Evening star. [volume], April 13, 1945, Page A-5, Image 5

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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Chief Executive Participated
In History-Making Conferences
(Continued From Page 'A-4.I
understanding between Mr. McAdoo
and Mr. Farley, was unanimously
chosen as candidate for Vice Presi
dent.
Returning to Albany for the New
York State Democratic Party Conven
tion, he met and shook hands with
his estranged friend, former Gov.
Smith. It was generally supposed
that their mutual interest in the
nomination of Herbert H. Lehman
for Governor was responsible for the
“burying of the hatchet.” Mr. Smith
subsequently made a series of speeches
In behalf of the national ticket.
Credit for Mr. Roosevelt’s political
success must be given, not only to Mr.
Farley, but also to Louis Howe, a
newspaperman who had been his in
timate friend and adviser since war
days. Mr. Roosevelt enjoyed an
easy relationship with news writers.
The correspondents who accompanied
him on his 1920 travels formed a per
manent club and annually dined to
gether on his birthday.
A week before the election political
observers forecast Mr. Roosevelt’s
victory. Their judgment was sus
tained by the people at the polls No
vember 8. The Democrats carried
42 States—all but Connecticut, Dela
ware, Maine. New Hampshire. Penn
sylvania and Vermont. Mr. Roose
velt had 472 electoral votes, Mr.
Hoover only 59.
Mr. Roosevelt established a new
precedent, when, before proceeding to
the Capitol to take the oath of office,
he attended divine service at St.
John's Church with his family and
close friends. At the White House
he did not leave his car. Mr. Hoover
rode with him up Pennsylvania ave
nue and both men were warmly greet
ed by the throngs along the curbs.
On March 5 the President, his wife
and mother, with other members of
his family, attended St. Thomas'
Church. In the afternoon a cabinet
meeting was held and early in the
evening, it was announced later, that
because of the stringency of the bank
ing situation Mr. Roosevelt had pro
claimed a moratorium on the ship
ment of gold and closed the banks
of the rountrv for a period of four
days. It also was announced that
Congress would be called into session
on March 9.
Congress appropriated billions of
dollars for "relief and recovery” and
President Roosevelt was given full
authority to spend it to the best ad- ^
vantage in meeting the unemploy-!
ment and business crises.
Through it all the President main
tained his characteristic calm, and his
supporters began to lay the ground
work for his re-election. Roosevelt
is said to have entertained no doubts
at any time as to his selection by the
people for a second term in the While
House.
The conflict in views between Presi
dent Roosevelt and a majority of the
Supreme Court as to what could be
done under the Constitution by na
tional legislation designed to change
economic and social conditions then
precipitated one of the major con
troversies in American history.
Time after time the high tribunal
decreed that New' Deal legislation
violated the basic law and ipust be
discarded. Less frequently, the court
sided with the President.
The storm over the Supreme Court
broke with sudden fury on February
5. 1937, when President Roosevelt
asked Congress to enact legislation
giving him authority to name six ad
ditional justices of the court if in
cumbents past 70 refused to retire.
He asked permission to pursue a
similar plan for "infusion of new
Mood" in lower courts and to instruct
procedural reforms.
Five days after announcement of
the President's plan the House passed
a bill permitting Supreme Court
justices to retire on full pay at 70,
after serving 10 years on the bench.
Shortly thereafter Senator Wheeler,
Democrat, of Montana joined the op
position to the President's plan. He
became one of the leaders in the
fight.
Vice President Garner on July 20.
1937. advised Mr. Roosevelt of the
Senate's Irreconcilable opposition to
the bill. After a second visit from
Mr. Garner and other leaders the
President was reported ready to com
promise.
The Senate voted. 70 to 20, to re
rommit the bill to the Senate Judiciary
Committee on July 22, thus interring
the measure and bringing to an end
one of the bitterest congressional
executive battles of modern times.
Cheap Power Seen Emptying Cities.
Belief that the Government should!
not "part with its sovereignty and con
trol over its power resources" was
basic with Roosevelt. That would not
happen, he said, while he was Presi
dent.
He thought it essential that rates be
reduced and that if the power com
panies failed to solve the problem the
Government itself should step in.
Thus TVA, Grand Coulee, Bon-J
neville. Casper-Alcova and other Gov
ernment dams were to be "yardsticks”
to determine a fair cost of producing
power.
Roosevelt believed that his power
program had evolved naturally out of
scientific progress, that scientists had
found the means whereby to develop
natural resources and that it W'as es
sential to use these resources to the
best advantage.
Prophetically, the blue eagle, when
it, was designed to symbolize NRA,
held a shaft of lightning in one claw.
Together with AAA, the NRA!
machinery was to form the pair of j
goal posts through which Roosevelt I
hoped to.carry the ball of recovery to!
a touchdown. AAA was to raise
farm income. NRA was to do the
same for city workers.
The two plans burst like summer
lightning on Washington a few weeks
after President Roosevelt took office,
crackled in and out of official councils
for a little more than two years and
then faded from the sky, overcome by
adverse fSupreme Court rulings.
