Evening star., 1963-03-17
BY VICTOR LAsKY

q United states senator 5
wife az one Of those we'll
publicised White House
soirees.
Another guest was none
other than the Rev. Adam
Clayton Powell, the Baptist
preacher from Harlem who
recently made headlines for
his sojourns in Paris night
clubs with two secretaries at
public expense. On occasion,
Mr.. Powell is also known
To visit Washington where he
has offices in the House Of
flee Building.
Adam Clayton Powell's at
tire was unique" the Sena-
tors lady reported. He wore
4 green Austrian evening
jhcket with a black velvet
collar and four buttons,
Franz Josef coins. This
was by all odds the most chic
Of the many receptions I
have attended at the White
House"
Growth Rate In Parties
Such is life along the Po-
tDmac under the New From
tier. The growth rate in
parties has trebled since JFK
took over the ship of state.
BY day the New Frontiers
men call for sacrifices; but
at sundown sacrifices are for
gotten as the bubbly begins
to flow. Only Tax Collector
Mortimer Caplin keeps wor-
rying about such things as
whether a businessman
should be entitled to deduct
his wife's dinner as q legiti-
mate expense.
Prime Minister Macmillan
noted, after one of his meet
tngs with the President,
there is something very
18th century about this
young man." The PM was
referring to the ease with
which Mr.. Kennedy was able
to switch from the grave
concerns Of state to the gay
Sociability Of a dinner party.
He Is always on his toes
during our discussions" Mac
milan added. But in the
evening there will be music
and wine and pretty women"
Inevitably. such goings-on
have led to the circulation
Of wild stories concerning the
White House. And not all Of
them stem from partisan
sources.
Such stories, Of course,
have been told about other
White House occupants. But
the tales involving Mr.. Ken
nedy have gone far beyond
the bounds Of decency.
Mailer Turns on Leader
The height of bad taste,
however. was recently dis
played by Novelist Norman
Mailer, one of those ultra
liberals to whom John r.
Kennedy catered while seek
ing the presidency. Mr.. Ken
nedy understood one thing
about these so-called intel
lectuals: They are probably
the most egotistical people
on earth.
Thus, the fact that Mr..
Kennedy had claimed to have
read one Of Mr.. Mailer's
seamier works, Deer Park" ("
endeared him to the novelist.
He was amazed that Mr..
Kennedy had even recalled
the title. Mr.. Mailer's ex-
elusive account Of his con-
versation with Mr.. Kennedy
probably won him the hip
ster vote. And in the 1860
election every vote counted.
Lately Mr.. Mailer, a ban
the bomber, has been disen-
chanted by Mr.. Kennedy. He
was dismayed, for example,
BY. the Presidents brinkman-
ship during last falls Cuban
crisis. Previously. Mr.. Mailer
had been peeved when JAG
queline Kennedy = whose
common sense should not be
underestimate tn e
hipster theoretician an In
tefview.
& Hipster interviewed
But all this was forgotten
When Mr.. Mailer sat down TO
be interviewed by the editor
Of one Of those Greenwich
Village magazines that spe-
ctaliSe in publishing outright
obscenities.
IF you were a future his
tOrian Of sex. how would you
look upon the Kennedy ad-
rainistration?" Mr.. Mailer
was asked.
"I'd say there's more ac-
csptance Of sexuality in
America today than there
was before he came in." re-
pied Mr.. Mailer. Whether
that's good or bad, I don't
know. 1t may be a promis-
cuous acceptance Of sex
uality."
"Are you saying It's be-
cause Of . p"
Because OF Kennedy
absolutely. I mean, Just
think Of going TO q party
given by Eisenhower, as
opposed 10 a party thrown
by Kennedy. DO you have
TO wonder at which party
Dbl l.