Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-13
Great Day at
Gettysburg
washington, d. G.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1885

Nixon explained later that she
had been visiting her two
daughters at camp the only
time the Vice President had
been at the farm. at a party
the Eisenhowers gave for the
tn e n-retiring Secretary Of
Health. Education and Welfare
Oveta Culp Hobby.
Finally the President had
had enough Of touring and
wanted to get on with the
show. He sent an aide for
Mrs. Ike" as he frequently
refers to his wife. Then he
began looking around for the
Vice President, who had wan
dered away.
Hey, where's Dick? Better
get on with the job here" he
said crisply.
Mrs. Eisenhower and Mrs.
Nixon arrived in the jeep Just
then. The former wore a white
aforementioned sweater over
her rose and white dress and
carried a red felt pouch-type
purse trimmed with a large
gray felt elephant. Mrs. Nixon
wore a tailored black suit,
plain black pumps, green fea-
thered hat and a triple strand
of pearls.
The Eisenhowers and Nixons
went into the main tent, and
the show was on.
Loud speakers already had
summoned the guests to seats
in the tent. They sat at long,
narrow tables for 10, already
covered with tablecloths, at
which they later were to eat
their dinner.
Main Tent
The presidential party went
to a raised speakers platform
along the long side of the tent.
A large wooden lectern, bear
ing the presidential seal, stood
IN the center of the platform,
which was f1anked by the
American and presidential
flags.
Robert Montgomery, the
Presidents television adviser,
stood at the side of the plat
form, occasionally flashing
mysterious signals to a bat
terry of caimeramen at the back
of the tent.
After the speaking program
was over the President and
his wife wandered among the
guests for 10 minutes or so,
to the CONSERVATION of Secret
Service men, who constantly
were being showed aside. At
one point, Mrs. Mary Jane
McCaffree, Mrs. Eisenhower's
secretary, asked a Secret Serv-
Ice man, did you ask her?"
tmeaning the First Lady,. Il
haven't had a chance" he said.
I've been out here in left
field most of the time"
Food for the occasion, which
was provided by the Hotel
Gettysburg, was described as
a Pennsylvania Picnic Sup
per-"
1t contained. according to
souvenir menus, fried chicken,
Adams County style, home
baked beans. celery hearts and
pickles, cold roast beef. cold
baked ham. Sweitzer cheese,
potato salad, coleslaw, home
grown tomatoes, picked eggs.
picked beetS, assorted rolls,
G. o. P. ice cream and cake.
and coffee"
The cake had IKE in
pink frosting on top, and the
slices of vanilla ice cream had
a red elephant in the center
and blue roSiettes on each
corner.
Final Pictures
Shortly before the party's
announced Z pm. closing hour,
the President and Mrs. Essen
hover returned to the farm
house and sat on the terrace
to watch the scene below.
A small crowd gathered at
the fence, waving. Photog-
rapnerS and reporters began
to converge. The President re-
sponded by walking out and
posing for more pictures-f1rst
picking and shifting a yellow
flower, then waving from the
putting green.
The imminent departure Of
the buses was announced
loudly at that moment over the
loud speaker. which had. been
playing barely audible dinner
music all during the meal.
Someone apparently forgot
to turn down the volume when
the music was resumed. Hence
the final song blared forth
loudly. 1t was, inappropriately,
yellow Rose of Texas" which
the Democrats had appropri-
ated with new lyrics) for
their official convention song.
But none of the Republicans