Evening star., 1923-12-23
BY HERBERT COREY.
\ HERE is no moro talk Of MAX
ing by statute an assistant to
the President. The thirty odd

~ y HERE IS no more tdih Ol man
ing by statute an assistant to
the President The thirty odd
independent establishments
boards, bureaus and commissions that
have been called a needless burden
upon the Executive have ceased to
bother. Business at the White House
never skips. falters or misses fire.
Reason why?. President Coolidge has
an assistant
Meet Campbell Bascom Slemp. born
at Turkey Cove. resident Of Big Stone
Gap, Va Fifty-three years old. or a
Mongolian placidity. The face is to-
tally illegible. One eye or the other
seems to be slightly askew. Complex
ion very family shaded with tan. No
mustache or whiskers. Seems to be
kindly. helpful, genuine and is as
suredly as smart as a weasel. Active.
Fine handshaker. Fits from palm to
palm in the presidential waiting room
like a butterfly. Simile bad, for but
terf1ies do not buzz. He does, in al
most inaudible fashion. Almost uni
versally liked, but Is probably re-
garded by members of his club as
dangerous at poker. No one doubts
that Campbell Bascom Slemp thinks
quickly and well, but no one can tell
when he thinks or what he thinks
Should be fine at table stakes.
Successful Secretaries Rare.
Dig deep In memory and find the
names of presidential secretaries. See
how many you can remember. Joseph
Tumulty is barred, as of too late a
vintage. Try to think Of the men
who have really left an imprint on
their political generations. It Is .
hard task, for successful presidential
secretaries have been somewhat more
rare than pink tigers. To be success
too small. 1t Is too early yet to
prophesy complete success for Slemp,
but he is starting we'll. The first
test, perhaps, will be when President
Coolidge makes q mistake.
If Slemp takes all the blame, then
Slemp will probably do.
People say that Slemp Is the politi- :
cal expert at the White House. If
that is true. then Cortelyou inspired
Roosevelt's policies and Hilles wrote
Lincoln's address at Gettysburg.
! Slemp Is a political expert. beyond
doubt. but there is another expert on
the White lot, as old-time Washing
tonians still call the presidential
! acreage. No question that he helps
President Coolidge with advice, in
rmation, suggestion, all that sort
of thing. But the more one observes
Mr.. Coolidge in political action the
more one admires his political sa-
gacity. He is the boss. Make no
doubt of that
Coolfdge's Peculinrities.
When the death Of Warren G..
Harding elevated Calvin Coolidge to
the presidency he cast about for a
private secretary. He is perhaps.
aware OF the defects as well as OF the
qualities OF his own temperament
He has no small talk at all. Callers
upon Calvin Coolidge have never
found any difficulty in talking busi-
ness to him. His questions have been
searching. to the point, extraordi-
narily tlluminative. His replies have
been concise, accurate, candid. But
when business is over 1t does not oc-
cur to him to talk about the weather.
He knows 1t is a fine day. So does
his caller. Why say so?
He did not know where to put his
hand on the man he needed. The
ideal private secretary for the. new
President must be able to supply the
geniality he lacks. must be . busi-
ness man who can function with .
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