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The dozen friends whom Mayor Thompson took to President Coolidge's table included Governor Len Small of Illinois, lately tried and acquitted of criminally embezzling his State's funds, but made to restore $650,000 such funds by the U. S. Supreme Court; and William Lorimer who was ejected in 1911 from the U. S. Senate for bribing the Illinois legislature which elected him.* Others of the party were Representative Frank R. Reid of Illinois, Chairman of the House Flood Control Committee (see p. 9) Publisher James M. Thompson of the New Orleans (tem. President John J. Walker of the Illinois Federation of Labor and various Mississippi Flood Commissioners.
Mayor Thompson smacked his lips over syrupy buckwheat cakes and sausages and afterwards said: "It was sort of quiet—just a nice sociable affair." Leaving the White House he asked if anyone knew where he could "have a good time tonight" and "where can I get a drink?" He called President Coolidge "a fine fellow."
Social. It seemed like "Ladies' Week" at the White House, socially. Actress Billie Burke (Mrs. Florenz Ziegfeld) called informally after the opening night of her show, The Marquise, which President Coolidge had attended. Gertrude ("Trudy") Ederle called and President Coolidge said: "I am amazed that a girl of your small stature could swim the [English] Channel!" Mrs. Ruth Elder Womack came for luncheon—together with Lieutenant George Haldeman, Colonel Charles Augustus Lindbergh, Clarence D. Chamberlin, Charles A. Levine,** Commander Richard Evelyn Byrd, Bert Balchen, †† Arthur Goebel, Lieutenants Albert Hegenberger and Lester Maitland, Emory Bronte, Paul Schluter, William S. Brock and Edward Schlee. That evening all the air notables stood by while President Coolidge pinned the National Geographic Society Hubbard medal on Colonel Lindbergh.
¶ A Dr. & Mrs. Alfred E. Russell of Barre, Vt., called with their infant son, Robert McFarland Russell. In the lobby, Robert McFarland Russell cried, despite Mrs. Russell's telling him that he must stop if he wanted to see President Coolidge. He did not stop. He had to be pushed to the threshold of the President's room. Still he cried, until the President patted his hand, when he stopped as if by magic.
Recreation. The 71st birthday of President Coolidge's great & good friend, Merchant Frank Waterman Stearns of Boston, gave occasion for a small, intimate dinner party at the White House.
¶ To cruise with them on the Mayflower over the weekend, President & Mrs. Coolidge took Senator & Mrs. Claude A. Swanson of Virginia, Representative & Mrs. Richard S. Aldrich of Rhode Island, Major General & Mrs. Charles Pelot Summerall, Rear Admiral & Mrs. Edward W. Eberle.†