3/18-3/24/51

Mar 18 Sunday Mom and Pop left for Florida this morning with Tante Blume and Mr Sandler. Costello Adonis and Erickson will be cited for contempt for refusing to answer certain questions in the crime investigation. The U.N. officially set up the 14 Nation Peace Observation Comm. We visited the Botanical Gardens to see the Easter Exhibit. We stood on line 45 minutes before we got to the scene of three live bunnies, a tremendous Easter egg, a sandpile for the bunnies, a little brook, etc. The nation is agog over the revelations over television of the crookedness which permeates our nations politics. Morrison replaced the ailing Bevin.

My impression is that Dad was NOT impressed by the Easter display. 

Mar 19 Lil and Eugene went back to Dr Fishman's where they got prescriptions for glasses. Reds were in full retreat toward the parallel. In the retrial of the "Trenton Six" it was charged the prosecutor had buried evidence clearing the defendants. Brigham Young U. won the N.I.T. over Dayton U 62-43. Roland Minson of B.Y.U. won the M.V.P. award.

Mar 20 O'Dwyer at the Kefauver hearings admitted Costello's pal helped him in the Mayoralty race. He also said he gave jobs to Costello's friends.

Mar 21 "Red" resistance toughened. La Prensa was formally taken over by Peronistas. The state's star witness in the "Trenton Six" trial reversed herself in an important point.

Mar 22 JP Crane head of the Firemens Assoc'n testified that he gave O'Dwyer $10,000 and Moran $55,000. Police Chief Murphy is also linked to a mobster, it is hinted. The "UnAmerican Comm." hearings opened in Hollywood with Larry Parks admitting he joined the C.P. in 1941 but left it later. Howard DaSilva and Gale Sondergaard however refused to answer questions on grounds of self-incrimination.

Mar 23 Lil and Eugene got their glasses at the Medical Arts Opticians on Tremont and the Concourse. Lil got bi-focals with her own frames $16. Eugene got lenses and a frame $13. England approved the crossing of the 38th parallel if necessary. Communist and Non-Communist Unions are on strike in France on busses, subways and railways. Wages are the issue. Prensa publisher Dr. Paz has fled the Peron police. Water Commissioner Moran resigned but O'Dwyer held his ground after the crime investigation revelations. Crane charged that Mayor Impellitteri and Police Chief Murphy had underworld ties. At the "Trenton Six' trial police witnesses gave testimony which demolished the prosecutor's case against the defendants leaving him "confused". At the spy trial defendant Julius Rosenberg denied all charges but refused to answer on his Communist connections on constitutional grounds. U.S. parachute troops dropped behind Chinese lines near Seoul cutting off thousands. Alger Hiss started his 5-year term. Mengelberg is dead at 79.

Mar 24 Lillian re-covered the folding chairs. MacArthur made a bid for a peace parley wih the "Communists". France raised basic wages from 18 to 21¢ in the face of widespread strikes. Film writer Paul Jarrico said he would defy the inquisitors at the Hollywood hearings. Truman was under pressure to oust O'Dwyer as Mexican Ambassador. Yesterday Lil and the kids had lunch at Madeline Gallins as it was Joyce's birthday. Kentucky won the NCAA over Kansas 68-58.