Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-02-21
Tish BoIdrige
Is Leaving Job
BY DAISY CLELAND
Star Staff Writer

Letitia Baldrige, social Sec
rotary to Mrs. John F.
Kennedy, is leaving her
White House Job as Of the
end Of May.
Miss Baldrige, who will
take an executive position in
the Chicago Merchandise
Mart complex, owned by Jo-
seph p. Kennedy, the Presi-
dents father, came in with
the New Frontier"
While she has been con-
sidered an excellent social
secretary to the White House
and one who has master
minded social events more
glamorous and imaginative
than ever produced by a
President and First Lady. 1t
has been questioned for the
past several months whether
there has been friction be-
tween fish Baldrige and
some Of the palace guard"
Miss Baldrige came to the
White House as a natural"
for the Kennedy ideas and
expectations.
Same Schools
She went to Miss Porter's
School in Pennington,
Conn, with Mrs. Kennedy
(although two years ahead:
she was on hand at Vassar
when the First Lady began
her college career, and later
when the former Jacqueline
Bowler was studying in
France, Miss Baldrige had
started her career as social
secretary to Mrs. David
Bruce, whose husband was
then United States Ambas-
sador to France.
In addition, Miss Baldrige
was personal and social sec
rotary to Glare Boothe Luce
when she was our Ambassa-
dor to Rome. She knows Ian
guages, menus, has humor and
got q written tribute from
the brilliant Mrs. Luce who
said II will never think of
the villa (our embassy in
Rome) without thinking,
with love and admiration of
you, and Of the dear con-
tribution you made to my
happiness, comfort and sue
cess in Rome"
Successor Picked
The replacement for Miss
Baldrige is Miss Nancy Tuck
erman of New York.
Miss Tuckerman's back
ground again blends with
Mrs. Kennedy.
Both attended the Chaplin
School in New York and were
roommates at Miss Porter's
School. Both came out" in
1947, were friends at East
Hampton, Long Island, and
each likes travel abroad.
Miss Tuckerman is report
ed to be "the short member
Of the family, with ash blond
hair, huge blue eyes, ire
mendous chic and a shy man
ner." She said in New York
last night she was surprised,
interested and excited" about
the new job, and then added
II really don't particularly
know how to run dinners or
answer letters"
Mrs. Kennedy's former
schoolmate was obviously
picked for the job by the
First Lady and with an ex-
ira pat on the back from
fish Baldrige.
Miss Tuckerman was in
vited to a White House State
dinner one night and then
a lob conference" the next
morning.
She attended the dinner
given by President and Mrs.
Kennedy on January 81 in
honor Of the Vice President,
the Speaker Of the House
and the Chief Justice Of the
United States and their
wives. The following morn
ing she was picked up, by
pre-arrangement, at the resi-
dence Of her aunt and uncle,
for an interview with Mrs.
Kennedy which was followed
by an offer of the job. On
the White House dinner list
for the evening before she
was merely listed as Miss
Nancy Tuckerman, New York,
school friend" Her name was
80th on the list.
Mrs. Jerauld Wright, wife
Of Admiral Wright, described
her duties as an aunt when
Nancy went off TO the State
dinner.
she went off TO the White