Evening star., 1954-10-31
White House Entertaining Moves Into High Gear
By IsobeIIe Shelton

OI1S O1 Tue OuSicSt pldCcS III
Washington these days Is the
social Office Of the White
House which is trying stimuli
taneously to launch the for
NAL White House social season
and do the honors for an un-
precedented parade Of for
eign dignitaries.
Thirty thousand invitations
went out last year from the
social office, which handles
I everything from the massive
and colorful diplomatic recep-
tion for 1000 to President
Eisenhower's small stag break
faSts.
The traditional winter pro
gram"-consisting this year Of
six state dinners and four huge
state receptions-pose prob
lens Of protocol and logistics
which would stagger the i'm
agination Of many q private
hostess.
In addition there are the
foreign visitors. six Of whom
will arrive within q period Of
80 days-Prime Minister Mo-
manned Ali of Pakistan, Presi-
dent Tubman Of Liberia, Chan
cellor Adenauer Of Germany.
the Queen Mother Of England.
Prime Minister Yoshida Of
Japan and Premier Mendes-
France Of France.
Lunch on First Doy Bock
President Eisenhower had
hardly been back from his
Denver vacation long enough
to hang up his homburg when
the first of these, Mohammed
Ali, arrived. The President few
in from Denver the morning OF
October 16 and gave a lunch
con for the Pakistani leader at
/ o'clock that day.
President Tubman checked
in two days later. Chancellor
Adenauer nine days after that.
And just eight days later
next Thursday Britain's
Queen Mother will appear.
Prime Minister Yoshida comes
along three days after the
Queen arrives. and Frances
Mendes-France will wind up
the list on the 18th.
Even before the French
Premier checks. in the formal
White House social season will
be underway. The season opens
November 16 with a diplomatic
dinner, which will be followed
by a second diplomatic dinner
on the 17th (there now are too
many chiefs of mission to be
accommodated at sit-down
dinner in one shift.
There hardly will be time to
sweep up the crumbs in the
state dining room before Mr..
Mendes-France Is entertained
at lunch the next day.
Major Production
Each event at the White
House. even a relatively small
stag breakfast or luncheon, Is
O major production. planned
down to the last detail with
the precision of a military
campaign. The paper work on
the big events is incredible.
Before the Congressional re-
ception, for example, a ques-
tionnaire is mailed to each
member Of Congress, inquiring
about his marital status and
the names of any Of his chill
dren over 18 who make their
home with him. Cali who do
will subsequently receive invi-
tations to the receptiono
Except in unusual circum-
stances. planning on any given
event starts many weeks in
advance. Mrs. Eisenhower and
her social and personal Sec
retary, Mrs. Mary Jane Nc
Cafree, worked out the dates
for this years official season
during their weeks in Denver
this summer and fall.
As soon as the list was COM
pleted-on October /, a little
later than usual-it was sent
back here to Adrien B. Tolley.
Chief of the Social Office Of
the White House, a career civil
servant who has been handling
such details for both Repubi-
can and Democratic Presidents
for the past 40 years.
Gooheod for Hostesses
The list of dates also was
promptly released to the press,
30 that other hostesses could
get their plans under way. A
outstanding tradition die
tates that other hostesses do
not schedule their formal
events until after the White
House program has been re-
leased, in order to avoid en-
barrassment all around.
Once the date of an event
is set, Mr.. Tolley and his staff
Of four (plus three additional