Elizabeth "Bess" Hughes Abell (néeClements; June 2, 1933 – October 9, 2020) was an American presidential aide. She was the White House social secretary in the Lyndon B. Johnson administration. She later worked in public relations and then as executive assistant to Second Lady of the United States Joan Mondale.
In 1960, Abell volunteered to work for the Democratic Campaign Committee, where she answered mail for Lady Bird Johnson. When Lyndon B. Johnson was elected vice president, Abell became a part-time secretary to Mrs. Johnson.
Lady Bird Johnson appointed Abell as White House Social Secretary, and Liz Carpenter as press secretary. They became her principal aides and during the 1964 presidential campaign they organized the "Lady Bird Special," a train tour through the Southern states, where many voters had been alienated by passage of the Civil Rights Act.[2]
The Johnsons regularly entertained both large and small groups, and Abell took charge of everything from the invitations to the seating, and entertaining of the guests. She also helped organize the weddings of the Johnsons' daughters, Luci and Lynda in 1966 and 1967. A combination of Southern charm and steely determination in these endeavors earned her the Secret Service handle of "Iron Butterfly."
When planning a White House Festival of the Arts in 1965, Abell preferred to invite artists and performers, but she clashed with the historian Eric F. Goldman, who as special assistant to the president included poets, novelists, and other writers. As she feared, some of them used the White House as a platform to protest U.S. foreign policy.[3] As the Vietnam War escalated, Abell did her best to maintain tranquility within the White House by limiting entertainers to those who had not signed petitions against the war.[4]
After the Johnson administration, she launched Bess Abell Enterprises, a public relations venture to plan events. Her clients ranged from politicians to publishers and journalists. In 1974 she helped organize a Counter-Gridiron party to support women journalists, who had been excluded from the Gridiron Club, which annually entertained Washington's political elite. The success of that event finally convinced the Gridiron Club to admit women members in 1975.[5]
From 1977 to 1981, Abell served as executive assistant to Joan Mondale, helping the Mondales become the first vice-presidential family to occupy their official residence. She aided Joan Mondale's efforts to promote American art.[6]
In later years, Abell worked with her husband to develop Merry-Go-Round Farm in Potomac, Maryland, as a horse farm and residential community, while providing advice to her successors as White House Social Secretary.
Death and legacyedit
Bess Abell died on October 9, 2020, of complications from Alzheimer's disease at her home in Potomac, Maryland.[7]
She had served as a member of the National Archives Foundation and the University of Kentucky Libraries National Advisory Board. Abell and her husband established the Earle C. Clements memorial endowment at UK Libraries.
Referencesedit
^ abcdSeelye, Katharine Q. (2020-10-18). "Bess Abell, Social Secretary in Johnson White House, Dies at 87". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
bess, abell, elizabeth, bess, hughes, abell, née, clements, june, 1933, october, 2020, american, presidential, aide, white, house, social, secretary, lyndon, johnson, administration, later, worked, public, relations, then, executive, assistant, second, lady, u. Elizabeth Bess Hughes Abell nee Clements June 2 1933 October 9 2020 was an American presidential aide She was the White House social secretary in the Lyndon B Johnson administration She later worked in public relations and then as executive assistant to Second Lady of the United States Joan Mondale Bess AbellAbell in 2017BornElizabeth Hughes Clements 1933 06 02 June 2 1933Evansville Indiana U S DiedOctober 9 2020 2020 10 09 aged 87 Potomac Maryland U S Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Death and legacy 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editAbell was born on June 2 1933 in Evansville Indiana and grew up in Morganfield Kentucky 1 Her father Earle Clements was a member of the House of Representatives governor of Kentucky and a United States senator Her mother Sara Blue Clements was their town s postmaster 1 Clements went to boarding school in Nashville Tennessee then attended the University of Kentucky She majored in political science graduating in 1954 1 She eloped that year with attorney Tyler Abell 1 The Abells had two sons Dan and Lyndon Career editIn 1960 Abell volunteered to work for the Democratic Campaign Committee where she answered mail for Lady Bird Johnson When Lyndon B Johnson was elected vice president Abell became a part time secretary to Mrs Johnson Lady Bird Johnson appointed Abell as White House Social Secretary and Liz Carpenter as press secretary They became her principal aides and during the 1964 presidential campaign they organized the Lady Bird Special a train tour through the Southern states where many voters had been alienated by passage of the Civil Rights Act 2 The Johnsons regularly entertained both large and small groups and Abell took charge of everything from the invitations to the seating and entertaining of the guests She also helped organize the weddings of the Johnsons daughters Luci and Lynda in 1966 and 1967 A combination of Southern charm and steely determination in these endeavors earned her the Secret Service handle of Iron Butterfly When planning a White House Festival of the Arts in 1965 Abell preferred to invite artists and performers but she clashed with the historian Eric F Goldman who as special assistant to the president included poets novelists and other writers As she feared some of them used the White House as a platform to protest U S foreign policy 3 As the Vietnam War escalated Abell did her best to maintain tranquility within the White House by limiting entertainers to those who had not signed petitions against the war 4 After the Johnson administration she launched Bess Abell Enterprises a public relations venture to plan events Her clients ranged from politicians to publishers and journalists In 1974 she helped organize a Counter Gridiron party to support women journalists who had been excluded from the Gridiron Club which annually entertained Washington s political elite The success of that event finally convinced the Gridiron Club to admit women members in 1975 5 From 1977 to 1981 Abell served as executive assistant to Joan Mondale helping the Mondales become the first vice presidential family to occupy their official residence She aided Joan Mondale s efforts to promote American art 6 In later years Abell worked with her husband to develop Merry Go Round Farm in Potomac Maryland as a horse farm and residential community while providing advice to her successors as White House Social Secretary Death and legacy editBess Abell died on October 9 2020 of complications from Alzheimer s disease at her home in Potomac Maryland 7 She had served as a member of the National Archives Foundation and the University of Kentucky Libraries National Advisory Board Abell and her husband established the Earle C Clements memorial endowment at UK Libraries References edit a b c d Seelye Katharine Q 2020 10 18 Bess Abell Social Secretary in Johnson White House Dies at 87 The New York Times Retrieved 27 May 2021 Ritchie Donald A and Birdwhistell Terry L Washington s Iron Butterfly Bess Clements Abell An Oral History Lexington University Press of Kentucky 2022 92 113 https www kentuckykypress com 9780813182261 washington iron0butterfly gt Goldman Eric F The Tragedy of Lyndon Johnson New York Alfred A Knopf 1969 419 75 Ritchie and Birdwhistell Washington s Iron Butterfly 130 36 Ritchie and Birdwhistell Washington s Iron Butterfly 190 99 Ritchie and Birdwhistell Washington s Iron Butterfly 167 88 Bess Abell White House social secretary during Johnson administration dies at 87 Washington Post ISSN 0190 8286 Retrieved 2021 10 27 External links editAppearances on C SPAN LBJ Presidential Library oral histories Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bess Abell amp oldid 1149690205, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
