Evening star., 1955-05-01
BY MARTIN S. HAYDEN
Is Mamie Eisenhower really
rsolr0

Is Mamie Eisenhower really
sick?
The answer is: mo"
Is President Eisenhower CON
cerned" about her health?
The answer is: Eyes, he has
been for a long time"
These questions and the SEEM
ingly conflicting replies are facts
behind simmering national in
terest in the health of the First
Lady.
The answers come from the
best source at the White House,
where there is admitted irrita-
ton over spread of rumors. 1t
began last March when some
Democratic hopes were lifted by
National Chairman Paul M But
ler's prediction that Mrs. Eisen-
hoWer's health might cause the
President to decline renomina-
ton. The reports of those who
should know best picture Mrs
Eisenhower condition as fol-
lows:
Stricken in Childhood
She has had. since her youth,
what could be generally de-
scribed as "heart condition"
resultant from a childhood at
tack of rheumatic fever.
She has more difficulty than
most people in throwing off
respiratory attacks.
Except for those two factors,
and an almost physical fear of
height. she is normally healthy
woman in her 59th year.
Asked bluntly II he thought
the Presidents concern" over
his wife's health would affect
his second-terrn decision, an
aide shrugged his shoulders.
Her health" he commented,
"is exactly the same as it was
when he decided to take the job
in the first place"
The rheumatic fever attack, it
has been diagnosed, left Mrs.
Eisenhower with a deposit in
the heart region which, doctors
have told the President, should
not affect her longevity. Since
her days as an Army lieutenant's
bride it has, however. resulted in
her tiring more easily than most
people and that has been. and
still is, complicated by her drive
to do thoroughly everything that
she regards as her job.
President Keeps Watch
1.-THE President" it is ex-
planned. has to keep watch all
the time to make sure that she
does not overdo."
But the Presidents wife ap-
proaches OVERRIDING" by just
keeping up her mandatory
schedule. For. example, this is
the list for one month Qast
November of the high-level and
must" functions that the First
Lady had to either supervise at
the White House, or attend with
her husband outside:
Nov. 4-White House state
dinner for Queen Mother Eliza
beth of England.
Nov. 5-Luncheon and dinner
for Queen Mother at White
House.
Nov. 6--White House lunch
con. again for Queen Elizabeth.
Nov. THE Queen again, for
both luncheon and dinner.
Nov. 8-Dinner for Queen
Elizabeth, British Embassy.
Nov. 8 - Luncheon, White
House, Prime Minister of Japan.
Nov. l0-11-Flies with Presi-
dent to Abilene. Kans., to dedi-
cate Eisenhower Memorial Mu-
scum.
Nov. 16-Formal White House
dinner, diplomatic corps.
Nov. l7-Dinner for second
half Of diplomatic corps.
Nov. 18--French Premier Men,
des-France for luncheon.
Nov. 20--Luncheon at White
House for United Nations wom-
en-.
Nov. 24-Luncheon at White
House, Prime Ministers OF Nor
way, Sweden, Denmark.
Nov. 24-28-Thanksgiving trip
to Augusta with Field Marshal
Montgomery as weekend guest.
Visiting Dignitaries
In the last year the list OF
visiting foreign dignitaries who
rated the full" White House
treatment has included: The
Governor General of Canada,
the Emperor of Ethiopia, Wins
ton Churchill and Anthony Eden.
the President of Korea, the
President of Liberia, Queen Eliz-
abeth and the President of Haiti.
In addition there are formal
receptions where the President
and First Lady must stand for
minimum Of two hours greeting
--variously-the Cabinet, mem
bers Of Congress, military lead
ers. the diplomatic corps and the
judiciary. Then there are "in-
~