Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-01
BY BETTY BEALE
Star staff Writer

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In the city and the work of
Government In the concen-
trio circles that flow out
from the presidency must
go on.
But the shock Of seeing
the young, vigorous. brilliant
John Kennedy struck down
from the top job in the
world to an early grave has
left both official and resi-
dental society numb.
Nothing short Of being in
volved in q war has such a
marked effect on Washing
ton society as q change in
the presidency. For the top
man in Washington society
is always-whoever he is
the President Of the United
States.
IN ATTEMPTING TO DE-
SCRIBE the impact of the
Kennedy administration on
Washington society, this
columnist wrote five days be-
fore his Inauguration: ANY
organization, any company,
any government. takes its cue
from the man on top. Frank
lin Roosevelt. with his INTEL
lectual interests, social back
ground, and Harvard train
ing. influenced the local scene
to the extent that stimulat-
ing dinner parties involving
both social types and nom
social liberal eggheads be-
came extremely chic.
Harry Humans influ-
ence was seen In the rise Of
his cronies and any friend
who had been q friend of
Harry's before.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
gave prominence to the bust
nessman In contrast to the
intellectual. In fact. the egg
head wasn't even chic social
ly.
Now John F. Kennedy
brings back the intellectual
trend, the Harvard training
and the social standing so
enhanced by the top-drawer
background Of his wife
Jacqueline. And he also
brings something new -
youth"
And 50 he did. John and
Jacqueline Kennedy were
used to the world Of money
fashion and beauty, and they
brought this gay and CLAM
orous society into the White
House. Indeed, during the
past three years Washing
ton. not Hollywood or New
York, became the glamour
capital Of the country. 1t also
became the new center for
recognition of intellectual
and cultural achievements.
-
NOW A NEW FLAVOR will
be introduced. The top man
in Washington society and
his wife-President and Mrs.
Lyndon Johnson-will bring
a fresh, Western breeziness
and friendly informality to
the social life at 1900 Penn
Sylvania avenue.
They both have tremen-
dous outgoing warmth, and
easygoing folksiness. but
with these qualities, dignity
and great intelligence.
There Is no stiffness
among the JohnsonS. They
want people to have q good
time and to feel at home.
The President, a man Of un-
tagging dynamism and great
gregariousness, has little de-
sire to seek the quiet COM
fort Of bed after q hard
days work. He is famous for
personally telephoning a
friend and saying: Grab
that pretty wife Of yours and
come over here to dinner and
be here by Z o'clock"
Occasionally those friends
have had to say they couldn't
come because they had an
other dinner engagement.
This Is something one can
say to anybody up to q Vice
President. but not to a Pres
ident. An invitation from the
President of the United
States is a command per-
Torrance. So from now on
the Johnsons' closest coterie
Of friends may be subject to
call most any night he is
not busy with state functions.
But by virtue Of the fact
they are Johnson intimates,
they will also be inundated
by invitations from many
quarters in this power-seek-
ing society.
WHO ARE THESE mt
MATES? They are mostly
people who have worked for
or with the new President
as did Paul Fay, Dave Pow
ers, Benjamin Smith and
Torbert Macdonald work for
or with John Kennedy.
The No. l group around
the Johnsons includes two
Texas Congressman and
their wives - the Homer
Thornberrys Of Austin and
the Jack Brookses Of Beau
mont. Homer Thornberry