Dans Papers - May 25, 2007 - The Ford-McDonnell "Wedding of the Century"

It started as a romantic fairy tale, with a young American prince and a beautiful, fair-haired maiden. They were two young Americans crossing the ocean in luxury while coming back from Europe -- one from perhaps one of the most famous families in the United States, the other from a prominent family from the Village of Southampton. The story of Henry Ford II and Anne McDonnell is the stuff Hamptons lore is made of.

They met on this luxury ocean crossing liner in 1936. Henry Ford II, the son of Edsel Ford and grandson of Henry Ford, was coming back to attend Yale University after completing prep school at the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut and taking a celebration trip to Europe. He was a touch overweight and never looked quite right, even in his best attire. She was an angular beauty whose grandfather was the utility tycoon Thomas E. Murray. They both were leaving Europe, which was poised for the second great World War, but the only explosions they cared about were the ones they felt whenever they saw each other.

Their wedding, on July 13 in 1940, was the social event of the season in Southampton. In fact, it was called "The Wedding of the Century." The guest list read like a Who's Who of the social set in America, let alone Southampton. Henry Ford, the patriarch of the Ford Family, was there with his son Edsel, his wife, Josephine, and their family, which included the groom, Henry's brothers Benson Ford and William Clay Ford. They all made the journey from Detroit in Henry Ford's personal railroad car. To this day, many recall seeing it parked at the Southampton Long Island Railroad station during that wonderful week.

Even though the Fords were Methodist, the wedding was a Catholic ceremony, officiated by then Msgr. Fulton Sheen, who later became the famous Catholic TV Cardinal. Henry Ford II actually converted to the Roman Catholic Church to marry the Catholic Anne McDonnell. Her family was thrilled about that.

One Southampton local, Herbie Edwards, remembers how that weekend in 1940 was very hot and the septic system at the McDonnell homestead backed up, adding a severe unpleasantness to the event. Herbie and his brother, Swede, both caddied for Henry Ford at National Golf Links.

While serving in the Navy during the Second World War, Henry IIs father, Edsel, died. President Franklin D. Roosevelt relieved Henry II from the Navy himself so that, at age 25, he could take the reins of the Ford Motor Company. His grandfather gave Henry II his blessing and the young Ford managed to save the ailing Ford Motor Company.

Years later, the marriage dissolved as Henry Ford II or "Hank the Deuce," as he was known, was caught in having various affairs. Once after being arrested for driving under the influence with another woman, Hank the Deuce gave out his famous lines -- "Never explain and never complain." As part of the divorce, Henry gave Anne the Southampton property. Henry and Anne had two daughters, Anne and Charlotte, also a son Edsel. The daughters still maintain properties in Southampton. In fact, daughter Charlotte has been married to Greek shipping tycoon Stavros Niarchos, Anthony Frostmann and, last August 7, she married Edward Downe, Jr. That wedding took place in Southampton.

Their other daughter, Anne, serves as Chairman Emerita for the National Center for Learning Disabilities. She lives in New York City. She was married to Gianni Uzielli, and they have a daughter. Her brother, Edsel Ford, lives in Michigan with his wife and four children.

Henry Ford II never actually graduated from Yale. But he did run the Ford Motor Company from 1945 until 1960. He died in 1987. Anne McDonnell Ford Johnson died in 1996. She always was a pleasant presence in Southampton and her grace and elegance were admired by many in the village. The Southampton home, which Anne lived in while growing up actually tumbled into the Atlantic during a storm in 1992. The McDonnell property is owned by members of the Ford family to this day.

So the fairy tale story of the Marriage of the Century did not end with the phrase, "they lived happily ever after," but it did have its moments. The young prince and the fair-haired maiden married and played during the summer seasons in Southampton. The social events, the rounds of golf at the National, the children swimming in the ocean and the cool, oceanside parties were their reality. As F. Scott Fitzgerald once said, "the rich are different." Yet, as one local said, "the summer season life of luxury in Southampton will always remain the same."