Evening star., 1954-01-13
Society News:
President and Wife
Honor Top Officials
First White House Reception in 1854
Is Success Despite The Recent Storm
Society News:
By Daisy CIelond

The President and Mrs. Eisen-
hover entertained at the first
State reception of 1854 and 1t
will probably turn out to be the
most pleasant.
The party, known as the de-
partmental reception honors
many government departments
but in comparison, the guests
number few. The actual count
last evening was 963, whereas the
average is above 1900.
The Chief Executive and his
Lady descended the White House
staircase to the stirring blare Of
drums and bugles at the ap-
pointed hour of 9 o'clock. BY
this time all guests had assembled
in the East Room waiting to be
received.
Pause in Main Hall
The President and Mrs. Eli
senhower paused in the center of
the main hall as the red
coated Marine band struck up
Hail to the Chief" and then
marched into the Blue Room to
receive their guests.
First to come down the stairs,
which is, unfortunately, almost
hidden from view, were four
service men, one from each
branch, with the Presidents
flag and the Stars and Stripes.
They were followed by the Eli
SenhowerS, then members of the
cabinet and finally the White
House aides.
This reception was for officials
of the Treasury, Post Office, In
terror, Agriculture, Commerce,
Labor, and Welfare Departments
and certain other Federal agen-
cies. All the cabinet members
and their wives of these depart
ments were there with the ex-
ceptions of the BensonS of
Agriculture and the Mitchells of
Labor. Others of the presiden-
tial family present were the
Secretary of Defense and Mrs.
Wilson and the Attorney General
and Mrs. Brownell.
AS the members of the cabinet
arrived by the front entrance,
they were ushered upstairs to
the Presidents library, first leav-
ing their coats to be hung on a
coat rack which could be viewed
by all. Even the recent renova-
ton of the White House did not
correct this eye sore in the
presence of all the pomp and
glory which surrounds state
functions.
White Tie ond Tolls
The dress for the evening was.
of course, white tie and tails for
the men. and the ladies were in
their most gala evening gowns.
Mrs. Eisenhower, on the arm
of her husband, looked particu-
larlly pretty in a coral under
black lace evening gown. She
wore black net gloves which
reached above her elbows, but
she removed them before shaking
hands with the guests.
Members of the cabinet went
through the line first and then
continued through the Red Room
and finally into the State Din
ing Room. Here they met and
mingled with friends from their
Offices and others. This informal
chatting is unfamiliar at a White
House event and probably was
one reason why the party was SO
pleasant and why the top officials
stayed on at the reception.
The President and Mrs. Eli
senhower received this group and
with more than just a how-do-
you-do to many, in an hour and
five minutes. They took three
breaks to timber their hands and
catch their breaths.
Firm Hand Token
At few minutes after 10 sew
eral aides very politely but firmly
formed an aisle across the hall
between the entrance to the
Red Room and doorway on the
other side which leads to an
elevator.
AS though a button had been
pushed, the door opened and the
President and his wife walked
forward and returned to their
living quarters via the elevator