When President Roosevelt was in
augurated on March 4, 1933, the ooun
try was faced with a critical condition
of unemployment. Estimates of the
total varied from around 12,000,000
upward and the American Federation
of Labor said its statistics showed
that 15.653.000 men were out of work.
By May 12, 1933, Congress had
passed an act creating the Federal
Emergency Relief Administration to
"aid the States in meeting the cost
of furnishing relief, and in relieving
the hardship and suffering caused by
unemployment."
An appropriation of $500,000,000
w'as made and the youthful and dy
namic Harry L. Hopkins, destined to
be a storm center throughout the
Roosevelt administration, was chosen
to administer the act.
In mid-November of 1933 there was
launched the swiftly-moving Civil
Works Administration program to give
an immediate and large amount of
work in a wide variety of fields. Con
gress appropriated $950,000,000, of
which $802,699,271 had been expended
A
when CWA suspended operations in
the spring of 1934,
Accordingly, on May 6, 1935, the
Works Progress Administration was
established by executive order of the
President, charged with the "honest,
efficient, speedy and co-ordinated exe
cution of the work relief program as
a whole, and for the execution of that
program in such a manner as to move
from relief rolls to work on such proj
ects or in private employment the
maximum number of persons in the
shortest time possible.”
Congress appropriated $4,880,000,000
for the purpose and Hopkins was made
WPA administrator.
1 Meanwhile, working simultaneously
on another front under the direction
' of Harold L. Ickes, as administrator,
was the Public Works Administration,
j set up originally under NRA and con
tinued by the Emergency Relief Ap
propriation Act of 1935. As explained
by President Roosevelt at PWA's birth:
"The object is to spread those pub
lic works relatively in proportion to
the need in the various parts of the
country, and to get people started on
work which will use the largest per
centage of actual labor and the small
est percentage of expenditures that
do not go into labor.”
When President Roosevelt took of
fice in March, 1933, the general finan
cial troubles of the day had so seri
ously affected home owners that by
June, 1933, foreclosures on mortgages
were forcing a thousand families a
day out of their homes. The problem
which faced Roosevelt was not only
one of (saving the mortgaged homes
but stopping the nose-dive of real
estate values, and of strengthening the
financial houses which held the de
linquent mortgages.
His first move was to request the
act creating the Home Owners' Loan
Corporation. The bill passed Con
gress almost unanimously and became
law June 13. 1933, permitting Gov
ernment loaning on mortgaged homes
through June 12, 1936.
Huilding Loans Insured.
By June 27, 1934. Roosevelt was
ready to aid new building and repairs
through the National Housing Act.
which created the Federal Housing
Administration under the direction of
James Moffett, formerly of the Stand
ard Oil Co.
Much criticism of the Roosevelt ad
ministration. Democratic as well as
Republican, was directed at its spend
ing policies, especially those coming
under the "pump priming" or emer
gency classification.
Federal expenditures from March,
1933, to June 30. 1936, were more
than $25,000,000,000. Of this, almost
$12,000,000,000 came under the emer
gency headings of recovery and relief.
The deficit rose sharply.
In his first months in the White
House the President made a deter
mined move toward economy. Six
days after he was inaugurated he
sought authority to carry out the
Democratic platform pledge of a 25
tier cent reduction in governmental
expenditures.
"We must move with a direct and
resolute purpose now," he said. "The
members of the Congress and I are
pledged to immediate economy."
Congress empowered him to read
just within 15 per cent the pay of
Federal workers; to reduce war veter
ans' compensation, and to co-ordinate
or abolish Federal bureaus In addi
tion. Congress slashed regular depart
mental appropriations.
Widespread business paralysis put
an end to economy. Costs mounted.
The spending of vast sums for relief
and creation of emergency agencies
was considered necessary by the ad
ministration.
After the 1934 elections, in which
New Deal Democrats for the most
part won. Roosevelt moved even more
energetically to combat the depression
and Government participation in
social and unemployment problems
increased.
Criticism of the tremendous expen
ditures was not confined to Republi
cans. Many influential Democrats
were outspoken in their condemna
tion of "pump priming" and some of
them declined to support Roosevelt in
1936. He was taunted with reminders
that his 1932 platform advocated "im
mediate and drastic reduction of
governmental expenditures."
President Roosevelt, however, re
mained firmly convinced of the sound
ness of his policies.
Unanimous Renomination.
Despite considerable pre-convention
activity against renomination of Pres-:
ident Roosevelt, by the time the Dem
ocrats assembled in their Philadelphia
convention June 23, 1936, it was con
ceded he would be the overwhelming
choice of his party.
The attitude of the outstanding New
Deal dissenters was made known on the
eve of the convention. In a joint
statement, timed for publication just1
one day before the start. Smith, former
Gov. Joseph B. Ely of Massachusetts,
former Senator James A. Reed of Mis-[
souri, former Secretary of State Bain-)
bridge Colby and former State Su
preme Court Justice Daniel F. Coha
lan of New York demanded the "put- j
ting aside of Franklin D. Roosevelt
and the substitution of some genuine
Democrat."
