WHITE HOUSE “SNUB”

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28222, 9 March 1957, Page 11

WHITE HOUSE “SNUB”

McCarthy Is “Amused”

WASHINGTON, March 7. The White House said last night that Senator Joseph McCarthy (Republican, Wisconsin) was the only member of Congress whom President and Mrs Eisenhower did not invite to one of their formal dinners and receptions this year. Senator McCarthy said he was “amused” by the snub. The White House social season ended last night. Mr James Hagerty, the White House press secretary, replied “That’s right” when asked whether Senator McCarthy alone among the current 529 members of Congress was not asked to. attend one of the six social functions the Eisenhowers have given this season. Senator McCarthy, a frequent critic of some Administration policies, and his wife were also omitted from the guest list in the 1954-55 season. Last year, the President and Mrs Eisenhower dispensed with formal social functions because Mr Eisenhower was still recovering from the heart attack he suffered in September, 1955.

In 1955, the White House said the McCarthys were not invited because of a “decision by the President and Mrs Eisenhower.’* Informed of Mr Hagerty’s statement, Senator McCarthy said he was “amused” and said that he felt the White House was refusing to invite his wife because “she was the subject of guilt by association with me.

“If I had been invited I would not have been able to attend because of previous engagements,” he said. “I am amused to find them inviting Tito and excluding someone because he dared to fight the con> munism for which Tito stands.”