Evening star., 1962-05-09
EXCLUSIVELY YOURS
A French Touch Is Added
By BETTY BEALE
star staff writer

Jacqueline Kennedy charm
ed her American audience
as well as the few French
officials present at the
launching ceremonies in
Groton, Conn, yesterday
when she christened the new
$50 million Polaris submarine
in both English and French.
After smashing the bottle
of champagne domestic
variety, we we're todd against
the PROV and saying, 81
christen thee the Lafayette." "
= she added, "Je te baptise
Lafayette" in honor Of the
man for whom it was named.
If the ghost Of the great and
good Lafayette had any mis-
-givings about American
champagne being used. this
should have made up for it.
!, At the luncheon afterwards
in the big, white frame New
England style Hotel Griswold,
The First Lady proposed q
toast ito the officers and men
of the Blue and Gold Crews
and most of all to the gallant
ship. May she have a long
and proud life. Vive Lafa-
yette!" she ended, to the
cheers of the 800 or more
guests.
THE BLUE AND THE
GOLD are the names given
to the two complete crews
that are the full complement
of every nuclear-powered sub
marine. Comdr. Patrick ].
Hannifin and Comdr. Lando
w. Zech, jr.. prospective COM
manding officers Of the
Blue Crew and Gold Crew,
respectively, were present for
the ceremony and luncheon.
Mrs. Kennedy's toast fol-
lowed those proposed by Roger
Lewis, chairman Of the board
and president Of General
Dynamics Corp He offered
one ITO President Kennedy
and our charming sponsor Of
the Lafayette" and another
"To President de Gaulle and
the people Of France" Not
only did Hear. hear" ring
out after each, but one
luncheon guest apparently
carried away by the wonder
of it all, raised his glass and
said, "To Mrs. Kennedy, bless
my bones"
The First Lady kept on her
pale lime green ballibuntl
bowler hat for the luncheon
but had shed her matching
tweed coat to reveal q sleeve
less heavy white silk dress
with tiny black polka dot and
wide black patent leather
belt, Q CasSini model.
WHEN SHE WALKED into
the dining room Of the Gris-
void Hotel, everybody stood
and the orchestra burst into
a march. A copy Of the La
fayette March" that reposes
on q music stand in the Red
Room had been sent for.
But it was " War March"
(of the priests from Athalia)
by Mendelssohn that ushered
in the peaceful looking spon-
sor Of the ship.
Earlier, about 200 yards
from the shipyards, she had
passed a pacifist group pick
eting and bearing signs that
read: "What would Jesus say
II He saw this christening?"
and Jackie 81, Polaris No."
It Just shows what an OBJ
stacle course you have to
run II you want to give your
blessing to men and ma
chimes that win do their best
to discourage enemy missiles
from landing on those pick
eteers.
At the end Of the luncheon
Mr.. Lewis read some con-
gratulatory kilograms sent TO
Mrs. Kennedy, including one
from the Navy's atomic Ad-
miral Lyman Rickover. and
then unveiled the pictures on
the two easels behind the
First Lady'S chair.
STEEL ENGRAVINGS. is
inches by 20 inches Of Gen.
George Washington and the
Marquis de Lafayette they
were made from portraits
painted by Jean Baptiste le
Paon (1736-1785).
The one Of Lafayette Is IN,
scribed: ''To his Excellency
General Washington this
likeness of his friend, the