The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-12-18
THE PRESIDENTS
RIGHT HAND man
Forster, Executive Clerk, Most
Valuable Aide.
VAST KNnWLEOGE Of POLICIES

Most Important Post In the White
House, For Which Woodrow Wilson
Will Select Another Active and Re-
sourcefuI Man-Nobody Is More Con-
tinuously "on the Job.r
On the presidents desk in the White
House are six push buttons. The one
most worn from pressing OF his heavy
fOretinger sounds a buzzer at the desk
OF Ralph Forster, his executive clerk.
AS Mr.. Forster is the solution Of
many a White House problem, when
the president in the course OF his morn
ing's work desires TO know why a GER
tain appointment was made who rec
commended II, what will happen II an
incumbent is not reappointed. his hand
instinctively moves toward the well
worn push button. Mr. Forster is at
his side in five seconds. Usually he
supplies the information without leav-
ing the room; II not, he knows where
to get it,
The public knows about the secretary
to the president Under Mr.. Lamont.
Mr.. Cortelyou. Mr.. Loeb and Mr.. Hilles
this office has come 30 be as important
as a cabinet portfolio. But outside of
Washington little is known of the other
members of the White House staff.
headed by Mr.. Forster. Yet upon the
shoulders OF Mr.. Forster devolves q
great part Of the business Of the presi-
dental office.
He Bears tho Shocks.
He is the buffer between the presi.
dent and hundreds Of thousands Of
American citizens who have CORE.
spondence with the White House. OBJ
viousy the president cannot give de-
tailed attention to the many questions
on which he must act He requires
that the salient facts of a given ques-
ton be presented to him so that he
may act wisely.
The influence of Mr.. Forster in pub
lie affairs is great. but exercised al
ways with answering loyalty to the
chief executive. whoever he may be.
His is the responsibility for the prep
aration of the White House mail. All
the letters that are received pass
through his hands on the way to the
secretary and the president. Every
nomination that goes TO the senate, ev-
cry commission the president issues to
his appointees. every bill which con-
gress passes and sends to the president
for approval or dlsepproval, he care
fully notes.
Service at the White House since the
first day Of the Mckinley administra-
ton in 1897 has left in his capacious
mind vast knowledge Of the policies
and politics of three presidents. The
widely divergent characteristics and
temperaments of these men would
seem to have given Mr.. Forster a
glimpse of every side of administrative
duty.
Sometimes Advises the Cabinet.
This explains why he is frequently
called into the cabinet meetings to an
swer questions about various situations
perplexing to the administration, the |
president often calling him to confer
ences with public men.
His telephone is constantly ringing,
as senators and representatives call on
him for all sorts of information. Some |
times senators and representatives, |
finding the president busy, are glad to |
take the matter up with Mr.. Forster, |
who, in turn. brings IL before the presi
dent
The White House is busy place, but |
nobody is more constantly ION the job"
than Mr.. Forster he works quietly, |
but swiftly. His remarkable memory
enables him to answer an inquiry or
dispose OF n problem without having to |
stop to search for facts and figures.
Never rufiied, never ratified, his efii-
cheney is oil to the cogs and bearings of ]
the executive machine His appoint I
ment as a clerk at the White House in
1897 was due to Mr.. Cortelyou's desire
to reform the business methods Of the |
White House offices.
Knows Much About Affairs.
His selection was nonpolitical. as was
his promotion to the post of assistant |
secretary TO the president IN 1907 and |
his further advancement to the newly
created Office OF executive clerk under |
Mr.. Taft From three presidents he !
has absorbed a large view of national |
affairs
And the question in Washington is,
Who will succeed him? There are
several newspaper men who have been
discussed for the onerous place, but of
course no one but President Elect vii.
son knows upon whom the selection
will fall-that is, II he has already
picked the man.