European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 25, 1967, Darmstadt, Hesse Stripes Julf Kim i 2 a i cop. Chorte House aide. No lab to Wrd Fiance As Well 5odal Secre Ary mrs. Am Fina the it ii a House s to and handsome 29 by Frances Lewine a staff writer i mrs. Lyndon b. Johnson chaos on Ferris wheel with future son in Law Robb. Uhi monday september 25, 1967 n starched while uniform a Mili tary aide bends smilingly to a White House guest and introduces him by name to the president. The Young Bachelor officer could Belynda Bird Johnson s Fiance Marine capt. Charles s. Robb of Milwaukee, any of the other 28 social aides at the president s House. The aides usually tall Nice looking Well educated and socially Hep Volun Teer or Are recommended to serve out Side their regular duty hours at presidential parties and social events. All Are carefully screened and inter viewed to make sure they la fit into the presidential surroundings and fit their role As an Extension of the Host " As one aide described it. They have provided a colourful adjunct to dances dinners teas receptions and gatherings of presidents since the Days of George Washington. We work spare time with no pay but lots of people think we re professional Ushers lamented one army Captain he said he hoped the attention Robb was drawing will perhaps bring us More into the it appears to be doing just that while the social aides Are unassuming and blend into the background forthe most part guests Are becoming More aware now of the Young men who politely hold their Coats escort them on the dance floor to foxtrot or frug and ease their Way through the High society amenities of a formal state dinner atthe White House. The White House looks to the marines army air Force coast guard and Navy for social aides. Officers can Volunteer or be tapped on recommendation of a Superior officer for this Spe Cial service. Depending on How Busy the social Pace the aides May spend from 2 to 1 5 hours a week on extra duty at the White House. Current aides have a wide variety of regular military occupations from Pilot lawyer to systems analyst. Obb 28, is assigned to regular eight Hoiu a Day duty Iii his Post As adjutant the stars and stripes at the Marine Barracks where he Isan administrative assistant to the com manding officer. His work includes rec Ord keeping personnel distribution of orders and official correspondence White House spokesman said. Pie is scheduled for Vietnam duty next . Fred Widicus of Edwardsville 111., the senior air Force social aide meanwhile May be off on his regular duty flying a c135 cargo plane from nearby Andrews air Force base. Each White House social aide Mustbe a Bachelor. As Long As you stay in the Washington area and stay single you re in said one aide. I think we re a fun Loving group. I goes with being social said the Young est of the current crop of social aides22-year-old army 2nd it. Andy Law rence of new Orleans la. Lawrence who has been a social Aida about eight months thinks it s the greatest i love he s an assistant systems analyst and Programmer for the army surgeon general. The White House social aides officially come under the command of presi Dent Johnson s Pilot and chief military aide col. James u. Cross of Andalusia Ala. But Cross 42, delegates the Job nov to one of his office staff Navy la cmdr. Worth Hobbs 3rd of Rocky . Hobbs and mrs. Johnson s social Secretary Bess Abell have the last word on who gets accepted after candidates go through interviews at the White House and with service . Abell says her main requirement is that the men be genuinely enthusiastic about the Job. It s not All Cham pagne and Glamor she said. It s areal Job that cuts into other things that those Busy Active Guys would lie sometimes they re called in mid afternoon and have to go hark be finish assignments they left she notes an sometimes it Means Eai killing Date s and re juggling leave time. But said mrs. Ali Ell they Lear from it and goodness u e you in l get along without u