Farley and his aides, however, had
so perfected their convention organ
ization that at no time was their su
premacy in doubt. For five days
everything moved with clockwork pre
\ cLsion.
Delegates for the most part spent
: their time cheering and parading
around the convention hall, marking
time until the fourth day when Presi
dent Roosevelt was renominated unani
mously on the first ballot. Vice Presi
dent Garner was renominated the next
morning and the convention adjourned
to await the President’s acceptance
speech, Saturday, June 27.
The acceptance ceremony had been
prearranged by New Dealers as the:
; climax of the Philadelphia convention.
Under threatening skies, 100,000 per
: sons gathered on Franklin Field to
hear the President. He was accorded
an ’’ovation such as few men in mod
ern times have received,” stated one
observer.
Walking across the stage to grasp
the hand of Vice President Garner,
their two linked arms rose high ac
knowledging the cheers of the crowd.
Then the President swung into his
speech.
"We meet at a time of great mo
ment,” he said. “America will not for
1 get these recent years. We feared fear.
Today we have conquered fear. But I
cannot, with candor, tell you that all
is well with the world.”
G. O. P. Wins Two States.
When the November elections
rolled around, only two States,
Maine and Vermont, cast their votes
for the ticket headed by Mr. Landon,
whose running mate was the late
Frank Knox of Chicago, later to be
come wartime Secretary of the Navy.
Mr. Roosevelt told his rain
drenched inauguration throng that
1933.
—Underwood Photo.
1945.
—AP Photo, j
his second administration would en
deavor to blot out the "cancers” of
economic injustice.
He had been the first President
to be inaugurated on the new date
of January 20.
President Roosevelt not only
wanted to reorganize the Supreme
Court in 1937. He wanted a law to
set a rigid bottom for wages and a
top for working hours. He wanted
to revamp the governmental estab
lishment.
Agencies Lumped Together.
He sent his initial request for re
organization authority to Congress
on January 12. 193 i. He submitted
the report of a orcsidential com
mittee recommending, among other
things, the lumping together of more
than 100 existing Ffderal agencies
into 12 regular departments, and
the creation of two new cabinet
places—social welfare and public
works. He also proposed that the
office of Controller General be con
verted into an auditor generalship,
responsible to Congress only for the
auditing of governmental outlays
after they were made, and that the
Attorney General take over other
of the office's functions.
Bitter Battles.
As sent to the White House on
March 29. 1939, after one of the
most prolonged and bitter battles
in Congress during the Roosevelt
administration, the reorganization
bill provided that presidential re
organization orders should become
effective automatical!/ within 60
days of their submission to Congress
unless both Senate and House
turned them down within that
period.
The original prooosais for cre
ation of a new department of wel
fare and for remodeling the Civil
Service Commission and the Gen
eral Accounting Office were omitted,
and such quasi-judicial bureaus as
the Interstate Commerce Commis
sion were exempted from the re
organization program.
Mr. Roosevelt promptly merged
welfare, works and lending func
tions into three new agencies, pre
dicted this step would increase effi
ciency and save $15,000,000 to $20.
000,000 a year, and announced other
changes which he estimated would
result in an annual saving of $1,
250.000.
The legislative battles reflected
the rising opposition in the Demo
cratic party to the Roosevelt pro
gram. More than that. They caught
in their depths a light strong
enough to cast shadows across and
beyond the 1938 congressional cam
paign.
Mr. Roosevelt, save for cautiously
extended indorsements of favorite
liberals, had refrained from active
participation in the primary cam
paigns during his first five years
in the White House. He maintained
this attitude until after the June
primary in Iowa in 1938, although
he defended the right of Harry L.
Hopkins, his relief administrator,
to indorse a favored candidate. The
man whom Mr. Hopkins indorsed
lost, and Senator Guy Gillette, a
Democrat who had voted against
the Supreme Court change, was re
nominated and re-elected.
Late in June the President went
to the radio and told the Nation in
a "fireside talk” that he felt he had
every right to speak his mind in
those few instances where there
might be a clear issue between can
didates for a Democratic nomina
tion involving the "definitely liberal
declaration of principles set forth
in the 1936 Democratic platform.”
or involving "a clear misuse of my
name.” »
Beaten in Five States.
From that time until the votes
were counted the following No
vember, he was up to his ears in
the campaign. He traveled across
the continent and advocated the
renomination of his supporters in
Kentucky, Ohio, Arkansas, Okla
homa and California. That was
the first stage.
Before his return to Washington,
he entered upon the "purge'’ proper.
At Barnesville, Georgia, he urged
the defeat of the veteran Demo
cratic Senator, Walter F. George.
Similarly, in South Carolina, he
wanted the' Democrats to drop
Senator Ellison D. Smith; in Mary
land, he opposed Senator Millard
Tydings, and in New York he called
for the defeat of Representative
John O'Connor. The latter, as
chairman of the House Rules Com
mittee, had helped to delay action
on the wage and hour bill.
In Ohio and California, the can
didates he had indorsed were de
feated. Georgia, South Carolina
and Maryland also rejected his ad
vice and sent their Senators back.
