The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-08-04
HARDING SWORK
ONLY ENDED
BY NIGHT
Presidents Job Was Busiest
and Most Exacting of Any
in Whole World.
BY Cosmopolitan News Service.

BY Cosmopolitan News Service.
To be president of the United
States in these momentous times
means holding down the busiest,
most exacting job in the world.
That is the conclusion Of those
whose privilege it was to see War
rem G. Harding at close range. week
in and week out.
Foreigners are frankly astonished
at the tremendous amount of work
which the President is called on to
perform. They wonder how he does
It.
Warren G. Harding had but little
time for play. He had recreation,
of course, but for the most part 1t
has been only recreation necessary
to maintain his physical weIl-being.
Moreover, it usually has been inter-
rupted constantly.
Some demagogues and even cheap
vaudevillians have tried to make 1t
appear that the President or the
United States has lots of playtime.
Only Night Ended Work.
Nothing in the world could be
81
time he got UP in the morning-al-
ways at an early hour--the Presi-
dent worked, and then did some
more work until time for retiring
late at night.
President Harding usually started
his day in Washington shortly after
q. m. With breakfast over,
George B. Christian. the Presidents
able secretary, arrived with the
first mail Of the day. Many replies
had to be framed by the President
himself. In other cases the work
has to be parceled out among the
White House staff.
The average American business
man who has important mail pre-
scented to him has q habit of being
alone to consider it. He sets apart
q certain time for his mail. Not 50
with President Harding.
Patronage Pleas Flood.
Often a Cabinet officer or 4
Senator wanted to talk to him at
once, or a hundred and one inter
ruptions requiring his immediate
attention.
So the day started. Then there
were numerous appointments to
keep, sometimes five minutes apart.
Interruptions throughout the day
by Senators or Congressman who
want patronage are the usual thing
in a Presidents day. The question
of patronage alone would be enough
to discourage a man who wasn't up
to the mark physically.
Twice a week the Cabinet meets.
On Tuesday mornings and Saturday
afternoons the President had regu,
lar meetings with his advisers.
Right after the cabinet meetings
the President held conferences with
the newspaper correspondents. For
upwards Of half an hour or more,
/, he discussed with them the things
which the cabinet had taken up
shortly before.
Old timers say that no President
ever before took the newspaper
men SO completely into his conf
dence. Himself newspaperman,
President Harding appreciated the
point of view Of the news gather
ers. He submitted himself to their
/. rapid fire questioning and was at
all times absolutely frank with
them.
Always patient, extremely pleas.
ant, President Harding treated his
fellow craftsmen with the utmost
consideration.
It was the former Presidents Gus
tom to see newspapermen in con.
ference at 1 p. m. on Tuesdays and
at p. m. on Fridays. On other
days this time was taken up in con-
ferences with executives and other
officials. Owing to his easy acces-
sibility, every day up to the lunch
hour considerable time was con-
suned by greeting delegations of
organizations and by appointments
with Senators and Congressman
who were presenting friends.
His luncheon period generally
was from 1870 to 2, after which he
returned to his office, where he
worked until about o'clock, when
he would go for a game Of golf, re-
turning in time for the evening
meal at his family table. When he
did not play golf in the afternoon,
he devoted himself to the public
business.