Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-04
Mistsllansuus Readins.
HIS RlGHT-HAND MAN
indispensable Bureau of Information
for President Taft.

for President Taft.
On the presidents desk in the White
House are six push buttons. The one
most worn from pressing Of his heavy
forefinger sounds buzzer at the desk
of Rudolph Forster, his executive
clerk.
AS "Mr. Forster" is the solution of
many a White House problem, when
the president in the course OF his
mornings work desires to know why
certain appointment was made, who
recommended it, what will happen If
an incumbent is not re-appointed says
the New York Herald, his hand In
stinctively moves toward the we'll
worn push button. Mr.. Forster is at
his side in five seconds. Usually he
supplies the information without leav-
ing the room; If not, he knows where
to get 1t.
The public knows about the secre-
tary to the president. Under Mr.. La
mont, Mr.. Cortelyou, Mr. Loeb and Mr..
Hilles this office has come to be as i'm
portant as a cabinet portfolio. sui
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
deyolyes a great part Of the business
of the presidential office. He Is the
huffer between the president and nun
dreds of thousands Of American ciu-
zens who have correspondence Win
the White House. Obviously the pres
,dent cannot give detailed attention 10
the many questions on which he must
act He requires that the salient facts
of a given question be presented 10
him so that he may act wisely. Inc
influence of Mr.. Forster in pupllc al
fairs is great, but exercised always
with answering loyalty to the chief
executive, whoever he may be.
His is the responsibility for the pre-
narration 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
every commission the president issues
to his appointees. every bill which
congress passes and sends to the
president for approval or disapproval
he carefully notes.
Service at the White House since
the first day of the Mckinley admins
tration in 1897 has left in his capacious
mind a vast knowledge Of the policies
and politics of three presidents. The
widely divergent characteristics ana
temperaments of these men would
seem to have given Mr.. Forster
e,,mpse of every side Of administrative
duty.
This explains why he Is frequently
alled into the cabinet meetings TO an
swer questions about various situa-
tions perplexing the administrator
the president often calling him TO
conferences with public men. His tel
ephone is constantly ringing, as sena-
ters and representatives call on him 1or
all sorts of information. Sometimes
senators and representatives, hndlns
the president busy, are glad to take the
matter up with Mr.. Forster, who IN
turn brings it before the president.
The White House is busy place,
but nobody is more constantly ION the
lob" than Mr.. Forster. He works
quietly. but swiftly. His remarkable
memory enables him to answer an in
ouiry or dispose of problem without
having to stop to search for facts or
figures. Never ruff1ed, never ratified,
his efficiency is oil to the cogs and
bearings of the executive machine. His
appointment as a clerk at the White
House in 1897 was due to Mr.. Cortel-
you's desire to reform the business
methods of the White House offices.
His selection was non-political, 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 large view Of national
affairs.