Show Esther Peterson Becomes Well Known By BERT MILLS 1 distributed by the National Editorial Association Washington DC D.C. Mrs Esther Peterson already one of oC th the best known women in Washington and the highest government official of oC her sex will soon soon be one of oC the best known ladies throughout the nation EARLIER this month President Pres- Pres President ident Lyndon B. B Johnson appointed ape ap- pointed Mrs Peterson special assistant to the President for Consumer Affairs T h his i s is isa isa a new post and the first time that American housewives e s shave have had their own representative at the White House A former teacher and labor union lobbyist Mrs Peterson is also Assistant Secretary of oC Labor She will retain that post and double as the governments governments government's govern govern- ments ment's consumer leader When space is found for her at the White House he will have an office there as well wc as at the Labor Department MRS I PETERSON also holds a third major position She is executive vice chairman of oC the Presidents President's Commission on the Status of oC Women a post in which she succeeded the late Mrs Eleanor Roosevelt This commission was assigned as as- signed by President Kennedy the task of oC developing plans for advancing the full partnership partner partner- ship of men and women in our national life liCe Its report is due next October MRS 1 Peterson is youthful 57 though her hair is white President Johnson called her dynamic and that appears to be the right word She is outspoken and outgoing the kind that fits in any company Interviewed by NEA less than two weeks alter after her appointment ape ap- Mrs Peter s son o n talked freely about her hopes to better the lot of oC the na aa- tion's consumers She that she has a big job and will need a lot of oC help to succeed in it it MRS Peterson has asked women to write to her and she is receiving about 50 letters a aday aday day from housewives and oth oth- ers In the first there was only a single negative meso mes- sage One lady thought the government should save its money and not have a consumer er representative Women write to Mrs PeterS Peter son SIn about all 1111 sorts of things such as to complain that economy size packages are not always economical and that financing charges on in purchases are too high AT TilE TIIE moment Mrs Peterson Peterson Pe Pe- terson is just getting started on her new Job She has no staff no budget and no fin fished plan of operations She is also just out of bed after contracting a cold on her quick trip to the ranch in Texas to confer conCer with the President Pres Pres- ident about her new Job Mrs Petel Peterson on will be aided by two advisory groups a new Presidents President's Committee on Consumer Con Con- sumer Interest and an old Consumer Advisory Council The committee will be appointed ape ap pointed soon and will include at least nine governments government re re- re plus private citi zens TilE THE COUNCIL which she inherited will continue to serve until July 1 It is comprised chiefly of professional consumers consumers con con- sumers who represent organized organ organ- groups like the League of oC Women Voters and General Federation of oC Women's clubs Mrs Peterson is anxious to broaden the base of the advisory ad ad- group She feels that many consumers are not really represented and she is anxious to have a real citiZens citiZen's citi- citi zens zen's group to assist her ber in developing a program WHILE her assignment is rather vague Mrs Peterson has been charged by the PresIdent Pres Pres- ident with making sure that the voIce of oC the consumer will be loud clear and effective in the highest councils of the federa government The President said ald that the consumer wll wil be vigilant to keep consumers in formed so they are not completely completely com com- M at the mercy of oC those who exact unfair prices or levy unfair c charges MY IY SPECIAL Assistant and the new committee the President added will lead the campaign of Americas America's practices and unwarranted e d price increases That is quite a charter and Mrs Peterson is aware OC bf the pitfalls ahead For example housewives are complaining of higher sugar prices But Mrs Peterson does not want to go off half balf A mere passing pas pas- sing comment from her might upset the sugar market and have international She will remain mum on sugar prices until she is sure of oC all the facts MRS l PETERSON is the wife of a retired foreign service servo Ice officer who is now a professor pro pro- fessor at American University in Washington Two of oC their four children are in now One is in the Peace Corps in the Philippines and the youngest is a prep school senior |