Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-21
THE PRIVATE SECRETARY.
Sometimes He Is an Aid to the President,
Sometimes Not.

Col Mussey in the Cincinnati Commercialoazett
As general thing newspaper men when ap
pointed private secretaries, as in the case O.
Lamont, 60 to the extreme Of caution and Sc
| cretiveness, and 90 far as that is concerned
make excellent private secretaries. Whether
| they are equal to trained politicians in Other
respects and in dealing with questions ant
| people is another matter. The newspaper men
as a rule, view things from the outside 1t il
| only privileged few who are taken into the
confidence of the managers Of the party. Pri
| vate secretaries have, as q rule been a sort Of
perfunctory set OF officials. They were of i'm
] portance or not as the President made them So
In most cases the secretary is little more thar
presidential guard and keeper of the ante
| room, his duties being to open and sort the
| mail make newspaper marks and clippings. re.
| ceive cards, and entertain the people waiting
for an audience.
1t is to be presumed that the dignity and i'm
portance OF the office will be added to under
President Harrison. To the thousands of men
high in the counsels of the party, and other
thousands OF the rank and file who will seek
private audience with the President. the char
acter and disposition and influence of the pri-
waite secretary is a matter of much Importance.
Especially, as have said, is it matter OF i'm
portance to newspaper men. So, naturally,
then, there Is good deal of canvassing of the
matter.
There was no secretary to the President prior
to 1S4S, but in 1885 Congress authorized a clerk
10 the President, Ito sign land patents, and Pres
ldent jackson appointed Andrew jackson Don
elson, his nephew, as 'signer of land patents. "
Later, Major Donelson changed his name,
and he appears in the Congressional Directory
for the second session, Twenty-fourth Congress,
as Andrew Jackson, jr."
Martin Van Buren, had for his signer Of pat
ents Maj. A. Van Buren, during his whole term.
Whether or not Gen. Harrison appointed any
one to the place is not certain, but the next
succeeding directory gives the name of John
Tyler, jr., and that gentleman took to himself
the style and title of secretary" to sign,
etc., although there was no warrant of law
for it.
President Polk appointed his nephew, James
Knox Walker, and that gentleman in 1915 be-
came the first private secretary to the Presi-
dent" under law passed at the second session
OF the Twenty-ninth Congress.
Col William 8. Bliss of the army was Gen.
Taylor's secretary, and Willard p. Fillmore
served his uncle in the same capacity,
Sidney Webster, who afterward became the
son-in-law of Hon. Hamilton Fish, was the pri-
vate secretary of Franklin Pierce, and follow
ing him James Buchanan had his nephew.
James Buchanan Henry, for secretary, who,
like Maj. Donelson, changed his name, and in
the latter part of his term of Office was known
as James Buchanan, jr.
Col. John Hay is another private secretary
who was never private secretary. Mr.. Lin
coins secretary was John G. Nicolay and Col.
Hay was given an army commission in the vol
unteers and detailed for special duty at the
White House.
Prior to President Jackson's time the clerical
labor at the executive mansion was performed
by clerks detailed from the various executive
departments, but as the country grew in popu-
lation the executive iabors increased and legis-
iative aid was given to provide an authorized
force, and in 1865 Congress not only added an
assistant private secretary" but promoted the
"signer OF patents" to be secretary for that
purpose.
Col Robert johnson was secretary during all
OF his fathers incumbency Of the presidency,
and Col. Robert Morrow, who afterward COM
mitted suicide while on duty at San Francisco
was the first assistant. Morrow was succeeded
in 1867, when he was appointed paymaster in
the army, by VIM. Wallace Warden, who now
resides here, practicing law. During Mr.. John
sons time detail of army officers were placed
on regular duty at the White House, as I Cos
siped about some weeks ago, and the detail in
cluded Gen. Reuben d. Mussey, Col Browning.
w. G.. Moore (now chief Of the police here),
and Wright Rives, and Capt. Andrew K. Long.
In the congressional Directory" of those days
they are styled secretaries" and it was that
precedent that brought about the detail OF
Gems. Dent Porter, and Babcock for Gen.
Grant,
President Arthur's private secretary was
Fred. Phillips, and he was the most unpopular
man with the public who ever held the posi-
ton. The trouble with Mr.. Phillips was an
abnormal cranial enlargement consequent upon
his achieving such an exalted position.
President Hayes private secretary was Col.
Rodgers, a good-natured gentleman, who filed
the Office satisfactorily. He was not pro-
for his thrift and ready recognition OF the
main chance.