1920

PERSON-TO-PERSON—

Secretary (1920) to Assistant President (U.S.) and Wife December 12, 1956

DEAR RACHEL AND SHERM, The Executive Committee, Class of 1920, had a meeting on December 1, in New York. Early on its order of business was a proposal that you be our honored guests at a class dinner, for all husbands and wives within reach of New York, to be held at the Dartmouth Club of New York any time in the month of February that might suit you best. Needless to say, this proposal was passed with enthusiasm.

It should quickly be added that our good friends and neighbors in the Class of 1921 beat us to the punch before our Executive Committee could convene. They too are very much interested in such a dinner and so we should like to make it a joint affair. That would double the pleasure for all of us, I am sure.

Now, we can only await your kind thoughts on the matter. Please, one or the other of you, write me how you feel about it, and if the chances are promising, indicate what date or dates in February would be most likely to suit you. We would look forward to a crowd that would tax the facilities of the Dartmouth Club.

We naturally realize that unforeseen emergencies can compel the cancellation of any such arrangements as we here propose. That is the chance we willingly take. If you feel that you can make the date - and how happy your many friends would be to see you! - we know that you will do your best to keep it. If anything should go wrong at the last minute. we'll stick somebody else up on the podium and tell him to make like Sherm Adams, and that will be that.

Best to you both,

REPLY- THE WHITE HOUSE Washington December 20, 1956

DEAR DICK:

Many thanks for your letter of the twelfth and the kind invitation.

You know my problem; however, we will try to make it if you will suggest some dates. This is on the condition that I don't have to make any speeches — in which department I have declared a moratorium. Our best as always,

A further exchange of communiques has established February 28 as the eventful evening, the dinner to be held at the Dartmouth Club of New York, 37 East 39th Street. Hasn't the time come around for you and your wife to take that'long delayed trip to New York? The locals, of course, will be out in full force, their ladies hanging on their arms; but the warmest of welcomes will be extended to those from the hinterland who can adjust their travel schedules to the situation. The dinner will be a modest affair, costing no more than seven or eight dollars — in sharp contrast to testimonial functions on behalf of almost any other political figure than Sherman Adams.

Tommy Thomson sent a good Christmas message. Starting with his usual no-news disclaimer, he went on to mention the arrival of his ninth grandson in July. Son Tommy Jr. has moved to Denver and is doing a fine job for Acacia Life Insurance. Although he didn't mention it, Tommy's picture appeared in a recent issue of Sports Illustrated, among the lustrous group of Olympic record holders of modern times.

Bunny Harvey is the one who spotted Tommy's likeness in S.I. and passed the word along to us. The Harveys are by this time safely located at Delray Beach which has become a more or less regular Florida base of operations for them in recent years. Their take-off raises a question; will everybody who is heading for Florida this winter deposit his schedule of exact dates and places with the class secretary as soon as he reads these lines? Another year we might want to try some kind of informal reunion on one of the Florida beaches. Let's see what kind of turnout we might hope for; also what might be the best time and place of assembly.

It may be that Clint Johnson is already one of the Florida regulars. Returning on the Queen Mary after one of his barn-storming trips on behalf of Chemical Corn Exchange's foreign business, Clint suffered an upset and was thereupon required by his doctors and associates to play a less vigorous role for a while. At last reports he was sopping up Florida sunshine.

Another of Twenty's tribe of Johnsons, Paul of Sioux City, lowa, got to New York in December, for the first time in many years. Paul has two brothers, Homer '18 and Eddie '22, who put together a luncheon party for him with Class Secretary Ernie Earley '18 in attendance. It is Ernie who has supplied us with the minutes of the meeting. Seems that Paul, so much too long out of our sight, operated successfully in the seed business for some time; then turned himself into a CPA and functions happily as the boss of his own accounting firm.

Jim Parkes Jr. has really been following in his father's footsteps by acquiring a Varsity "D" at guard on this year's Varsity football team. Fully as gratifying to his parents is young Jim's standing as an honor student and his admission to Dartmouth Medical School for his pre-med work. ... Adie Stern, Jim Parkes' roommate in Wheeler freshman year, makes known to all who will listen that he was escorting the prettiest girl in Palmer Stadium at last November's Princeton game. Adie's boy now has a family of five. Adie, as nice a guy running as nice a business as you could want, takes the job seriously, puts in long hours at it, and well deserves the West Indies vacation that is coming up for him. ... Roy Rubel, a partner with Adie Stern in a number of enterprises, flew down to the Cotton Bowl for the New Year's Day game. He basked in the 70 degrees sunlight of Dallas; then flew back to a teeth-chattering 10 above in New York. As usual, he enjoyed Christmas dinner with his mother, who is flourishing at 87 and can hold any pace that Roy sets.

What sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime occasion was the luncheon visit enjoyed by Forby Forbush and Tom Smith in Fresno, Calif., last June. They had not seen each other in 40 years. Forby looks forward to the early arrival of his seventh grandchild. ... Al and Helen Cate are happy about the arrival of grandson Gordon Bond McKay just at reunion time last June 12.

Secretary, Blind Brook Lodge, Rye 17, N. Y.

Treasurer, Tuck School, Hanover, N. H.

Bequest Chairman,