Evening star., 1923-11-11
P Presidents Personal Secretary
Has Unusual Equipment for Post

had seen him in the senate of their
state, had seen him in the guberna-
torial chair, and he knew how he
mad habit of getting at the root OF
Things, so Edward Tracy Clark did
not Tor an instant imagine that he
was letting himself into any easy
chair job. He knew that Coolidge
would be well informed about all
branches of the government long be-
fore his four-year term had expired.
The friends of the President say
that he has an uncanny ability in
picking the right man for the place.
sometimes it does not appear to be
so at once, but it generally turns out
so. and they point TO his selection of
Clark as another instance of Cool
idges farsightedness.
Just what his duties are is the nat
ural question that arises in the
minds Of those who have never been
in his office and watched him at work.
! The answer to that is too large to
answer in detail. He does most
everything that a good executive
should do. He is the personal liaison
officer. so to speak, for many of the
men ION the Hill" He is the old
! friend of many OF the Presidents
personal friends, and that number is
legion. He is the man who can take
a knotty problem and work out q
solution. He is the man who remem-
! bers this, that and the other thing
! that must and should be done. and he
is the man who has the ability TO
make and keep friends for his chief.
Personally, he is a kindly person,
sympathetic, courteous and obliging.
The writer knows of case that hap
pened some time ago, when a very
| deserving woman had not received
at the hands of her government what
she thought was justice. 1t was not
a matter that concerned the White
House. but Clark interested himself
| in her behalf and saw that the wom
an received her just dues. 1t was
not a matter that meant any political
gain, it would not help in any matter
of state, but he did it because it is
way they have up in Northampton.
X 4
IF you drop into his Office in tile
i White House and look at his desk.
you wonder how he ever gets through
the accumulated mass of papers, but
if you sit there for a while you will
find that during the intervals when
he is not talking TO some caller he is
busy debating to the three very capa-
BILE stenographers who compose his
Office force. He takes up a matter
and. like the President, he appears
to sense what is required in the prob
lem before him. He dictates, not rap
idly, but with clearness that makes
the work Of his aids much easier. He
does not appear to be Ia hurry at
, any time, and it is quite beyond the
realms of fancy to picture him fius-
tered and losing his head.
In greeting visitors Clark does not
hurry. At least, he does not appear
to hurry into the subject matter. He
rather makes the visit an informal
one, and he does this, no doubt. for the
reason that if n man is at ease he is
| more likely TO say what he desires TO
say than if he is not quite sure as TO
/ how his proposition is to be received.
The writer has seen the personal
secretary TO the President greet
man that he has met only once or
twice and yet almost instantly he
was able TO recall some detail of a
meeting. 1t is truly remarkable how
many persons he knows by name.
, He is very human and has absolutely
no frilis or shams. He has keen
sense of humor and tells a good story.
. K
DEFORE Mr.. Coolidge went to the
ID White House Clark took an hour
or so off, now and then, and essayed
to play golf, but those who have
watched him on the links are unani-
nous in the declaration that as a
golfer he does not shine with any
greater brilliance than does Samuel
G.. Blythe, and that is going into the
realm of big scores. Clark has a
hobby, however, but does not often
get a chance to ride it. His favorite
diversion is sailing a boat, and when
it comes to handling a craft he is en-
titled to a seat among the real sailor
men.
In 1914 he married one of Massachu-
setts' fairest daughters, and Mrs
Clark has been his companion and
chum ever since. She is as much in
terested in things political as is her
husband, and that is saying a good
deal.
If you really want to probe the
depths of his friendship for the Presi-
dent of the United States ask him
why he thinks that Calvin Coolidge
should be nominated and elected. You
! will find that he can give you many
reasons why Mr.. Coolidge should re-
tain his present office. Back of his
desire to have the President stay in
the White House is an earnest desire
to have a man at the helm of the
nation who is what we are all pleased
to call "a real American" Clark
combines his personal wishes with a
love for country.