Show ' receives many) She is tireless in getting out work No trivial thing she ever promises to do is forgotten I have occasionally asked a favor and if she says she can do it it is done Speaking of presents Mamie loves them She takes an almost childlike pleasure in unwrapping a package I’ve never tried it but I’m sure a red apple prettily tied would bring the same shine to her eyes as an heirloom-I- t is fantastic to me that she never' confuses her gifts When she is using one of mine she’ll say “Remember Maggie? You brought this bag to me from Paris the summer of 1953” “Only one cereal spells energy from A to Z Post just a little bit better!” Alpha-BitsThey’- re DANNY THOMAS Star of th Danny 8srv aa- w ’M1 Show A3ft n- a sr0 '' w ‘WSS4 M No doubt is phenomenal Her memory has written down the CBS-T- - ms? ' w Ttioma r dates of her friends’ birthdays but whether written or not they are never forgotten On every birthday and every Christmas there is a card or gift for just as Mamie loves to receive presents she also loves to give them Once on my birthday the phone rang I answered and before another word was said “Happy Birthday” was being sung to me by the First Lady! Which brings me to Mamie and the telephone It is via the telephone that we keep in touch I call during that morning hour when I know she’s in her bedroom-sittin- g room and we catch up on all the little personal details of our lives —our families our grandchildren our wardrobes Mamie converses as as a neighbor over the back fence and at the end of a conversation which may have lasted 40 minutes she’ll say “Maggie I’m sorry I know you’re busy and I’ve kept you so long!” I wish everyone’s telephone manners were as good as Mamie’s When I call her I give my name and in a matter of minutes she’s on the phone True though I’ve learned when to call It’s always during the morning hour which is split between her household duties and keeping in touch with her many old friends And when she calls me she js on the phone waiting to speak I learned my lesson on this score when I was working in the store I was told the White House was calling and thinking it was the operator I finished what I was doing and sauntered leisurely to the phone There was Mamie herself waiting to talk I apologized for keeping her waiting to which she replied “That’s all right Maggie I know how busy you are” By this time next year my friend Mamie will be a private citizen once more She and Ike probably will be living in Gettysburg in their own home for the first time in their married lives Perhaps I shall see her more often But see her or not I feel as close to her as I do to my friend next door I know that wherever I am in the world ' I can lift the phone and there she’ll be- saying cheerfully: “Hi Maggie dear what can I do for you?” re-laxe- dly J JIW “'“' t " - "$v m 4 m “ if 4 w vh ufeoSSSiwV' 'ffi'i j 1i Sn'‘ “? “W Jtt vti if W u ? $£ f ‘V 4 i k r a I ? 4 ia long-distan- "J K yVBU8 SUOAft-iPARKLC- wB-- :iL y wfe® - WA ‘Iflfcf J"S f a jfeis she per- - rn s r f her tant CCC At & i tK rhite OAT w - ote M y D 1 siw via - wN c v irsr i& ‘Vr'i"r r! 5J± !T p ‘3’ vte& n hour and we sit and chat like old friends If the call is in the morning Mamie will be sitting up in a great double bed wearing a pink bed jacket and a pink ribboh in her hair and look-ha- lf ing as fresh as a spring morning Piled around her on the bed will be stacks of letters and papers demanding attention And believe me they will receive it Mamie uses her bedroom as an office and she is as organized as a top executive All the mail (hundreds of pieces weekly) will be answered all household problems will be discussed (including state dinners which she supervises to the last detail) every present will he acknowledged (and she " ce Family Weekly June 26 1960 1 1 -- |