Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-04-21
The STORY OF
MAJOR ARCHIE
Butts LIFE
MADE FRIENDS OF EVERYONE
Strong Ties Bound Him to
Two Presidents

Washington, April 20.-Major Arch
ibald Butt was the most widely known
junior officer in the American Army
For the past five years Major Butt
has been the military and personal
aid to two Presidents, and during that
time he had crossed and recrosseI
the continent again and again with
Presidential parties. He has made
scores of shorter trips and has been
in evey State in the Union and in ey-
cry city of considerable size between
the Atlantic and Pacific as the esco I
of President Taft and Roosevelt.
Major Butt did not enter the mil
itary service until the outbreak of the
Spanish-American war. Prior to tina:
time he was Washington correspond
ent for string of Southern news
papers. He was appointed seconi
lieutenant in the Quartermaster's De-
partment by President Mckinley. His
work was all in the field, until one dav
President Roosevelt met him in Wash
lngton and became so impressed with
The young officers personality that he
ordered him attached to the White
House staff.
Once under tht eye of President
Roosevelt, the Exeuticye refused to
allow Butt, then captain, to return to
his Command. A strong friendship de-
veloped between the Executive and
his aid, and on every trip, long or
short, Archie" was taken While Sec
rotary of War, President Taft be-
came acquainted with the likabIe
young officer and after his Inaugural
ton he issued an order to the effect
that Captain Butt should remain as
military aid to the new President. The
captain wished to return to the army,
but the President would not listen 10
If anything, the personal ties be-
tween President Taft and Major BUT
We're stronger than the friendship
which President Roosevelt felt for the
officer Major Butt was called fo",
whenever he played golf or whenever
he went about the country making
! speeches. Wherever President Taft
was, there was the officer
Last summer, when Mrs. Taft and
the family went to Beverly amead OF
the President, NJ Taft sent for Arch
ie'' and ordered him to move his eff
fects into the White House. There the
bachelor and the President kept nous
for nearly two months.
Major Butt was exceedingly useful
to the Taft household. He was al
ways available when trains were to
be met, when Mrs. Taft or Miss Helen
motored or went shopping, or return
ed formal calls. Also he took charge
of tht details of many official func-
lions at the Executive Mansion. He
drilled the other aids In their duties,
he arranged to take care of the
crowds and he always introduced the
visitors whether there We're 100 or
10000 of them, to the President
The duties of Major Butt on the last
long trip of the President to the Pa
cifc coast We're so arduous that he
returned tn Washington broken in
health. The President advised him
then to take rest but the officer de-
ferred it until six weeks ago, when he
sailed for Europe.
Major Butt bore personal letters
from President Taft to the Pope and
to half dozen rulers of Europe when
he left Washington. He was received
wherever he went as the personal rep
re9e"tative of the American President
and was accorded audiences and hon
ors rarely ever given to Americans,
whatever their circumstances at home
might be. The President had intend.