Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-16
ROOSEVELT HELD
PHYSICALLY FIT
Interviews and Examinations
Tend to Show New Yorker
Is in Good Health.

"1s Franklin D. Roosevelt Physically
Fit to Be President?" is the title OF an
article appearing in this weeks issue OF
Liberty
The author. Earle LOCKER. after many
interviews with the Governor of New
York and after an exhaustive eXaml-
nation of the Governor made by three
medical specialists, answers the queS-
ton in the Affirmative.
He is says LOCKER, physically Mt"
The three specialists, selected by DR..
Linsley R. Williams. director of the
New York Academy of Medicine. who
made the examination of Gov. RooSe-
welt, are DR.. Samuel w. Lambert, DR..
Russell A. Hibbs and DR.. Foster Ken
nedy.
Physicians Make Report.
The examination was made April 90
1881 and the physicians sent the fol-
lowing telegram on that day to MIR
LOCKER:
we have today carefully examined
Gov. Roosevelt and we believe that his
health and powers of endurance are
such as to allow him to meet any de-
mand of private and public life
Ever since the name of Gov. Roose-
in connection with the Democratic
nomination for President next year the
question has been raised as to his
physical fitness to hold down the job
if he we're nominated and elected. In
1877 Gov. Roosevelt suffered an attack
of infantile paralysis In the decade
since then he has struggled back IL
health, and he has been described by
many others besides Mr.. LOCKER as IAN
athlete from the waist up"
Ran First in 1928.
In 1928 he was prevailed upon to be-
come the Democratic candidate for
Governor by his friend, Alfred E.
Smith. then a candidate for President
on the Democratic ticket. Last year
he was reelected Governor with ma
jority of something like 100000 votes.
And since that time Gov. Roosevelt has
been placed as the outstanding candl-
date for the Democratic presidential
nomination.
Some Of the Democrats have realized
that Gov. Roosevelt's physical condi-
ton may be used against him by the
Republicans in a national campaign;
that a whispering campaign might De
inaugurated. even though the G. Q. 2.
speakers did not openly attack him be-
cause of his inability to get around
as an ordinary man does. The article
published in Liberty today may be re-
garQed as an attempt 10 NIL oA ouIlA
q whispering campaign.
Mr. LOCKER, the author Of the article
declares himself Republican and says
that he challenged" Gov. Roosevelt to
saw whether he was sufficiently recover
ed to stand the strain of the presidency.
That was back in February, 1881. Gov
Roosevelt replied that he would not
make a statement himself regarding his
physical fitness but that he would allow
Mr.. LOCKER to make an examination OF
his physical fitness.
Personal Desire Different.
When Mr.. LOCKER first interviewed
Gov. Roosevelt in response to this sug-
gestion. he writes, he asked Gov. Roose-
Welt if he wanted to be President of the
United States. Gov. Roosevelt, the ar
ticle says. replied:
Personally, from my years in Wash
ington and as Assistant Secretary OF
the Navy, l know a great deal about
the responsibilities and the burdens OF
the presidency: no man who under
stands them as I do could look forward
with any intense personal desire to
assuming those burdens ana reSpon-
sibilitieS.
ASK some of the older men about
the State Capitol here in Albany-men
who have seen Governors come and
go-ask them if they'd personally like
to have the job as Governor. Every
one of them would say decisively and
with feeling, mo-" Was I personally
anxious to be Governor? I was not!
But I accepted that nomination in
order to accept an opportunity for
service. You must understand 1 have
to use the old words, and that one
particularly-"serv because no other
word exactly fits.
"I feel the same way about the
presidency. That's all there is to it.
Any one could have a great deal to say
In amplification of that, but that's the
eomplete net of it.
Mr.. Roosevelt said, IF you be-
came the leading choice of the Demo-
cratic Convention and it was then a
question of your personal decision,
would you sacrifice your personal de-
Mires?'
"RooSevelt's answer was so quick that
he fairly snapped out the words: The
opportunity for service that the presi-
dency affords has not honestly been
considered q personal sacrifice by any
one I have ever known or heard of
who has had that opportunity, despite
It's tremendous difficulty and its great
responsibility. You have as complete
and as fair an answer as I can ever
give any one"