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Radio address by Dr. Harriet McGraw,
20 January 1939
Ladies and gentlemen of the radio audience, when
friends asked me how I felt
about my visit to Washington I was at a loss as to what to say.
I felt as though a cyclone had struck in my vicinity, along about the time I
received the invitation. I was dazed and had the sensation of being catapulted
through space. I saw and did things in sort of a dream. Slowly now the details
of my marvelous adventure are returning and I hope you will enjoy this resume
of the highlights half as much as I.
When
I received the invitation from Mrs. Roosevelt it was a complete surprise. The printed invitation gave no information as to the reason I
was being invited. Many friends believed it was due to the publicity from the
book "Unsung Heroes" which was recently published and I was fortunately
selected with four other women for outstanding contributions to humanity. After
discussing the invitation with a few close friends I decided to go to Washington and sent my acceptance of the
invitation to Mrs. Roosevelt.
Things
began to whirl in great fashion when I got down to the detail planning of the trip.
There was business to look after, what
to wear, and how to travel. Right here,
I want to express my gratitude to Chief of Police, Walter Roberts, for his help
in arranging the travel schedule and to the other friends too numerous to
mention who assisted in various ways with my preparations.
According to Chief Roberts' schedule I was to leave on the
United Airline plane morning, January 9, but early Sunday evening airport
officials notified me that I would be obliged to take the Streamliner because
of the storm. Like most well-laid plans that are upset, it turned out to be
most fortunate, for I had the pleasant experience of taking my first ride on
the Streamliner. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of a ride on
the Streamliner let me tell you that for speed, plus comfort, that is
comparable only to luxury take the Streamliner.
I left North Platte Sunday evening at 9:40P. M. and arrived in Chicago at 10:30 the following
morning. A
representative of the United Airlines met me at the station and reported good
flying weather ahead so within two hours I was flying above the clouds with
Flight 14 on my way to Cleveland.
The plane a
large cabin type that is seen often over North Plattehad seating space for about 14
passengers, however, there were only five men and myself. I was surprised at
the comfort of the seats in the plane. They were large and very comfortable
similar to ones found in Overland busses. The seats were adjustable like those in a day coach
and with the aid of pillows were equally as restful.
Looking down it
seemed like downy feathers and the sunlight filtering through made a beautiful picture.
There is a peculiar thing about riding in a plane. We were gliding along just
as smoothly as though we were on a highway while below, the weather was quite
blustery. They told us that when it is rough below the clouds it is smooth
flying above and when it is sunshiny below it is rough above the clouds.
When we
were leaving Chicago a light over the door flashed a
signal to fasten the safety belts and the stewardess was on hand to assist if
needed. It is not necessary to keep them fastened at all times during the
flight, just in taking off, in landing or in an emergency.
The
stewardess served lunch shortly after leaving Chicago. It consisted of veal stew in a
paper cup, Ritzes in a cellophane bag, cheese cut in triangles and wrapped in
tinfoil, a salad of lettuce and pears covered with a thousand-isle dressing,
coffee in paper cups held by a silver outer cup, with a strawberry pie also in
a paper cup as dessert. The salt and pepper, and sugar and cream for the coffee
were all in paper containers. A pillow was placed on the lap of the passenger
and a porcelain tray with the food was arranged on top of it. The plane,
however, was sailing along so smoothly that I did not have any difficulty with the
tray or food.
At Cleveland I changed planes. The plane that makes
the run from Cleveland to Washington is a smaller comfortable as the first one. In 14 minutes we were in Akron,
in 40 minutes we were in Pittsburg and by 4:45 that afternoon we were in
Washington D. C. There were a number of
photographers and reporters talking and snapping pictures and as I was scanning
the streets for a taxi someone called my name. I answered after a brief
hesitation and someone stepped forward and snapped a picture of me in the door
of the plane which was printed in theTuesday edition of the Washington Herald.
