Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-24
BY ALDEN HATCH

TO sit down and write. Oh
course there were speeches to
make, and there was talk Of
her going again to China or
to Australia for Life; but her
candid dispatches had irritated
President Roosevelt so there
were mysterious delays about
e passport and finally a fiat
refusal from the State De-
partment.
Then one day a letter came
from Albert P. Morano pro-
posing that she run for Con-
gress as the Republican cam
didate for Connecticut'S 4th
congressional district.
The idea was exciting, but
there were, however, serious
objections. All her previous ex-
perience in politics had been
in the nature of brilliant forays
by gifted amateur. To become
a professional meant starting
a whole new career. Knowing
herself, she foresaw some
spectacular bloopers. Also, she
had very serious doubts as
whether Al Morano was the
voice of the people or even the
husky tones of the Republic
can Party,
She Says No
Morano says that she tele-
phoned one night and asked
him to come to the house. Z"
Isabel Hill greeted him and
told him that Clare would be
with him in few minutes, and
meanwhile would he read a
letter she had written to j.
Kenneth Bradley. chairman of
the State Central Committee
In it Clare stated her reasons
for refusing to run.
When she floated into the
room, Morano fixed look of
tmpaSSive resignation on his
square, expressive face.
What do you think of my
letter." she asked.
ITS very good letter. in
deed" said Morano.
The faintest suggestion of a
frown creased Clare's forehead.
II want to be sure that it's
right" she said. Lets go
over it together"
So they did. with Morano
praising every sentence. rs it
all right?" asked Clare.
Excellent" said Morano.
He observed that Clare was
disconnected by his lack of de-
spondency. He knew the time
had come TO jerk the hook.
He Says Maybe
will you do me one little
favor?" he asked. Promise
me to take just the 'irrevo-
cable word out of that letter"
Clare did.
1t was not over as quickly
as that; both Clare and the
Republican Party needed con-
siderable further persuasion.
Sam Pryor. vice president Of
Pan American Anyways, and
George Waldo Of the Bridge
port Post-Telegraph. added
their voices to that of Morano,
as did Kenneth Bradley. One
of the most powerful pleaders
was Niver w. Beaman, editor
of Greenwich Time.
When Clare finally said she
would run If they could con-
vince her she had a chance.
Morano and Beaman put on .
subtle campaign to make her
known to the party leaders
and the rank and file.
Most of the men candidates
for the nomination dropped
out of the race in Connecticut
with snorts of disgust. and in
the end it was between Clara
and Miss Vivien Kellems, a
lady of reactionary opinions
who owned and ran a factory
and was the darling of the
National Association of Manu-
facturerS.
Clare was chosen by the
Republican leaders to make the
keynote address at the Repub-
lican State Convention. Her
theme was that the admins
tration was still fighting a soft
war, and that the American
people wanted no pampering,
but an about effort for vic
tory. So persuasive was her
logic. that all opposition col
lapsed. She was nominated by
81 votes TO 2.
Then came the campaign.
There was nothing too arduous
for Clare to do: no call that
she would not answer: no
place she would not speak.
She made a total of l16
speeches.
Clare's opponent, Demo-
cratic Congressman Leroy
Downs, had the double advan-
tage of being the incumbent
and of being backed by the
oosevelt administration,
which he had supported on
virtually every issue. Clare
went after him with bare fists,
calling him lust another
rubber stamp and "one Of
the men in Washington with
out faces"
Fires Back
Though the big guns OF the
administration were trained
on her, Clare had some heavy
artillery on her side. Herbert
Hoover backed her and Wen
dell Willkie at her final rally
said. "She has a knowledge
of world affairs which few
people possess. She is a per-
son of complete integrity"
On the morning of cleo
ton day it was anybody's race.
That night Henry and Clare