His candidate won over Representa
tive O'Connor in New York.
But the bitterness of that "purge
campaign’’ was destined to affect
the Democratic party vitally in the
next session of Congress and make
itself a strong factor in the 1940
election.
He took office in 1933 with com
paratively little trouble on the in
ternational horizon. Before his sec
ond term ended he had witnessed
the remaking of the political maps
of Europe, Africa and Asia under
the pressure of war or threats of
war.
Arsenals Opened.
The general course of action was
fairly well determined when war
broke in Europe in September, 1939.
The doors of America's arsenals,
few and thinly stocked though they
were, were opened to England and
France. Slowly this country’s great
military and naval expansions were
Stunned Leaders of Nation
Emphasize Call to 'Carry On'
Statements of leaders mourning
the death of President Roosevelt:
Former President Herbert Hoover—
The Nation sorrows at the passing
of its President. Whatever differ
ences there may have been, they end
| in the regret of death. It is fortunate
I that in this great crisis of war our
'armies and navies are under such
magnificent leadership that we shall
not hesitate. The new President
will have the backing of the country.
While we mourn Mr. Roosevelts
death, we shall march forward.
Gov. Thomas E. Dewey of New
York—It remains for all of us to
preserve and strengthen our national
unity in waging the war to total,
uncompromising victory over all our
enemies.
Coming to leadership of the Nation
at a critical period in our economic
life he (President Roosevelt i brought
his courage and indomitable spirit
to the task of meeting the most
difficult ot national problems, inspir
ing the people with fresh confidence
and establishing basic liberal re
forms.
Former Secretary of State Cordell
Hull—No greater tragedy could have
befallen our country and the world
at this time. His inspiring vision,
his high statesmanship and his
superb leadership were factors with
out which the United Nations could
not have come to the present phase
of the war with victory just in sight,
i Secretary of State Stettinius—A
great tragedy has come to America
and to the world. A great leader
has passed on into history at an
hour when he was sorely needed.
1 Once before in an hour of na
tional crisis our country suffered
such a loss. Like Abraham Lincoln,
Franklin Delano Roosevelt has
truly given his life that America
might live and freedom be upheld.
Like him. he piloted our country
with his wisdom and courage safely
through the iirkest perils almost
to the shore of security and peace.
Now he is gone. There are no words
which can express the depth of the
sorrow that all Americans feel.
As we face the future we can
draw from our grief the living
memory of that unshakeable courage
with which our great President met
every personal and national danger.
No man ever had a deeper and
stronger faith In America. In that
faith he died. In that faith and
with that spirit of courage we must
carrv on.
Gen. George C. Marshall, Army
Chief of Staff—We have lost a great t
leader. His far-seeing wisdom in'
military counsel has been a constant,
source of courage to all of us who
have worked side by side with him
from the dark days of the war's be
ginning. No tribute from the Army:
could be so eloquent as the hourly
record of the victories of the past!
few weeks.
Senate Majority Leader Barkley:
—The President's death is one of the
greatest tragedies that has hap
pened to our Nation or to the world.’
! In our grief, we must gird our joins
and press forward to the goals
which he set for us.
Chairman Connally of the Senate
Foreign Affairs Committee—The |
death of President Roosevelt is a
tremendous loss to the United
States and to the world. • • • People
of the world who dreamed of a suc
cessful termination of war and
i erection of machinery for perma
nent peace and security will shed
tears at his untimely death.
Secretary of War Stimson: We
' have last a great President and a
great commander in chief. Through
out these years of crisis, when the
Nation was plunged into war by
powerful enemies, the faith and
dauntless courage of Franklin Roose-j
started, the Western Hemisphere's |
insulating neutrality zone was
j created and the Act of Havana
turned the historic Monroe Doctrine
j of hemisphere defense into a Pan
American pact.
I But it took German victories In
Norway, Denmark, Holland, Bel
j gium and finally France to stir the
j country to the point at which Mr.
Roosevelt was reported to feel free
j to take decisive steps.
In May, 1940, one of the blitz
krieg months, he created the Na
tional Defense Council, which later
was supplanted by the Office of
Production Management, calling
into the Government William S.
Knudsen. General Motors president;
Sidney Hillman, the labor leader,
and many other top-flight men.
Later he set up mediation ma
chinery intended to prevent labor
disputes from tying up defense
production.
Third-Term Question.
While Europe blazed throughout
the early months of 1940, the great
political question here was ‘ What
j about the third term?” The ad
1 ministration had produced no leader
who obviously qualified in all re
spects to inherit the Roosevelt pres
tige and carry on the program. If
the Democrats wanted to win, the
! argument ran, they would have to
i‘‘draft Roosevelt.”
It was no surprise to anybody,
therefore, when the Democratic con
vention, meeting in Chicago, re
nominated Mr. Roosevelt. More sur
prising because hardly expected at
all was Mr. Roosevelt's choice of
his Secretary of Agriculture, Henry
Agard Wallace of Iowa, to be vice
presidential nominee.
