Recollections of full years (1914) (14764100344)

Identifier: recollectionsoff00taft (find matches)
Title: Recollections of full years
Year: 1914 (1910s)
Authors: Taft, Helen Herron, 1861-1943
Subjects: White House (Washington, D.C.) Philippines -- Description and travel Washington (D.C.) -- Social life and customs
Publisher: New York, Dodd, Mead & Company
Contributing Library: New York Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN



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on Augustas sandy linkswhich attracted such wide attention. But even then myown problems became to me paramount and I began to givethem my almost undivided attention and to neglect thepolitical affairs which had for many years interested me sointensely. Perhaps with my husband safely elected I con-sidered all important affairs satisfactorily settled. At anyrate I found little time or inclination at the moment to worryabout who should have the high offices in the new Presidentsgift, or what policies should be pursued during his adminis-tration. At my request Captain Archibald Butt came down toAugusta to consult with me as to changes I wished to makein the White House service, and together we went over thewhole situation. As President Roosevelts aide he knew thewhole lexicon of customary White House social formalities. I had been a member of Washingtons official family forfive years and knew as well as need be the various phasesof the position I was about to assume, so my plans were 324
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/ / RECOLLECTIONS OF FULL YEARS not so difficult to put into form, however difficult I may havefound them to put into execution. We made a trip to Panama in February before the Inau-guration and did not reach Washington until the end of themonth when we went to stay with our friends, Mr. and Mrs.William J. Boardman, and their daughter, Miss MabelBoardman, at their residence on Dupont Circle. We spentwith them a busy week as the recipients of varied and de-lightful hospitality, which was terminated by a splendidreception in our honour on the evening of the second ofMarch. Captain Butt, who was to be continued as aide to Presi-dent Taft, called on me at once upon my arrival in Wash-ington to assure me that my instructions had been carriedout and that the new regime, fully organised, would gointo effect at the White House on the morning of Marchfifth. Some time before the Inauguration, indeed shortly afterMr. Tafts election, President Roosevelt expressed a desirethat we should dine with