The Dance in the Blue Room

It was the first time Lady Bird and Lyndon Johnson had entertained royalty in the White House. Everything went beautifully--at least until toward the end of the evening.

In town for talks with the President was Jordan's King Hussein, and the Johnsons gave a state dinner in his honor. After the dinner, the Johnsons and their 151 guests repaired to the East Room, where Jazzman Dave Brubeck played three selections for Jazz Fan Hussein. Then it was away to the white-walled Blue Room for dancing.

"Open up the windows," the President ordered as the Air Force's Strolling Strings struck up a waltz. With that he was off, twirling every lady within arm's reach. For his part, being a King, Hussein could not ask a woman to dance; she had to ask him. The first was Lady Bird Johnson, radiant in lemon chiffon. One of the last was Trude Feldman, diminutive (4 ft. 10 1/2 in.) correspondent for the Los Angeles Reporter, a Jewish weekly. It was an agreeable match in height at least, and Hussein, only 5 ft. 6 in. tall himself, seemed to find her a pleasant partner.

"What does your father do?" inquired Hussein, making some kingly small talk as he moved Reporter Feldman over the waxed parquet floor.

"He lives in Hollywood," she evaded.

"Yes," pressed the Arab monarch, "but what does he do?"

"My father," replied Miss Feldman sweetly, "is a rabbi."

Nothing daunted, Hussein danced on, with Miss Feldman and others. Finally, at 11:15, perhaps just a trifle early, the King left for his guest quarters at nearby Blair House.

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