Evening star., 1954-05-06
Society
By lsobeIIe Shelton

0Y uS00ObuS SbStNVU
It was Harry Truman's show
from start to finish.
The party was in honor Of the
100 or so members of the Demo
cratic National Committee, who
are meeting here. Mr.. Truman's
star performance was scheduled
for tomorrow, when the Truman
Library Fund is giving birthday
reception in his honor at the
Sheraton Park Hotel. He. OF
course, will play prominent role
at tonight's $100-a-plate Jeffer-
son-Jackson dinner, too.
But from the moment the for
mer President climbed the steps
of the Women's National Demo
cratic Club, accompanied by Mrs
Truman, their daughter Mar
garet, and former Secretary OF
the Interior Oscar Chapman
yesterdays reception was all his
show.
Photographers were clustered
on the porch, and Mrs. j. Bor-
den Hartman. former United
States Minister to Norway and
now Democratic National Com
mitteewoman for the District,
greeted him warmly at the front
door. The crowd which had
gathered in the entrance hall
broke into applause as he came
through the door. his hand
lifted in the familiar gesture
of greeting, his face wreathed
in the familiar smile.
Two Strolling accordianiSts
struck up WAY Down in
Missouri" flash bulbs popped,
and some one stuck a button in
the former Presidents lapel
upside down. 1t read: How do
you like it now?"
Mr.. Truman took of the but
ton. read it, and put it back on,
right side up.
Come Bock, Harry
Some one else handed him a
card, on which was printed,
"Come back. Harry. All is for
given"
The former Chief Executive
and his family went down the
receiving line and greeted their
three hosts-Democratjc Ma
tional Committee Chairman
Stephen Mitchell. former Am
bassador Stanley woodward,
treasurer of the national COM
mittee; and former Assistant
Secretary of the Navy w. John
Kenney, who is in charge Of
the Jefferson-JackSon dinner
and their wives. Mrs. Dorothy
Vredenburgh, secretary of the
national committee, also was in
the receiving line.
Mr.. Truman spent the next
hour circulating among the 500
or 600 guests with reporters trail
ing along behind. If there was
a hand he didn't shake its owner
must have been pretty determin-
edly looking the other way. He
had a word or quip for just
about every one.
You look so wonderful. Mr.,
President" was the most fire.
quent greeting to the former
Chief Executive, who will be 10
this Saturday. And, indeed, he
did.
IT never felt better in my life."
he said with a grin. II feel like
q million. I can throw all the
bricks now. But. Of course, !
don't throw bricks"
He added seriously. "It's won-
derful to come back and not have
any responsibilities. I wouldn't
want the responsibilities the
President has today"
He looks a lot better than
Ike" one guest observed. We'll,
the Army doesn't train 'em to
take all this punishment" re-
Sponded another.
The former President Steered
clear of any comments on
the present administration, but
guests were still repeating the
crack he made earlier in the day,
when reporters asked if he had
any comment on the trouble in
1ndo-China as compared to
Korea.
He said he would not comment,
"but I can tell you this: I will
not say that I am going to Indo-
China"
Mr.. Truman cheered UP one
guest. who told him, things are
pretty terrible in Washington
now."
We'll. things were so good
when we left them, they can't
ruin it all in four years." he said
with a cheerful grin.
Representative John Dowdy of
Texas got an especially hearty
greeting. "It'S always good to see
a Democrat from Texas-and I |
Democrat" said Mr.. |
Truman.
"Hi, Boss"
Senator Stuart Symington of
who held several top
Jobs under President Truman, |
including Secretary Of the Air