1932
The Honorable Thomas B. Curtis, Republican member of the U. S. House of Representatives from Webster Groves, Mo., gave a brief talk to the Dartmouth Club of Washington on February 6 and convinced his hearers of his sincerity and the good sense of his constituents in sending him to Congress. Let none of you think this means that I have finally seen the light. I merely recognize a good representative of his district when I see one. Tom gave us some of his reasons for getting into politics, particularly Republican (though he comes from a Democratic family background), and some of the things he stands for. He hasn't brought his family to Washington, yet, as he doesn't want to disrupt his four kids' schooling until he knows better how much he's going to like it here and how much the voters are going to like him here. I think they'll find that they do like him because he has what it takes to be an effective advocate for them when they're right and has the courage to tell them when he thinks they're wrong.
Tom told us a little about his work. A Congressman has a hard job, with travelling, constituents to see, writing ones to answer, committee work to do and meetings to attend, studying reports to learn how to vote, and finally the next election impending like a final exam to test how well you did in the eyes of the folks back home. The first job, Tom pointed out, is to find out how to get things done; when he's learned all the ropes, he'll be in a position to help get the right things done. He is on the Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments, whose primary function is to keep an eye on where the Federal dollar goes. It has a continuing investigative role. Some of Tom's previous experience looking into the operations of loan sharks and corrupt public servants in his home community will prove valuable in his committee work.
A more than usual number of my daily activities have recently been in fields that have been noticeable in the press. I spend a lot of time on the problems of trade controls in Morocco and how they fit into our treaties with the Sultan, some reaching back to the early days of the Republic. France and the U.S. are litigating the issues before the International Court of Justice. I am also once more involved in the preparation for the next round of hearings on the foreign aid programs, for mutual defense, for economic recovery and for technical assistance in areas where underdevelopment can be a threat to freedom. The most entertaining activity, however, as you might guess, has been sitting in the meetings with the Ambassador of the Soviet Union and his delegation discussing a settlement of outstanding lend-lease matters. As you may have read, we are seeking a fair payment for the lend-lease material left over at war's end and having civilian utility, and a return of the naval and merchant vessels which they still hold. My son, steeped in newspaper headlines and neighborhood attitudes, was a bit worried when he heard that I'd be closeted in a room with a bunch of Russians, including an Admiral. But the conversations have gone on with the proper air of respect for the power of words to compose differences. Within those four walls, anyway, the booming in Korea and the flashes in Nevada have seemed remote, more like parts of a different puzzle than an interlocking whole.
Last month I told of seeing Whit Daniels at Ithaca, where he has been the public relations officer for Cornell. No sooner was the ink dry on that item than I learned that he has taken the job of director of public relations of Associated Industries of New York State, Inc., at Buffalo, N. Y. The purpose of the organization, I am told, is to bring about better understanding and cooperation between the people and the industry of the State and to find practical solutions to common problems. It has more than 1600 member firms, employing a majority of New York's labor force. Whit's leaving Cornell, however, is somewhat balanced by the appointment of Chuck Adkins to be managing editor of the Colgate AlumniNews. Chuck, of course, is not new to Colgate, having been a member of its English Department for about six years. He and his wife Virginia have four children who will go neither to Dartmouth nor Colgate; they're all daughters.
A thoughtful correspondent advises that "John and Rita Richardson had a son, Glen, on January 5, to join their post-war daughter and pre-war son." Congratulations.
A good word to Ken LaVine, too, who here after will appear as a partner on the letterhead of Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt and Mosle, eminent Wall Street law firm.
Many of you probably saw the news accounts of the suit brought by Mrs. Vivien Kellems to recover withholding taxes paid to the United States. She has long objected to acting as tax collector for the government. You may not have noticed, however, that the lawyer who convinced the jury in the U. S. District Court in New Haven to render a verdict in her favor was Frank McGuire. The victory is convincing evidence of his skill.
I usually consider the notices of changes of address which the college sends to me as not sufficiently newsworthy to include in these columns. This month, however, the notice gave Ed Marks' new address as 35 Churchill Street, Athens, Greece. Ed has transferred from Switzerland to head the International Refugees Organization office at Athens. Now his children who have been picking up the various Swiss languages will have a chance to add another to their repertoire.
Some things I said in the notes about JohnClark inspired John Sheldon to write a pleasant letter, for which I am grateful:
"Your job, like so many others, is a difficult one to accomplish without co-operation. I admit to my own guilt in never having sent a letter containing news items to you. During the past two weeks I have seen several fellows whom you may not have heard about recently. Howard Elliott was here last week from Billings, Mont., for the furniture show. I missed seeing him as I was in New York, but did talk to him on the telephone last Friday. Howard has made Elliotts, Inc., the best furniture and home appliance shop in Billings.
"John Wright, as you probably know, was called back into the Army by the JAG. He is, presently, stationed in Chicago, which apparently, so far, has accomplished nothing but a complete disruption of his law firm, Wright and Wright. His brother Frank is carrying on alone and plans to continue the practice as long as his Navy Commission remains inactive.
"Had a nice visit with Dr. Ed Judd of the Mayo Clinic several weeks ago. Ed is now a general surgeon there and makes occasional trips around the country giving speeches at medical meetings. Ed looks just like he did in college, and seems very happy and relaxed in spite of the many pressures of his profession.
"Two weeks ago Red Tucker was in town on his way to visit his family in Nebraska. Tuck is still working in Venezuela developing a grocery chain, as part of Nelson Rockefeller's program down there. Gladys and the two children are living in Venezuela with him, and he told of the many difficult problems of raising American children in the tropics.
"Last week in New York, I had opportunities for visits with both Charlie Doerr and Dick Hazen. You are probably very much aware of Charlie's activities as Vice-President in charge of Personnel at McKesson and Robbins, and of Dick's active life as a partner in his engineering firm.
"This is about all I can contribute at this time. I hope that these few news items will be of some use to you."
They were, indeed. Now if only someone will write and tell me all about John's family, I'll have everything.
Secretary, 3909 North 5th Street, Arlington, Va.
Treasurer, 144 Brixton Rd., Garden City, N. Y.
Class Agent, 40 Meritoria Drive, E. Williston, L. I., N. Y.