Shortly after I arrived at my Hotel (the Layfayette
in the shadow of the White House) I contacted Congressman and Mrs. Harry B.
Coffee, who invited me to their apartment in the Shoram Hotel, which I
accepted. Mrs. Coffee is an unusually attractive, dainty little blonde, a natural
diplomat who works hand in glove with her husband. I immediately felt at home
with these people from Nebraska and had a most enjoyable evening
with them climaxed by a long drive around Washington to see the city by night.
Bright and early
the next morning Mrs. Coffee was on hand with her own car to help me find my
way about Washington. We went first to the Cariton
Hotel, Headquarters for the Infantile Paralysis Congress, where I met Dorothy
Ducas, Secretary of the Council on the Infantile Paralysis campaign. Then we
left for the Capitol to join Congressman Coffee for lunch in the Representatives'
Restaurant in the Capitol. I had a hurried peep into the Congressional Hall and
the Senate Chambers while we awaited Mr. Coffee.
After
lunch Mrs. Coffee drove me about 40 miles across the Potomac through the quaint little town of Alexandria, noted for its old-fashioned
architecture; to Mount Vernon home of George Washington, the
Father Of Our Country. The home is maintained in its original state of occupancy.
We stood under the beautiful magnolia and boxwood trees and looked over the gardens
so loved by Martha Washington and with effort we pulled ourselves away from
this lovely spot and the soft balmy air so grand for the complexion.
An hour's rest
at my hotel and a bit of freshening up and we were off again. This time the Coffees
took me to dinner at the Occidental Hotel, the walls of which were lined with
photographs of senators who patronize the hotel. Interspersed with the
photographs were hung framed mottos, favorites of the patrons.
It was like a
lovely spring morning, January 11, the day of my appointment with Mrs.
Roosevelt. Mrs. Coffee called for me
early and we went to the Infantile Paralysis Council where I met for the first
time, Keith Morgan, Chairman of President's Birthday Celebrations.
Photographers and reporters swarmed the place, they were asking questions of
me, talking three at a time while cameras flashed. It was very exciting and I
am not surprised that the pictures of Keith Morgan and myself didn't flatter
either of us. It was nice though, seeing my picture in the Washingtonpapers and to find when I arrived
home that they had also been in the state papers.
It was hard work to
hold any sort of a conversation with the Chairman while the reporters were around
but in spite of the difficulties he was able to briefly outline the object of
the conference and to impress the importance and need of finances to carry on
the work for those already afflicted and to conduct research to determine the
cause of the dreaded disease.
About 4:00
o'clock
that afternoon I entered the front door of the White House to keep my appointment
with Mrs, Roosevelt. A policeman was the first one to meet me and when I told
him my name he said, "Mrs. Roosevelt is expecting you, Dr. McGraw".
What a thrill! I had a queer sensation up and down my spine when he said it,
that made my knees unsteady for a moment.
Then a burst of pride swelled my chest and I followed the doorman to a
room down the hall on the first floor.
The room was
large and almost square. The walls were papered with a maroon tapestry which was
carried out in the coverings of the chairs and divans. At one end of the room
betweentwo large windows was a huge mirror that caught my reflection. The
woodwork was satiny ivory and a lovely marble fireplace held my attention.
Before I was barely through with my inspection of the room, I heard footsteps
and Mrs. Roosevelt entered wearing a cloth-of-gold blouse and a floor length
black skirt. The only decorations she wore were three gorgeous orchids pinned
low on her shoulder. Our time was limited because of the buffet-style lunch or
tea scheduled at 4:30 that afternoon. We were forced to hurry our conversation
but I find myself since then admiring this first lady more and more. She is so
gracious, kind and radiant.
