Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-18
Senator'S Wives Are Tossing Their t4ots in fheRinq
Three Republicans.
7 hree Democrats
I Tell of Fall Plans
By Doisy cIeIcnd

Some are hard at work, some
will be, and others don't plan
to do much Of anything except
be around when their husbands
need them, and, of course, vote
for their favorite Senator.
In keeping with the two-party
system let's look into the lives
of six Senator's wives-three
Republicans and three Demo-
Gratis. Their husbands are some
Of the most powerful members |
Of the upper house coming up I
for reelection this year.
They are Senator Styles
Bridges. the President pro tenn. |
of the Senate; Senator Paul II.
Douglas, Democrat, of Illinois;
Senator Homer Ferguson, mem
Der Of the Senate Appropriations
Committee; Senator Lyndon B.
johnson, Senate minority leader:
Senator Karl Mundt. who has
become one of the Senate TV
stars, and Senator John j.
Sparkman, a former candidate
for the vice presidency.
Compoian Forever
Pretty blond Mrs. Bridges
works like q human dynamo
during the campaign, which is
always. Styles starts CAM
paigning the day after he is
elected" she says.
She has been UP to New
Hampshire almost every week
end the last couple Of months
and has speaking engagements
lined up for To-day periods
each month from August until
the big day at the polls.
Dolores Bridges finds the last
few weeks the most fun, although |
she conf1des 1t is all pretty ex-
citing. Just before the election
all the Republican candidates
and their wives get together and
form a flying squadron" going
from town to town en- masse.
She finds one comfort in coming |
from q small State they almost
always get home at night.
Wrong Rolly
Nothing as hectic as this life
is without its humorous side.
One campaign just before cleo
ton day, Senator Bridges was
dashing from meetings to rallies
to picnics. His chauffeur
dropped him OF at q rally and
since he was a few minutes late
he dashed into the hall at a
record rate of speed.
He, at that time Governor,
was escorted to the platform In
a most polite fashion and intro
duced. The Senator gave a good
.blood-and-th thunder Republican
speech which was received In the
same way he was greeted nicely
and politely.
: When he finished he left the
hall bit puzzled but in a hurry
to get to his next appointment.
It was not until then that he
noticed all the men on the plat
form were Democrats. He had
gotten to q rally all right, but |
not the right one!
Mrs. Douglas Lists Requirements
Mrs. Douglas is another wife
who has already started working
for her husbands cause. Her
summer will be spent pinch
hitting for the Senator" When
he is not around she makes
speeches. When he is, she packs |
UP the caravan, runs laundry,
cooks on q hot plate and acts as
acknowledging people away
from her husband when she
knows he is tired.
She says, "We resemble the |
Swiss Family Robinson"
This Senator's wife lists the |
following a. necessary attributes |
for public nfe-love Of people.
sense Of humor, resistance
against fatigue and an inward
acceptance Of the campaign.
Tieht-Rope Wolker
Mrs. Ferguson will stay in
Washington until Congress adj |
journs and then she and the |
Senator will head for their home
State, Michigan, and, like the
rest, spend the next few months
speaking for votes.
The wife of this man in public
Office says one of the hardest |
things to do is be a good tight
rope walker" The thin line is
between being overly interested
in your husbands work and |
therefore overbearing. or too dis
interested and consequently
thought of as a drudge.
Mrs. Ferguson makes speeches
in her own right and has several
appointments already in the /
offing. She quotes her husband
on how to enjoy public life. |
Have a deep faith in Gsd and
a sincere belief in your fellow
man."
The hardships of a big State
come into the campaign of the
Fergusons. They have SO
counties to cover, which takes |
about $4,000 miles of driving. !
When things are in full swing |
these activities take a good Is
hours a day.
Often you get so tired that you
either laugh or cry" says Mrs.
Ferguson. "I was at this point |
once last year. We were driving |
through the countryside and dis
covered we needed some gas. Wei
stopped at the next filling station |
which also sold sandwiches,
coffee, etc. AS the car was being |