White House Picnic Makes Kate's Heart Pound

Going to the White House is a thrill. You'd have to be terribly blase not to have a little fluttering of the heart when you walk through the White House gates. Last Thursday evening, when we attended President Caner's White House picnic, my heart not only fluttered, it pounded all evening.
President and Mrs. Carter gave a picnic for the members of Congress and their families. The House was in session a little late so the children and I came ahead of John. Patrick and Colleen were as excited about the picnic as I was.
We entered through the lovely Jacqueline Kennedy Garden. On the Presidential grass was a tent where soft drinks were served, a buffet table where the bill of fare included hamburgers, hot dogs, cole slaw and baked beans.
A huge stage was assembled so we could enjoy square dancing and a New Orleans jazz band. Colleen liked the music so much that she swayed to the blues as if she were on Bourbon Street. Clowns greeted the children and made animals from the balloons. On the lower lawn, a net was set up where teen-agers played volleyball with the Washington Redskins. There was even a hayrack which gave rides all around the grounds.
The Carters came out of the house at about 7 o'clock and remained until after dark. The President was dressed very casually. He and Mrs. Carter made sure they greeted everyone and patiently posed for pictures with everyone's baby including ours. Patrick diplomatically gave me his fudge bar stick before offering the President his sticky hand.
Hubert Humphrey was also there, looking quite well. I was delighted when he remembered meeting me in Omaha last October. It was a week previous to Maureen's birth so I was big with child. I'm sure that's why I stuck in his mind.
The ground floor of the White House was open so naturally we went in. We browsed through the Diplomatic Reception Room, the China Room and the Library where President Carter gave his first fireside cardigan sweater chat.
As we were leaving the mansion, we bumped into Chip Carter, who had just returned from a week in California. We chatted for only a few minutes because he was anxious to find his wife, Caron, and baby son, James.
All in all, it was a sparkling and memorable event.
August 11, 1977