We joined the
ladies in the dining room. There must have been 75 or 100, all gorgeously gowned
in formal afternoon frocks. The tea was served in imprompty /sic/ fashion and
the guests mingled and made each others acquaintance. Among those I met that
afternoon were: Dr Josephine Neal of the Public Health Service in New York City, who was the only other lady doctor
present, Mrs. Pinchot, wife of the Governor of Pennsylvania; Estelle
Sternberger, noted radio announcer; Mrs. Woodring, wife of a cabinet member; and
others whose names escape my memory.
After tea we
were invited to a special broadcast room where Mrs. Roosevelt with the aid of some
of the guests gave a question and answer program relating to the Infantile
Paralysis Congress. We then adjourned to the music room where we were
privileged to hear Cathreen Carrico sing. Miss Carrico is a victim, of
Infantile Paralysis, who has gained relief through scientific treatment at the John Hopkins Hospital. Hers is a truly beautiful voice
that rang out so sweetly in the white House. It seemed to me a clarion call to
the entire nation to aid those who are afflicted with this disease and to use
every means of stamping it out.
At the close of
her program, each returned to their hotel to rest-and prepare for the banquet
at 8:00 o'clock in the Grill Room of the Hotel Carlton given the council by
one of the board members, George B. Alien.
The tables were
arranged in a horseshoe shape with the guest speakers across the end. Rose buds
and Baby's Breath were used as decoration. It was another array of lovely women
exquisitely gowned which created an impression of scintillating beauty
I wanted a day
to bum around by myself to go and see without any fuss, so I hired a cab bright
and early and visited: first, General Lee's home. There is one great difference
in the East and the West. The East is constantly reminding one of its
traditions and the West is trying to forget its story of Cowboys and Indians,
where the quickest on the trigger was right. General Lee's home like Washington's is preserved as it was when last
occupied by the General. I visited
the slavesuarters and saw where they slept, cooked
and ate and confidentially, it was much better than some homestead shacks I've
been in, in the sandhills where I have doctored for the past twenty years. I
went to Arlington where the grave of the Unknown Soldier is located. Peculiar
thing, the graves of the Southern Soldiers face south those from the
North face north. I visited the Smithsonian Institute where the was /sic/ figures of all the
Presidents' wives are, dressed inthe fashion of their era. I visited the
Public Health Center and saw all the modern methods of keeping physically fit.
Then I visited the Museum, and of the numerous things exhibited, the things I
recall most clearly were the life-like images of the Indians of different
tribes in diverse occupations; such as weaving, pottery making, etc. The
stuffed birds representing the wild bird life of North America was particularly good.
To finish
my adventure I ate lunch at the Palace Royal and I wasn't disappointed. During
my lunch a lady who is hired by the management came to my table and read my
fortune from the tea leaves in my cup. "Who are you?", the medium
asked. "The good spirits are all about you. Something wonderful is coming your way."
To which I replied with the query, "Have you been reading the
papers?". "No", the medium said, "I haven't had time to
read the papers." She continued, "I see a powerful hand upon you. You
are a success." I left with a sort of a guilty feeling and returned to my
hotel where a message awaited me. It was from Col. and Mrs. William Hagins inviting me
to dinner at their home that evening. Mrs. Hagins is my husband's niece. Her husband
is a doctor and diagnostician at the Army War College in Washington. They live on the campus in the
house in which John Wilkes Booth took refuge after the assasination /sic/ of Lincoln. A lonely sentry paced back and
forth all evening. One of the special treats at dinner was fresh oysters in the
shell direct from the cove. After talking shop for sometime, it was time to go
to the airport.
My trip home was
uneventful. It was old stuff to me. I arrived in North Platte at 9:40 Fridaymorning. My husband, a score
of friends, and Chief of Police Roberts were on hand to greetme and escort me
home. It seems good to be back. I don't believe I could keep up that dizzy
whirl very long but you might get used to it in time.I thank you.
Written in longhand at the bottom of the test:
//Rad. talk by Harriet G. McGraw, given Jan
20, 39, 5:15 PM. over Radio K.G.N.F. No Platte, Neb.//
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