Former Secretaries of President Hoover Visit Their “Boss” in West Branch

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Four former secretaries of Preisdent Herbert Hoover want him to be remembered as a “big lovable pussycat.”

C.Y. Wilder, Jane Barry, Maureen D'Honau and Mary Lou Scanlon laid a wreath at the grave-site of the former president from Iowa earlier this week. All four of the woman served as secretaries to President Hoover in the late 1950's and early 60's.

“It really is awesome, it is very special to us,” said D'Honau.

“It was a marvelous opportunity to have a course in American history and get paid to take it,” said Scanlon.

The secretaries came together this week in West Branch from as far away as New York and San Francisco. In a series of events put on by the Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, the ladies spoke highly of the man they once called their boss.

“All that negative stuff you read forever, and here was this big lovable pussycat,” said Wlider. “When children would come to his office, he'd often root around in his desk to look for something to give a child.”

The secretaries took part in an annual dinner to honor President Hoover Friday night.