Even the outbreak of war found
him still expressing hope for peace,
velt have never faltered, nor .has
the broad vision with which he sup
ported his military commanders ever
failed. He believed unswervingly
that right and the strength of free
nations would triumph over the
evils of despotism. The American
people have upheld his faith.
The friendly warmth of his spirit
has been an inspiration to soldiers
of all ranks, an encouragement in
dark days, a reward in time of vic
tory. We shall do him no greater
honor than to press on now with
every last resource of our strength
to the day of final triumph.
William Green, president of the
AFL: President Roosevelt gave his
life for his country. It is now the
pressing duty of every one of us to
carry’ on to a successful conclusion
the two great goals on which he had
set his heart—the winning of the
war and the establishment of a last
ing and just peace. This is the
most fitting memorial we can build
to the great humanitarian who will
forever be regarded by the men
and women of labor as a true friend
and champion.
Senator Vandenberg. Republican,
of Michigan—President Roosevelt
leaves an imperishable imprint on
the history of America and the
world. Those who disagree with
him have always recognized his
amazing genius in behalf of his al
ways vigorous ideals.
Senator Taft, Republican, of Ohio
—The death of President Roosevelt
removes the greatest figure of our;
time at the very climax rf his
career, and shocks a world to which
his words and actions were more
important than those of any other
man.
Senator White of Maine, Republi
can floor leader—The news is
tragic. A great leader of our people
and of W’orld thought and effort has
gone.
James M. Cox, former Governor
of Ohio and Democratic presiden
tial candidate—The saddest thing
of it all is that death had to deny
to the President the hour of what
would have been his two greatest
triumphs—victory to our arms and
lasting peace ior the peoples of the
earth. He was so much a part of
both and carried them so near to
completion that history will ascribe
them largely to his genius and hu
manity.
Philip Murray, president of the
CIO-The Nation and the world
have lost a great leader and a great
soldier and labor its noblest friend.
Alf M. Landon, 1936 Republican
presidential nominee—It is tragic
he eoula not have lived to see the
fruition of his greatest undertaking.
Norman Thomas, Socialist presi
dential ca'ndidate in the last five elec
tions—I heard the news of Presi
dent Roosevelt's sudden doath with
sorrow and a sense of shock that
most of the world will share. It Is
too early to appraise his many
achievements in domestic policy and
.in the world relations of the United
\ States.
Mayor i.a uuaraia oi xxew xurs—
It is the greatest loss the peace
loving nations of the world have
suffered in the entire war. The
shock is so great that it is extremely
difficult for one to realize fully wrhat
has happened. There is only one
thing we can all do as good Ameri
cans—to pay adequate tribute to
this war casualty—and that is to
unite in carrying out his ideals for
world justice and permanent peace.
Former Postmaster General James
A. Farley—The death of President
Roosevelt is. of course, a shock to
me as it will be to all Americans
and to millions throughout the
world who have looked to him for
leadership during these trying times.
He has served as President of
but then as the contest grew more
intense and force by arms began
to make Germany master of Eu
rope, France fell and the very ex
istence of the British Empire was
challenged, the tone of his utter
ances became stronger.
Mr. Roosevelt was 58 when he
took the oath for the third term.
Then came the war.
Interests Outside Politics.
Mr. Roosevelt had numerous non
political interests. He was a member
of the Hudson Fulton Celebration
Commission, 1909: of the Plattsburg
Centennial Commission, 1913, and of
the National Commission of the Pan
ama Pacific Exposition, 1915. He was
an overseer of Harvard University
from 1918 to 1924, and also served as
trustee of Vassar College, St. Ste
phen’s College, Cornell University, the
Woodrow Wilson Foundation and the
Seamen’s Institute. He was president
of the Boy Scout Foundation of New
York City, and in 1917 he established
the Georgia Warm Springs Founda
tion, endowing the latter with an in
surance policy on his life in the
amount of $500,000.
He was a member of the Naval His
tory Society, the- New York Historical
Society, the Holland Society, Alpha
Delta Phi and Phi Beta Kappa. He
was a Mason.
Mr. Roosevelt was a loyal communi
cant of the Protestant Episcopal
Church and gave largely of his lei
sure and means in the advancement
of the religious, educational and social
enterprises of that denomination. ‘He
was deeply interested in the cam
paign to complete the Cathedral of
St. John the Divine, in New York,
and signified on many occasions his
good will toward Washington Cathe
dral.
Mr. Roosevelt was the ninth Epis
copalian to attain the presidency.
the United States during the most
momentous years in the Nation's
history’. The fact that he was
elected four times, breaking all
precedent, is evidence of the confi
dence that has been reposed in
him by so many millions of our
citizens. It was that confidence
which made it possible for him to
give inspiring leadership during this
trying period.
James F. Byrnes, former director
of war mobilization—It is a world
tragedy.
Joseph P. Kennedy, former Am
bassador to London—A greater love
hath no man than he who gives his
life for his country. As a member
of President Roosevelt's official
family for many years, I know that
he felt that justice had been vio
lated seriously bv this war, and he
had dedicated his life that the
grave injuries to states and inhabi
tants should be rectified.
