Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-10
RETREAT FOR
PRESIDENT IS
URCEDBYCAL
Coolidge Tells Need
OF Rest Haven For
Chief Executive In
Summer Months

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.-F-To
Herbert Hoover and other presi-
dents to come may 20 the benefit
of President ~Coolidge's suggestion
that the chief executive be provided
with a country White House.
Only a few months before his re-
tiremant from office. the president
has declared that the shealth not
only of the president but Of the
mistress Of the White House would
be benefited if there were some
place in the hills near Washington
where they might 70 10 escape the
heat and tedium Of summer.
Writing for the fifteenth ami
verssry Of the St. Louis Dispatch,
President Coolidge said: "As a
president about 70 retire. 7 feel az
liberty a. write If certain phases
Of that office which one who was
entering upon it's duties might feel
some hesitation in discussing"
Feels Desire for Change
He declared tina. ha referred 70
the health and physical condition Of
the president, adding mot SO much
for my own sake as for my sue
cessor."
Il have often remarked that AZ
least ! had one distinction he
continued. II have teen the heal
thiest person that the country has
ever had"
President Coolidge said that he
had accomplished this BY Systematic
exercise and regular habits.
Washington l. practically ~ sea
level" he said. cts climate II sr
exceedingly good all year round eli
mate, but at times the humidity IL
high and unrelieyed. II becomes
monotonous. The only avenue ~ e.
cape for the president II the naval
beat Mavflower."
Retreat Needed
President Coolidge explained the
chief executive has little freedom
n movement. and he asserted that
the only place he could enter with
ont considerable preliminary dis
turbance Is the White House.
For these reasons" he said, cit
seems 70 me that some place should
he provided in the hills within easy
striking distance of Washington
where the president might 60 for
two or three days ~ a time when
he was so disposed. with ~sonvenien-
ces for entertaining members Of the
government and other guests. where
he could have that freedom ~ &C.
ton which he has only ~ the White
Rouse. and where he could get =
complete change Of atmosphere.
Says Legacy Lost
While 7 have made No mention
of the mistress If The White House.
she Is Of course 70 hs considered.
The public little understands the
veEr eNsctinE duties that she must
perform and the restrictive life She
must lead. Fully "a much AZ the
president. she needs the opportun
itv for 2 change and some place
where she can hsts the ~ssclusion Of
the White House without \ con
slant reminder Of its obligations"
While talking MI the proposed
presidential retreat. President Cool
idge said that a legacy left for q
summer White House was never &C.
cepted bv congress.
The legacy was p Gift of v. vii
son Leakir. IN 1929 \ Raltimo-s
bank which administered his estate
notified the White House that $780,
600 had been left by him TO build
a summer White House, or struc-
ture for similar purposes. within
automobile distance or the White
House. However. II was stipulated
in the offer that congress must &C.
cept u within rs months and the
time limit passed without action be-
irE taken.