| Notes |
Edith never married. She had an exciting life as Chief Aide for Senator Hugh Scott of Pennsylvania (Sen. Scott was elected to the Senate in 1958 and re-elected in 1964 and 1970 by increasing majorities). She worked at this office in Washington D.C. She lives (Aug. 2001) in Pennsylvania in a retirement home.
Sen. Scott’s Secretary Is Actress
By John Koenig Jr. – Associated Press Special Service
WASHINGTON (AP) — Many of Washington’s government girls aspire to the theater but seldom does one come from New York’s Broadway to Washington. But Miss Edith Skinner, executive secretary to Sen. Hugh Scott, R-Pa., followed that route.
“Edie”, as she is known to friends, family and colleagues at the capitol, appeared in summer stock and little theaters before having her bing fling at a Broadway role. “I was working to become Broadway’s best character actress,” pretty, brown-eyed Miss Skinner says.
Her big chance came with the play, “Ivy Green”, a dramatized life of Charles Dickens. Miss Skinner had hopes of getting a starring role. She did win a spot as understudy to the star but the play lasted only a few weeks on Broadway.
This was 1952, the year of Dwight D. Eisenhower’s first presidential campaign. One day Miss Skinner strolled into the Citizens for Eisenhower headquarters in New York. She was promptly drafted for a new role — not in the theater, but working for Eisenhower for President.
Here she first met Scott. then a member of the House. And Scott. active himself in the Eisenhower campaign, was appreciative of the work done by Miss Skinner. Came election day and the end of Miss Skinner’s campaign work. “What are you going to do now?” she was asked by Scott. “I have always wanted to visit Paris. So I’ve decided to take a job over there for two years,” the actress-campaigner replied. “Don’t do it.” said Scott. “We want you in Washington.”
The upshot was that Miss Skinner was offered a post she couldn’t resist – secretary to Scott in his then House office. His former secretary had resigned.
Scott subsequently won election to the Senate and Miss Skinner continued as his aide. She has no regrets now about leaving the theater. “After all,” she said, “politics is about the closest thing you can get to the stage.” (source: The Evening Standard, 29 Sept. 1960).
Scott Aide Quits
Edith Skinner, Sen. Scott’s personal secretary throughout his Senate career, has retired to live on the Mediterranean island of Majorca. Miss Skinner went to work for Scott 21 years ago when he was a Philadelphia congressman (source: The Pittsburgh Press, 5 Aug. 1973).
Miss Skinner attended college in California and moved to New York, where ... Survivors include her sister, Alice Hulette of Arizona and five nephews.
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1916 - 2008 (92 years)
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