1/18-1/24/53

Jan 18 Sunday Barry Gray was slugged for the second time in 5 months. Behind the scenes fight manager "Frankie" Carbo was arrested for defying the crime investigation.

Jan 19 A thousand convicts rioted in a Pittsburgh prison in a protest against conditions. East German police raided homes of Jews looking for "Zionist spies." Bulgaria arrested 10 U.S. spies. Guatemala's left wing regime won the election although several anti-communists were elected.

Jan 20 As Madeline and her kids and Sylvia and I watched the inauguration of Eisenhower, Lillian was examined by Dr Holzman for a back ache. He thought it was a sprained sacro-iliac. He strapped her up, told her to sleep on a board do no pushing or lifting, wear a tight girdle and take the strapping off Saturday morning. I had gone with Lillian but came home to see to Sylvia as it was raining and she still has a running nose. The State Crime Comm. spotlighted waterfront union local 920 where union leaders got lavish funds without accounting. They also got presents from shipping companies.

Jan 21 Lillian felt better today. Bulgaria sentenced one to death and nine to prison terms as U.S. spies. Jim Line & Walter Hirsch testified as to Spivey's complicity in point shaving in Kentucky basketball.

Jan 22 All 13 second team Communists were convicted of conspiring to teach and advocate the overthrow [of] the gov't by force and violence. The verdict came after seven days of deliberation by the jury after a 9 1/2 month trial. Miss Ruth Crawford was ousted by the U.N. after admission of C.P. membership for one year. The new Cabinet confirmed by the Senate: J F Dulles - Sec'y of State, Geo. Humphrey - Sec'y of Treasury, H. Brownell - Att'y Gen'l, A S [sic] Summerfield - P.M., Doug McKay - Sec'y of Interior, Ezra T Benson - Sec'y of Agriculture, S. Weeks - Sec'y of Commerce, M P Durkin - Sec'y of Labor, Mrs. O. C. Hobby - Fed. Sec. Admin. The nomination of Chas Wilson, Pres. on leave of G.M.was contested as he holds retains his stock in the company. Al Simmons and Dizzy Dean made the Hall of Fame. Eugene awoke at 4:30 AM and vomited. Later he complained of a stomach ache. His temp. was 99.4° at 8:30 AM, 100.2° at 10:30 AM and 101° at 11:30 AM. He also felt better. However his temp. began to rise and Dr Holzman came. He diagnosed a virus affecting the neck gland. Eugene was put on a liquid diet, gargling, iodex to the neck, neo-synephrin, aureomycin capsules. He also got a penicillin shot. 
We had to call off the Bar Mitzvah until next Friday and Lillian notified everyone by phone. 

Jan 23 Eugene's temp was down to normal. He won a chess game from me. Lillian felt ill in the morning as a result of yesterday's ordeal but improved later. Mike came over with half of the tremendous Bar Mitzvah cake which Evelyn had baked. The Robbs also came up to see how Eugene was. Charles Wilson agreed to sell his GM stock to become Sec'y of Defense.

I remember the Bar Mitzvah cake very well. My Aunt Evelyn was known for her baking; I remember lying in bed, and being shown this gigantic sheet cake, made to look like (half of) a book, and being told that it was only half of the cake which she had made. 

Jan 24 Eugene's temp was normal all day. We had musical contests, crossword puzzles "go to the head of the class". Sylvia made pot holders for the girl scouts' bazaar. Former Rep Eaton is dead at 84.