Helen Lombard, born Helen Cassin Carusi and later known as Helen Carusi Vischer (1904–1986) was an American journalist, best known for her insider's book of Washington gossip, ''Washington Waltz'' (1941).

Background

Medal_of_Lieutenant_Stephen_Cassin_MET_LC-83_2_380-001

Helen Cassin Carusi was born in 1904 in Washington, DC. Her father, Charles Francis Carusi, was chancellor of

National University A national university is mainly a university created or managed by a government, but which may also at the same time operate autonomously without direct control by the state. Some national universities are associated with national cultural or po ...

and a member of the Washington DC board of education. Her great-grandfather was

Stephen Cassin Stephen Cassin (16 February 1783 – 29 August 1857) was an officer in the United States Navy during the First Barbary War and the War of 1812. Early life and military career Born in Philadelphia, the son of naval officer John Cassin, Cassin en ...

(1783–1857), a

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

officer during the

First Barbary War The First Barbary War (1801–1805), also known as the Tripolitan War and the Barbary Coast War, was a conflict during the Barbary Wars, in which the United States and Sweden fought against Tripolitania. Tripolitania had declared war against Sw ...

and the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It bega ...

. Lombard attended

Holton-Arms School Holton-Arms is an independent college-preparatory school for girls in grades 3–12, located in Bethesda, Maryland. As of the 2021–22 school year, there were 667 students and 94 faculty. Since 2007, Susanna Jones has been Head of School. The s ...

Career

In 1913, young Helen Cassin Carusi christened the USS Cassin (DD-43). In 1935, she christened the USS Cassin (DD-372). In 1951, after marrying Peter Vischer, husband and wife moved to the "Habre de Venture" historic house in

Port Tobacco Port Tobacco, officially Port Tobacco Village, is a town in Charles County, in southern Maryland, United States. The population was 13 at the 2010 census, making Port Tobacco the smallest incorporated town in Maryland. Overview This was historical ...

and raised thoroughbred horses in

Charles County, Maryland Charles County is a county in Southern Maryland. As of the 2020 census, the population was 166,617. The county seat is La Plata. The county was named for Charles Calvert (1637–1715), third Baron Baltimore. Charles County is part of the Wash ...

Personal life and death

In 1927 Helen Cassin Carusi married Colonel Emanuel Eugene Lombard, a French diplomat (military attache) who died in 1946; they had a son, Charles Francis Lombard. By 1947, she had married Washington columnist Constantine Brown, but they divorced. In 1951, she married Peter Vischer, a former Army colonel and State Department official (died 1967); he had a daughter from a previous marriage, Joanna Vischer Brown. Lombard was a member of the

Daughters of the American Revolution The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a lineage-based membership service organization for women who are directly descended from a person involved in the United States' efforts towards independence. A non-profit group, they promote ...

, the Society of Daughters of 1812, the Charles County Children's Aid Society, and the Charles County Garden Club. In 1977, Lombard moved to the Charles County Nursing Home in

La Plata, Maryland La Plata is a town in Charles County, Maryland, United States. The population was 10,159 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Charles County. History According to an unconfirmed local story, the town was named by one Colonel Samuel Chapm ...

, where, known as Helen C. Vischer, she died age 81 on May 11, 1986.

Legacy

On March 31, 1947, conservative US Representative

George Anthony Dondero George Anthony Dondero (December 16, 1883 – January 29, 1968) was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan. Background Dondero was born on a farm in Greenfield Township, Michigan, which has since become part of ...

called Lombard herself (by then, "Mrs. Brown") "one of the best known women in Washington, herself a scribe of wide experience, brilliant author of a book entitled ''Washington Waltz''... nd''While They Fought''."

Works

Lombard published two books: ''Washington Waltz'', which recounted her life as a Washington hostess, and ''While They Fought'', which recounted events during World War II. The liberal ''

New Yorker New Yorker or ''variant'' primarily refers to: * A resident of the State of New York ** Demographics of New York (state) * A resident of New York City ** List of people from New York City * ''The New Yorker'', a magazine founded in 1925 * ''The New ...

'' deemed ''While They Fought'' "rather untidy" and largely "undocumented," while the conservative ''

Human Events ''Human Events'' is an American conservative political news and analysis website. Founded in 1944 as a print newspaper, ''Human Events'' became a digital-only publication in 2013. ''Human Events'' takes its name from the first sentence of the Un ...

'' found it "valuable." ''While They Fought'' came out no later than March 1947, when Representative Dondero mentioned it publicly. ;Books * ''Washington Waltz'' (1941) * ''While They Fought'' (1947)

References