President Charles Seymour of
Yale University—The death of the
President is a body blow to America.
He has led us through the most
serious crisis of our history. He has
united our Nation in the defense of
freedom. Our best tribute to him
is to continue united in the in
ternational ideals of which he was
leader.
Secretary of the Treasury Morgen
thau—It has been my privilege to
have served him for two years
in Albany and for over 12 years
here in Washington, and I know
what a really great man he was.
He, more than any one person, is
responsible, in my opinion, for the
successful conduct of this terrible
war against the aggressor nations.
Secretary of the Interior Ickes—
We have been fortunate, during the
world crisis, to have given to civil
ization and the world the greatest
leader in the history of our coun
try. We know what his ideals were
President Truman will take up
where President Roosevelt left off.
All of us will help him to accom
plish the objectives and realize the
ideals of the great general who has
gone down facing the enemy.
Secretary of Commerce Wallace—
America and the world must and
will carry on. We bow in prayer for
that gallant world citizen who so un
erringly acted to save democracy.
Behind and with President Truman
we shall go forward into victory and
peace.
Robert E. Hannegan, chairman of
the Democratic National Commit
tee—As surely as any soldier in the
field, he gave his life unselfishly for
his country. • • * the principles
for which he stood and fought will
never die. They will go marching
on triumphantly * • * under the
knowing and able leadership of
President Truman.
Herbert H. Lehman, director gen
eral of the UNRRA—Indefatigable
and without thought of self, he sac
rificed his life in the service of his
iellow men.
Soviet Ambassador Andrei A. Gro
myko—One of the greatest statesmen
the world has ever known. The
Soviet people share this great na
tional grief which has befallen the
friendly American people. Mr.
Roosevelt could distinguish true
| friends as well as real enemies. He
knew the value of unity of great
| Allied powers and its importance for
victory.
Hritisn Ambassador Halifax—witn
the American Nation, the British i
people will mourn the passing of one
who has guided the Allied forces so
far and so well on the road to vie- j
tory.
Jesse Jones, former Secretary of
Commerce—We were not prepared
for the shock of President Roose
velt's death. * * • But the Nation,
true to its tradition, will carry on
and support President Harry Tru
man in bringing the war to final
victory • and in achieving a just
! peace.
Basil O'Connor, chairman of the
American Red Cross and chairman
of the National Infantile Paralysis
'Foundation—One of history’s great
est figures, and a very kindly in
dividual, has passed on. I can’t
I help but believe that the force of
his personality will continue to help
bring about those fine things which
the world so badly needs.
Senator Wheeler, Democrat, of
Montana—I sincerely regret his
passing. I think Mr. Truman will
make a very good President.
Senator La Follette, Progressive,
of Wisconsin—We are too close to
the events of the past decade to
pass any definitive judgment on his
place in history, but no one can
question that his life and policies
have had a profound and lasting
effect on this Nation and the world.
Homer Cummings, former Attor
ney General—The death of Presi
dent Roosevelt comes at the su
preme moment of history. It is a
bitter loss that we and the rest of
the world can barely sustain. We
should be grateful for his inspired
leadership and highly resolve that
there shall be no failure of the high
purpose for which he gave his life.
Comdr. Harold R. Stassen: Frank
lin Roosevelt was a great President
and the passing of the years will add
to recognition of his greatness. It is
particularly tragic that he has de
parted at the very time so much
that he has labored so hard to
achieve was nearing the summit of
accomplishment.
Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the
Navy when Mr. Roosevelt was As
sistant Secretary during the World
War—I feel lost that I must live on
without his comradeship and inspi
ration. My personal sense of loss
is heightened by the realization that
a world confident teat he would
Mrs. Roosevelt Shows
Typical Poise After
Hearing Death News
Prom the time an emergency call
from the White House reached her
at a Thrift Shop tea yesterday until
she left by plane for Warm Springs,
Ga., Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt demon
strated the same poise and strength
that has carried her through 12
years in the White House.
Her words on learning of her hus
band's death were typical of the
woman who was determined that
infantile paralysis should not keep
her husband from rising to the high
est office in the land.
“I am more sorry for the people
of the country and the world than
I am for us," Mrs. Roosevelt said,
according to Presidential Secretary
Stephen Early.
Mrs. Roosevelt was attending the
tea at the Sulgrave Club. She had
arrived at the club about 4:15 p.m.
Sat in Front Row.
She spoke briefly to the group in
the second floor ballroom, praising
the shop as an organization "to
help others.” She finished at
about 4:30 o’clock and took a seat
in the front row beside Mrs. Reeve
Lewis, chairman of the shop board.
At 4:35 p.m. Mrs. Catherine Col
lins, veteran operator at the club.
1 received a call from the White House
with the remark that the call was
urgent.” Mrs. Collins asked Mrs.
Henry Miller, a guest at the tea. to
notify Mrs. Roosevelt. Mrs. Miller
passed the word to Miss Meredith
Howard, mistress of ceremonies,
who told the President's wife to
go to a telephone 20 steps away.
