Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-27
DURING INAUGURAL
Pot Nixon's Stun1inu
Stdggers Capital
BY ISABELLE SHELTON

There was a full pot of cof-
fee still sitting in the Richard
M. Nixon's bright yellow kitch-
en- when the family departed
Monday morning for Inaugural
Day ceremonies on Capitol
Hill.
1t had been intended for re-
porters who gathered in the
Nixon's living room for q pre-
inauguration press conference
with the Vice President.
A hectic last-minute search
for 8-year-old Julie Nixon's
hat accounted for the over
sight. And, as far as can be
determined, it was the only
time during the whole frantic
inaugural period that pretty.
energetic Pat Nixon slipped up
on a single detail.
The Vice Presidents wife
won the admiration of many
visitors last week by the good
humor and stamina with which
she pursued her way through
a staggering number of events.
The Way 1t Went
This is the way it went. as
Pat Nixon reconstructed it the
other day from her date book,
starting with the Tuesday
before the Inaugural.
Despite the frantic week
ahead Of her. Mrs. Nixon
showed up as usual that morn
ing for the weekly session of
the Senate Ladies Wives Club.
of which, as wife of the Vice
President, she is the presiding
officer.
She had taken her Inaugu-
raj Ball gown along that morn
ing in the car, plus a suit
case containing a big stiff
petticoat, to have ready for an
afternoon press conference and
picture-taking session. She
stayed at the Red Cross meet
ing until after 2, then whipped
over to the Mayflower Hotel
for the ball gown session,
which lasted until almost 4.
Wednesday Grandmother
Nixon arrived from California.
Mrs. Nixon and the children
met her at the airport around
noon.
Late that afternoon Mrs.
Nixon went with her husband
to a reception given by the
board of the National Fedora
ton of Republican Women.
Most Of the women, G. o. P.
leaders from across the coun-
try. had seen the Nixons at
campaign meetings in their
home States. Each wanted to
remind the couple Of the event.
Reporters covering the recep-
ton were impressed with the
ability Of both Nixons to re-
call some incident connected
with the meetings mentioned.
This exhausting exercise in
memory went on for well over
an hour.
Pace Steps Up
Friday the pace began to
step up. Nixon and Ryan
pats family relatives ar
rived. and were all invited to
the house for early-evening
coffee. before the group went
on to a big California recep-
ton and buffet which started
at 10 pm.
1--WE didn't eat dinner, or
feed the relatives, because we
thought we'd eat at TO-" Mrs.
Nixon said. But there was an
hour and a half stint in the
receiving line first. and it was
almost midnight before they
got dinner.
by that time you're not
very hungry" the Vice Presi-
dents wife said ruefully.
Saturday = Record?
Saturday, Mrs. Nixon pos
sibly set some kind of record
for handshaking. At least her
husband, who has been telling
the story proudly, seems to
think so.
They figure she stood in
various receiving lines for five
hours. shook between 4,50O
and 5000 hands.
She started in the afternoon
at the big reception at the
Pan American Union for dis
tinguished official women. She
left the receiving line after