Medford mail tribune., June 26, 1960, Image 45

&3Mmm-u 21-1
Mamie and Ike will celebrate their next
anniversary at their home in Gettysburg.
Mv Friend
(Continued)
MAMIE
Feeling I'd played on her sympathy,
I sought to give her an "out." "Don't
you have to discuss it?" I was thinking,
of course, that Ike might have some
other plans.
"Why should I have to discuss it?"
she retorted. "I make the social engage
ments in this house, so I'll expect you."
Once again I'd seen a demonstration
of Mamie's positive approach to what
she regards as her own domain. Outside
of that domain, she is reticent. When
world events are being discussed by
people she considers better qualified to
talk her husband, for instance she
sits by quietly and listens.
Early in 1951, we kissed them good
by. The General had accepted the post
as commander of SHAPE and NATO,
and they were to live outside Paris un
til June, 1952, when he came home to
accept the presidential nomination.
During this time, our letters flew
back and forth. Mamie's were always
friendly, personal, and full of "girl
talk." She'd ask me to buy little things
she'd seen advertised in the New York
newspapers, and as I was by this time
fashion director of a large New York
department store, nothing was easier
for me to do.
Shopping for Mamie has been one of
the small ways in which I've sought to
repay her friendship. Our tastes are so
similar it has never been a problem for
me. Mamie had always admired my
hats, so it was natural that I should
introduce her to Sally Victor, who has
made her hats since the famous gray
one she wore at the first inauguration.
A charming memory comes to mind
in regard to the inaugural hat. I was
sitting in Mamie's bedroom at Morn
ingside Drive while she was having the
- final fitting. Her young granddaughter,
Barbara Anne, was there, parading
around with a crown on her head made
from cut-up newspapers. Mamie was
telling her a story, and Barbara Anne
10 Family Weakly. June 26. I960
"Only one cereal spells
energy from A to Z.
Post Alpha-Bits.They're
just a little bit better!"
DANNY THOMAS
of Ut Dim Thoaw SKow. CBS-TV
kept asking, "Then what happened?"
So Mamie, about to become the First
Lady, about to appear before millions
on movie and television screens, about
to take her place in our history, went
right on with her fitting while she con
tinued, "And so, the beautiful young
princess . . ."
I believe Mamie would prefer to be
with her grandchildren than with any
of the famous personalities she meets
as wife of the President!
Since Mamie has been in the White
House, I've naturally seen less of her.
The demands on her time are constant.
When I'm in Washington, however, she
always manages to squeeze in a per
sonal visit, even if it's only for a half
hour, and we sit and chat like old
friends. If the call is in the morning,
Mamie will be sitting up in a great
double bed, wearing a pink bed jacket
and a pink ribbon in her hair, and look
ing as fresh as a spring morning. Piled
around her on the bed will be stacks
of letters and papers demanding atten
tion. And believe me, they will re
ceive it.
Mamie uses her bedroom as an of
fice, and she is as organized as a top
executive. All the mail (hundreds of
pieces weekly) will be answered; all
household problems will be discussed
(including state dinners, which she
supervises to the last detail); every
present will be acknowledged (and she
' receives many). She is tireless in get
ting out work. No trivial thing she ever
promises to do, is forgotten. I have oc
casionally asked a favor, and if she
says she can do it, it is done.
Speaking of presents, Mamie loves
them. She takes an almost childlike
pleasure in unwrapping a package. I've
never tried it, but I'm sure a red apple,
prettily tied, would bring the same
shine to her eyes as an heirloom. It is
fantastic to me that she never confuses
her gifts. When she is using one of
mine, she'll say, "Remember, Maggie?
You brought this bag to me from Paris
the summer of 1953."
Her memory is phenomenal. No doubt
she has written down the dates
of her friends' birthdays, but whether
written or not, they are never forgot
ten. On every birthday and every
Christmas, there is a card or gift, for
just as Mamie loves to receive presents,
she also loves to give them.
Once, on my birthday, the phone,
rang. I answered, and before another
word was said, "Happy Birthday" was
being sung to me by the First Lady!
Which brings me to Mamie and the
telephone. It is via the telephone that
we keep in touch. I call during that
morning hour when I know she's in her
bedroom-sitting room, and we catch up
on all the little personal details of our
lives our families, our grandchildren,
our wardrobes. Mamie converses as re
laxedly as a neighbor over the back
fence, and at the end of a conversation
which may have lasted 40 minutes,
she'll say, "Maggie, I'm sorry. I know
you're busy and I've kept you so long!"
I wish everyone's telephone manners
were as good as Mamie's. When I call
Jier, I give my name and in a matter
of minutes she's on the phone. True,
though, I've learned when to call. It's
always during the morning hour which
is split between her household duties
and keeping in touch with her many
old friends.
And when she calls me, she is on the
phone waiting to speak. I learned my
lesson on this score when I was working
in the store. I was told the White House
was calling, and thinking it was the
long-distance operator, I finished what
I was doing and sauntered leisurely to
the phone. There was Mamie herself,
waiting to talk. I apologized for keep
ing her waiting, to which she replied,
"That's all right, Maggie. I know how
busy you are."
By this time next year, my friend
Mamie will be a private citizen once
more. She and Ike probably will be liv
ing in Gettysburg in their own home
for the first time in their married lives.
Perhaps I shall see her more often.
But see her or not, I feel as close to
her as I do to my friend next door. I
know that wherever I am in the world,
I can lift the phone and there she'll be;
saying cheerfully: "Hi, Maggie dear,
what can I do for you?"
Family Weekly, June 20, I860 II