Diplomatic Recognition

Mrs. Roosevelt's Press Conference Association last week voted itself into limbo. It bundled up its files to send to the Roosevelt Memorial Library in Hyde Park, where the girls hoped they would make a footnotelet to history. With just $65 left in their treasury, they voted to buy a flossy scroll for Mrs. R.: "To Eleanor Roosevelt . . . the first President's wife whose far-reaching activities for human good warranted regular press conferences. . . ." Then, just when Washington newshens had about given up hope of ever perching in the White House again, they received their first diplomatic recognition from the current mistress.

One day the White House bulletin board announced that Mrs. Edith Helm, social secretary at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and Miss Reathal Odum, Mrs. Truman's personal secretary, would meet the ladies of the press. The meeting was not on the second, or family, floor, where Eleanor Roosevelt used to chat with the girls, but in the semi-public Green Room.

Grey, gracious Edith Helm, who was in the White House social secretariat under the second Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, and again under Eleanor Roosevelt, walked in with Miss Odum. Mrs. Helm confessed she was "scared to death." First off, she said that Mrs. Truman would not hold peace time receptions and dinners this winter ("inappropriate at present -- these are sad times for many people who have suffered war losses"). Then, running down the First Lady's social list, she announced that Mrs. Truman would attend a tea on Oct. 12 given by the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 1939 Mrs. Roosevelt had quit the D.A.R. because it refused to let Negro Contralto Marian Anderson sing in the Society's Constitution Hall; now the D.A.R. was embroiled in a similar controversy with publicity-seeking Negro Pianist Hazel Scott. But the girls tactfully asked no questions about Mrs. Truman's racial opinions.

The rest of the 45-minute session was equally ladyfingerish. Sample : Could Miss Odum tell the press what courses Margaret Truman studies at George Washington University? No, she didn't know. Would Margaret go to teas and lunches with her mother? Maybe, but "we try to leave her as much time as possible for her school work." Does Mike, the Truman's Irish setter, live in the White House as Fala did? No, outside.

After this heady exchange, it was decided to meet every fortnight. At the next "meeting" (the girls were careful not to call it a press conference) they were promised the Truman family plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Would Mrs. Truman attend future meetings? It was unlikely, said Miss Odum.

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