Evening star., 1961-01-04
EXCLUSNELY LYLYOURs
Opening Of Congress Draws VIPS
BY BETTY BEALE
Star stan Writer


Nixon almost kissed Senator
Margaret Chase Smith; every
United States Senator in the
chamber rose and applauded
when Maurine Neuberger
went up to take her oath,
and Lady Bird johnson
gazed smilingly on her hus-
. band when ne was sworn in
for the shortest senatorial
term in history-one minute.
Thus began the opening
session of the 87th Congress
on the Senate side.
The galleries were well fill-
ed for the occasion and the
occupants were not disap-
pointed. Wherever their eyes
wandered Except ceiling
ward they lit on a VIP.
There was Vice President
Nixon looking natty in o
dark gray suit. gray satin
figured tie. rested and in
good spirits. seated in the
presiding Chair.
There was new Majority
Leader Mike Mansfield ap-
pearing on the floor at 1l:55
to be Immediately surround
ed by q large group of press.
THERE WAS VICE PRES
IDENT = ELECT Lyndon
johnson sauntering onto the
floor on the dot Of IL to
occupy the majority lead
err desk for the last time.
There was Minority Leader
Everett Dirksen, his touseled,
curly locks falling over his
forehead.
And there were the two
whips, Senator Hubert
Humphrey - one-time pres
idential candidate - and
Senator Tom Kuchel, who
has managed somehow to get
everyone to pronounce "Ku-
chel" as though it were SPELL
ed "Keekle." A remarkable
feat.
Looking down with rapt
attention on the principals
in the forthcoming drama on
Capitol Hill were such famil-
lar faces as Mrs. Nicholas
Longworth in the proverbial
broad-brimmed hat. seated
with Mrs. John Mcclellan in
a gray suit; Baroness Silver
cruys in a violet checked en-
semble, and Mrs. Julia Bram-
billa in purple. Mrs. Dirksen
and Mrs. Styles Bridges, wives
Of two powerful Republicans,
were front-row companions.
ALMOST FILLING A
WHOLE ROW was the large
family Of Rhode Islands new
Senator Claiborne Pell-his
pretty blond wife Nuala in O
navy blue and red plaid en-
semble, f1anked by their two
sons and two daughters and
also her father-in-law, Her.
bert Pell, one-time Minister
to Portugal and Hungary and
former Representative from
New York.
His mother, Mrs. Matilda
Koehler Of New York, was
also an interested onlooker,
as well as some IS staff work.
ers and campaign volunteers
who came all the way down
from Rhode Island to see
their candidate sworn in and
to attend the luncheon he
gave afterwards in the Rules
Committee hearing room In
the Old Senate Once Build
ing.
In front Of the Pells was q
row of blond heads-all be-
longing to the new Senator
from Massachusetts,, Ben
Smith. friend and successor
to President-elect John Ken
nedy. Two Of them were
identical girl twins. hatless
like their mother.
And across the room were
Mrs. Stuart Symington and
Mrs. John Sherman Cooper,
in violet and burgundy red,
respectively, sitting in a GAL
lery together-Mrs. Cooper
seeing her husband sworn in
for his first full term. And
not far from them Mrs. Al
bert Gore with the Pierre
Pelens Of the French EN-
bassy.
In the Senator's own gallery
were Mrs. Barry Goldwater,
a red rose on her black pill
box, with Mrs. Kuchel; Mrs.
Leverett Saltonstall by Mrs.
Alexander Wiley, Mrs. Spes-
sard Holland seated between
Perle Mesta and Mrs. Ernest
Gruening, Katie Louchheim
beside Mrs. Frank Church,
Mrs. Eugene Mccarthy in
red wool ensemble and mink
cape; pretty, young Mrs. Bill
Proxmire. Mrs. Lister Hill
and Muriel Humphrey with
her two sons.
In the adjoining gallery
John Kennedy, jr.'s god
mother. Mrs. Charles Bart
lett, sat with Mrs. Jack
Lanahan, Mrs. Norman Paul
and Mrs. Oatsey Letter.
The atmosphere in the
Senate chamber was one Of
interested cheerfulness.
WHEN SENATOR DIRK.
SEN forgot to escort Senator
Paul Douglas UP the aisle to
take his new senatorial oath,
and Senator Douglas had to
go up alone, the gallery
chuckled d. When Senator
Dirksen suddenly realized
where he was meant to be
and rushed up to the Vice
Presidents chair, the gallery
clapped. And there was no