Office of the Historian

267. Telegram From the Embassy in Brazil to the Department of State1

Rio de Janeiro, April 29, 1959—5 p.m.

1509. For Acting Secretary, Henderson2 and Snow. President, Foreign Minister and members Kubitschek’s civil cabinet each separately brought up question of Mrs. Luce3 while I was at presidential office on farewell call this morning.4

President said he was frankly bewildered; did news mean she was coming or was not coming, and if former he hoped she would get here soonest because his economic situation deteriorating, he must have American help et cetera. He did not seem overly disturbed by Washington publicity and political turmoil.5

Foreign Minister evidently assumed that in view Henry Luce public statement,6 Mrs. Luce might resign—otherwise why would he have made statement.

Member civil household, with whom I spent twenty minutes between greeting President on way to receive credentials of new Cuban Ambassador and end that ceremony, was more explicit. He volunteered [Page 721] opinion that post-confirmation development, especially Henry Luce statement, might create difficult situation if Mrs. Luce comes. Gist of it was “We Latins take dim view of wives who disregard admonitions of husbands.” Likewise Time Empire, which unpopular in Latin America, undoubtedly a handicap.

To all three I said, pursuant telephone conversation with Henderson this morning, that I had no idea what Mrs. Luce would decide to do but that I assumed decision would be announced without delay.7

Briggs
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 123 Luce, Clare Boothe. Confidential; Niact; Limit Distribution.↩
  2. Loy W. Henderson.↩
  3. Clare Boothe Luce was appointed Ambassador to Brazil, April 28.↩
  4. Ambassador Briggs left Rio de Janeiro, May 2, and Woodruff Wallner assumed charge of the Embassy.↩
  5. Reference is to adverse reaction by certain Senators to a statement by Ambassador Luce critical of Senator Wayne Morse at a press conference on April 28, following her confirmation as Ambassador to Brazil. For the referenced statement, see Congressional Quarterly Almanac, 1959 (Washington, 1959), vol. XV, p. 670.↩
  6. Henry R. Luce issued a statement on April 28 referring to the Senate vote for confirmation as vindication of his wife but asking for her to offer her resignation because her usefulness as Ambassador had been jeopardized by the “vendetta” against her. For additional information, see ibid.↩
  7. Ambassador Luce’s letter of nonacceptance, April 20, was accepted by President Eisenhower on May 1.↩