than $4,000
votes to II ,000-odd for her two
opponents combined.
Thursday Mrs. Buchanan re-
turned to Capitol Hill, from
which Except for one brief ap-
pearance) she has been absent
since early in February, when
she was in a serious automobile
accident on the Pennsylvania
Turnpike.
Today marks a third-and
unhappy-milestone for the
Congresswoman. 1t was Just a
year ago April q that her hus-
band, Representative Frank
Buchanan, died.
A Hectic Yeor
AS a matter of fact, the whole
year since then has been quite
eventful for the youthful-look-
ing. attractive widow of 40, who
had spent the last 20 years as a
housewife and mother and had
never in her life made a polit-
ical speech.
First there was the decision
to run for Congress in a special
election last July, to finish out
her husbands term. Then
there was the election campaign
itself. THE last thing in the
world I felt like doing was get
ting out and making speeches.
especially just then" she says.
I'VE were a very close-knit
family" she explained. Franks
death was a great shock. I de-
cided to run because wanted to
see the things he believed in
carried on. I ran on that plat
form, and a pledge of complete
support for the Truman admin
istration."
She was elected by almost 4
to l. against a 30-year-old vet
eran who based his campaign on
an all-out attack against the
Truman administration and
Secretary of State Dean Ache
son. The district, Pennsylvania's 3
33d, is heavily Democratic.
Administration StoIwort
True to her election pledge.
the Congresswoman has faith
fully supported the Administra-
ton in her votSs. The only ex-
ceptions have been few occa-
sions when labor and the Ad-
miniStration have differed, in
which case she has voted with
labor.
This accurately reflected the
viewpoints Of the majority of
her constituents. Her district is
in the heart of the steel mills.
just east Of Pittsburgh, and in
Guiding one Pittsburgh ward. It
Is said to be the most heavily
1ndustrialized district in the
country. A great many of it's
residents work in the mills and
belong to the United Steel
Workers, CIO.
AS a result of redistricting in
Pennsylvania after the 1850
census the Congresswoman is
running this time in the new
3Oth district. 1t includes much
OF her old district, plus four ad-
ditional Pittsburgh wards. The
latter are all heavily Democratic,
which makes her reelection this
fall seem assured.
Kept Busy at Home
The Congresswoman has Shin
ing dark hair, parted in the
middle, brown eyes, sparkling
white teeth and a friendly smile.
A petite 5 feet 21a inches and
120 pounds before her accident,
she now is down to about 100
pounds.
Il kept pretty busy while
was laid up at home," she says.
Il ran my Office from my bed
room. Dictated the mail long
distance to Washington. Even
interviewed constituents while I
was in bed. A lot of things got
handled faster that way than
if they had written me letters in
Washington and I had to write
letters back. Everybody liked the
arrangement"
Nowadays. to facilitate get
ting around, Mrs. Buchanan has
moved from her Northwest side
efficiency apartment to the Con-
gressional Hotel. just a stones
throw from her Office in the Old
House Office Building.
I'm allowing myself the lux
ury of eating dinner downstairs
in the dining ROOM" she adds.
Though actually I love to
cook, and expect I'll be fixing
my own dinners again soon. I
used to do it several nights a
week"
Mrs. Buchanan's twin daug-
tiers. Jane and Joan. 81, both
are married. The former-who
was Pennsylvania's Cherry
Blossom Princess here last year
is now Mrs. J. E. Thomas, jr.
She lives in Cherry Point, N. c..
where her husband is stationed
as a Marine second lieutenant.
June, now Mrs. William M.
Cavalcante. lives in her moth
er's home town of McKeesport,
near Pittsburgh.
The only grandchild, Kristie
Lynn Cavalcahte, just one year
old, bears a distinction which
her proud grandmother believes
is unique.