The woman who knew everyone who was anyone in Washington

Perle Mesta in 1962. (Image: Getty)

Sat, 25 Jan 2025

By Melanie KirkpatrickWashington DC has known its share of prominent hostesses. As the sociable wife of the nation’s fourth president, Dolley Madison brought together the warring members of Congress at her fabled Wednesday evening “drawing rooms”. Then there was Alice Roosevelt Longworth, the strong-willed, sharp-tongued daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt and the wife of Nicholas Longworth, speaker of the House. A throw pillow in her living room was embroidered with the words: “If you can’t say some...

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