Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-13
HOOVER FIGHTS SHY
OF LENS CLOSE-UPS.
President-EIect Stands for
Pictures at Is Feet, but
FIeeS at Near Shots.
BY REX COLLIER.

Etan Correspondent OF The Star. on the
Hoover South American Good VIII Trip.
South American news photograph
ers have learned by sad experience
what their North American colleagues
already know only too well-the next
President of the United States abhorS
close-upS.
Moreover, ignorance of this pet aver
sion of President ELECT Hoover put a
bad crimp in the picture-taking activi-
ties of the group of cameramen with
Mr.. Hoover'S party. More than once
their distinguished subject withdrew
suddenly from their midst on noting
that foreign cameras were closing in on
him for the final closeup.
Mr.. Hoover's dislike for cameras be-
came painfully apparent to the photo
graphers during the campaign period.
Some had thought that during the
Latin American tour he would let down
the bars a little--in a spirit Of good
will, so TO speak. But their hopes have
not been realized: nor is their any
likelihood they will be realized when
Mr. Hoover sgets into the White House.
The President-elect just doesn't care
a whole lot about having his picture
taken, whether from long shots or close
ones. He knows that pictures help to
tell the story" however, and he is will
ing to face the cameras when he deems
1t neceSsary-from respectful dis
lance. Move those tripods one foot
further, however, and he will fee I'M
tremendously.
Flees Argentine Cameras.
At the Argentine Chilean station. on
the Transandine Railroad, for example,
the photographers with the official
party, most of whom were with Mr..
Hoover during his campaign and hence
were wise to his likes and dislikes, had
set their cameras up at the approved
distance-about Is or 20 feet-when
several enterprising and aggressive Ar
gentine photographers broke through
the ranks and prepared to snap the
inevitable closeup.
The President-elect of the United
States looked furtively around as
though to seek the best avenue Of es-
cape, and then, without a word. turned,
mounted the steps of his railway car
and disappeared within its safe con-
fines.
The New York and Washington
cameramen were furious-not at Mr..
Hoover, for they had expected he would
do Just what he debut at their eher-
e,
tors of Argentine. On the train a few
minutes later the North Americans ex-
planned very emphatically to the South
Americans how grave an offense they
had committed.
Don't ever run up like you did for
q closeup" expostulated one Of the
Hoover party photographers. You'll
spoil the picture every time. He'll run
away from you whenever you move the
cameras closer than we've got them.
Stay where we are, Savvy?"
The ArgentinianS were not well
versed in English, but they gathered
enough from the lecture to understand
the gist OF 1t.
Irogoyen Never Photographed.
II the photographers with the party
could have had their way they would
have wired ahead to every city potent
warning along similar lines to all South
American cameramen. Unable to do So
they met with diSconcerting conditions
In virtually every place visited. The
South Americans had never heard OF
an American public official who object
ed to having his face snapped from
close range, and they could not under
stand why it was impossible to get a
closeup of the American President
elect, without stealing" it. South
American photographers had, however,
experienced similar difficulties with one
of their own dignitarieS-President
Irogoyen of Argentina. In fact he had
never been photographed in public prior
to the Hoover visit.
Being photographed, 1t is evident, Is
q real ordeal for Mr.. Hoover. His long
service in the public eye has done much
10 accustom him to the ever-present
circle of lenses that appears as though
by magic on special occasions, but he
stiii is manifestly restless in the pres.
ence of clicking shutters and grinding
news reel cameras. Undoubtedly this
Is due partly to his natural aversion tc
having his personality played up
either in print or photograph. and
partly to his well known shyness be-
fore a scrutinizing public.
1t will be recalled that Mr.. Hoover
put the ban on "boloney" pictures dur
Ing his drive for the Presidency. III
refused to kiss babies, wear trick hat
or do other stunts just for the Sak'
of making a good picture. Before thu
camera he stands quietly, but with un
mistakable impatience, ready to NOV
of at the first indication that the frs
shots" are completed. He Is reluctan
to pose for ''retakes."
His inactivity before the photograph