Mrs. Roosevelt answered the
phone, "Hello, hello,” several times
before the woman's voice said, "Mr
Early is calling, Mrs. Roosevelt,"
Mrs. Collins said. Then the oper
ator put down the key and did not
listen to the call. But she knew that,
it lasted only a few seconds. Then
Mrs. Roosevelt turned and walked
back to the door of the tea room.
"I am very sorry to leave." she
said. "It has marie me very happy
to come. I am always interested in
what the Thrift Shop does " She
began putting on her gloves and
. went on speaking.
"I am very sorry to leave you in
this way. But I have an urgent
message from the White House.
. There is an emergency.”
Walked Steadily Downstairs.
The President's wife then walked
toward the stairs. Mrs. Lewis and
Miss Howard walked down with her.
She turned and shook hands with
each at the club door. The tele
phone operator said she locked
closely at the poised woman in the
garnet dress and matching hat.
walking steadily down the stairs,
and wondered idly what the ‘ emer
gency'’ was.
Mrs. Lewis and Miss Howard said
the President's wife broke into a
run as she approached the car
parked for her across the street.
Five minutes later, Mrs. Roosevelt
was back at the White House. In
her second-floor sitting room. Mrs
Roosevelt heard the news of her
husband's death from Mr. Early.
“I told her that the President had
slept away.” Mr. Early said later.
Mrs. Roosevelt promptly sent a
message, signed ‘ Mother,” to her
four sons in the armed forces—three
in the Pacific and one in London.
In that message, according to Mr
’ Early. Mrs. Roosevelt told her sons
that the President did his job to
the end “as he would want to do.”
"Bless you all and all our love,’
added Mrs, Roosevelt.
Daughter Stays.
Then she received Vice President
Truman in her sitting room, which
adjoins the President's bedroom.
A few minutes after Mr. Truman
was sworn in as President, Mrs.
Roosevelt left the White House with
Mr. Early and Vice Admiral Ross
T. Mclntire to board the plane for
Warm Springs.
Her only daughter, Mrs. Anna
Boettiger, said good-by to her
mother at the White House. She
could not accompany Mrs. Roose
velt because her youngest child,
Johnny Boettiger, is seriously ill at
Bethesda Naval Hospital.
Mrs. Boettiger. described lately
as Mr. Roosevelt's closest confi
dante, was at her child's bedside
lead it into the paths of peace must
seek to translate his plans into
reality.
Our greatest leader has fallen on
the eve of victory. I pray that his
countrymen and comrades on every
continent will consecrate themselves
to the completion of his well-ma
tured and unfinished task.
Dr. Stephen S. Wise, president of
the American and the World Jewish
Congress: Our country is bereft as
it has not been bereft since April,
1865. when Lincoln died. Not in
another generation, or even in gen
erations, will be it so bereft again.
Living, Roosevelt had joined the
ranks of the immortals. His death
reveals anew his immortal stature,
moral and spiritual.
Archbishop Francis J. Spellman
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese
of New York and military vicar of
the United States Forces—Franklin
D. Roosevelt was a warrior for peace,
and now, as the clouds are lifting
and the night is passing, he has
been called by the God of peoples
and of nations, to become a part of
the holocaust of war which mankind
is offering to gain peace. He, too
like Washington and Lincoln, like
others of our Nation's great and
good, will live on in immortality.
Mrs. Calvin Coolidge, widow of
the former President—The news is
so stunning I hardly know' how to
react. The President's death is a
terrible tragedy and I share the
feeling of the whole Nation in our
loss. However, I am confident that
President Truman will carry' for
ward the program of peace just as if
Mr. Roosevelt were here.
Archbishop Michaet J. Curley of
Baltimore and Washington Arch
diocese—No greater grief could
come to us as a Nation than the
news of the President's death. Just
at this critical time the sad cir
cumstance is tragic.
House Speaker Rayburn — The
world has lost one of the great lead
ers of all time. President Roose
velt’s passing will shock and sadden
good people everywhere.”
Senator Saltonstall, Republican, of
Massachusetts—He died as a rue
soldier, fighting In his country’s
cause. His administration will go
down as one of the most momen
tous in the life of our country.
House Democratic Leader . Mc
Cormack—President Roosevelt was
one of the great men of all time.
• • • He will go down in history as
the savior of democracy.
Senator Fulbright, Democrat, of
Arkansas—Naturally this is a terrible
tragedy. But we are very fortunate
to have a man like Harry Truman
to carry on.
Senator Bankhead, Democrat, of
i
Jefferson Dinners
Among Functions l
Canceled by Death
Numerous functions here and
throughout the country were can
celed immediately on word of Pres
ident Roosevelt’s death.
The Democratic National Com
mittee canceled the Jefferson Day
dinners and gatherings which were
to be held tonight, including th«
dinner at the Mayflower Hotel, for
which 1,000 reservations had been
made.
Mr. Roosevelt was to have spoken
from Warm Springs over Nation
wide radio hookup at 9:50 o'clock
tonight. The new President and
Secretary of the Navy Forrestal
were scheduled to speak at the
Jefferson dinner here.
