Embarrassing Moments

At 12:12 p.m. one day last week the Senate stood in recess. North Carolina's Joe Bailey and Tennessee's Kenneth McKellar stayed on the floor. But most Southern members were conspicuously absent. Escorted by a committee of four, including Alabama's Lister Hill, a slender, smiling Negro entered the Senate chamber, mounted the rostrum. The members of his party were ushered to their seats. Then Vice President Henry Wallace introduced him: "Members of the Senate, ladies and gentlemen, I introduce to you the President of Liberia."

"Mr. President and Members of the Senate," said President Edwin Barclay in a soft, almost silken voice, "I wish to express to you my high appreciation of the courtesy shown me in permitting me to observe for a few moments the processes of lawmaking in the United States."

Having completed the first speech made to the Senate by a Negro since Reconstruction, President Barclay sat down. There was a little more applause. Vice President Wallace leaned over, whispered something in his ear. President Barclay smiled. He didn't seem to have anything else to say; neither did the Senate. Seconds ticked by. The Vice President leaned back, began to squirm. Then Senator Robert F. Wagner of New York stepped forward, led the Liberian President to a front-row seat.

President Barclay remained, dignified and at ease. Everybody else waited. Time crawled. At last, desperately, Vice President Wallace called the Senate to order and recognized Senator McKellar, who rose to bring up an appropriations bill. Senator McKellar neatly yielded to Senator Taft. Senator Taft fielded the yield, tossed the ball swiftly to Senator Thomas of Utah. Then the Senate Sergeant at Arms, ex-Senator Wall Doxey of Mississippi, and Assistant Sergeant at Arms William Moseley Miller of the House stepped forward to inform President Barclay that the House was awaiting him. The President and his entourage left the chamber. An audible sigh followed them. Henry Wallace, red-faced but relieved, relaxed.

The House stood, gave President Barclay a good hand as he walked to the dais. Introduced by Speaker Sam Rayburn of Texas, he spoke for a minute and a half, shook hands with the Speaker, departed.

President Barclay and President-elect W. V. S. Tubman were in America to return the visit paid by President Roosevelt when he stopped in Liberia, to inspect U.S. troops on his trip back from Casablanca. Not since Theodore Roosevelt invited Booker T. Washington to stay for lunch in 1901 had a Negro been a guest at the White House. Last week the Liberian President and President-elect became the first ever to spend the night there. Southern Congressmen shuddered--what would their people think?

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