Virtually all celebrations of Pan
American Day planned at various
places throughout the city have
been cancelled.
Gridiron Dinner Dropped.
They include the program to
night at the Interior Department
auditorium, under joint auspices of
five organizations: the function to
morrow night at the Departmental
Auditorium, under auspices of the
Employes’ Council of the Office of
Inter-American Affairs: the formal
celebration at the Pan American
Union tomorrow night, when Secre
tary of State Stettinius was to
speak, and the annual Pan Ameri
can reception for members of the
Latin American diplomatic corps
Monday at the Mayflower Hotel,
by the Fourth Degree Knights of
Columbus.
Henri Bonnet. French Ambassa
dor. was to have been the principal
speaker at an observance of the
202d birthday anniversary' of
Thomas Jefferson at the Memorial
here. This observance was called
off by the District Jefferson Society
which was sponsoring the occasion.
It was announced, however, that a
representative of the society would
be present to receive floral tributes.
The Gridiron Club dinner sched
uled for tomorrow' night at the
Statler Hotel also was called off.
The Overseas Writers have can
celled a luncheon scheduled there
at 12:30 p.m. today.
President s C'luh.
The Harvard Club, of wTiich Pres
ident Roosevelt was a long-time
member, has canceled its final meet
ing of the season at 12:30 p.m. to
morrow in the Annapolis Hotel. Mr.
Roosevelt was vice president of the
club at one time.
Several congressional committees
canceled metings arranged for this
morning. They were the Joint Com
mittee to Reorganize Congress, the
Senate Education and Labor Com
mittee. hearing the Federal Aid bill,
and the House Foreign Affairs Com
mittee. which was to consider t'n»
Marcantonio resolution to accept
Italy as an ally.
Among other events dropped were:
Reception and cocktail party
which was to be given at 5:30 p.m.
today by Herbert Brownell, jr.,
chairman of the Republican Na
tional Committee.
Stage Door Canteen parties. The
canteen will remain open between 6
p.m. and midnight today and to
morrow for food service only.
Dances Called Off.
USO 1911 H street N.W., USO
Pennsylvania State party, set for
Sunday afternoon.
All service clubs under War Hos
; pitality Committee will remain open
at usual hours but have canceled
dances.
! when the White House learned of
I the President's death. She also got
an urgent call from the Whits
House to return there at once.
She was told of her father's deatl»
: when she reached the White Hous&
Her brothers in the Pacific were
notified by Navy dispatch, and Brig.
Gen. Elliott Roosevelt of the Army
Air Forces received an Army com
munication in London. The Navy
said its messages to the Roosevelts
were sent as expediusly as commu
nications traffic permitted.
, According to the War and Navy
‘Departments, it will be up to indi
1 vidual commanding officers to deter
mine whether the Roosevelt sons
. will be given emergency leave, which
is granted in the event of a death in
the family if war duties permit.
Alabama—No other living man will
be missed at this time as much as
Franklin Roosevelt. This is a ter
rible disturbance for the whols
world.
j»enaior »aisn. uemocrai, in Mas
sachusetts—Tlie President s death ij
an irrevocable loss to the Nation
l and to the world at this time.
Chairman Bloom of the House
Foreign Affairs Committee — We
must carry on to win a peace that
will be a monument to the Presi
dent, who fought so long and so
hard for it and who died in that
fight.
Senator Wherry. Republican, of
Nebraska, minority whip in the
Senate—A terrific shock. • * * It
calls for a continued united effort
to fight the war to a vigorous con
clusion and to win the Deace.
Mme. Chiang Kai-shek, wife of
the Chinese generalissimo—Meas
ured by any and every standard of
greatness in all parts of the world,
President Roosevelt stands supreme.
John W. Davis, Democratic presi
dential candidate in 1924—While I
disagreed with him in many domestic
matters, I heartily approved and
greatly admired the wisdom, courage
and vigor of his foreign policy. His
i tory will not withhold from him his
high share of credit for the brilliant
success that attends our arms.
Herbert Brownell, jr.. Republican
national chairman—His loss will be
severely felt in the vitally important
events of the coming months, and
the entire country will rise in sup
port of President Truman in bring
ing the war to a successful termina
tion and the making of a just and
lasting peace.
Supreme Court Justice Hugo
Black—It will be a long time before
we have another who will meet sit
uations as he has met them. He
seems to have been the man for the
times at every recurring emergency.
French Ambassador Henri Bonnet
—The people of France will always
recall with emotion and gratitude
the immense services President
Roosevelt rendered to the cause of
humanity throughout all that tor
mented period which preceded the
war and the part he took in the
achievement of victory'.
Commissioner Young—The people
of Washington have lost a real
champion and friend. During my
association with him as a White
House reporter for The Washington
Star and since I became Commis
sioner in 1940, I knew the President
had an interest in the physical de
velopment of Washington and th#
welfare of its people.
Commissioner Mason—It Is the
greatest tragedy the world has ex
perienced in a thousand yean.
1