Evening star., 1932-07-06
ROOSEVELT HEALTH
ISDECLARED SOUND
Recently Obtained $500, 900
Insurance, Passed PhySi-
clans Examination.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
ALBANY, N. Y, July 6.-What Is
Franklin D. Roosevelt's physical condi-
ton? Can he endure the rigors Of
campaign and the presidency?
Those two questions are constantly
coming I'D where there is discussion OF
the Democratic presidential nominee.
The health of Mr.. Roosevelt early
entered the campaign OF 1928, when
he first ran for Governor.
After stumping the State, speaking
in every county and often talking IL
times day, the candidate remarked at
Madison Square Garden meeting, the
last night Of the campaign:
IF / could campaign another year
would throw away my cane"
When the question Of his health was
mentioned in connection with his can
didacy for the presidential nomination,
Mrs Roosevelt said:
of infantile paralysis couldn't kill
him, the presidency would not"
Walks With Escort.
Mr.. Roosevelt taday walks with the
aid of crutches or canes. When in
public he has a secretary or an escort,
sometimes a friend or one of his sons,
walk by his side, his arm in theirs.
Patiently through the years he has
taken the exercises prescribed for VIC
tins of infantile paralysis. The chief
effect of the disease is that many
muscles are retarded, but not made
useless. Exercises restore them. Early
this Summer after a trip to Warm
Springs, Ga, where the Governor rests
and takes the swimming exercises, Miss
Alice Plastridge, a phySio- -therapist,
who has been familiar with the Cover
nor's case for eight years, said she was
surprised" that two leg muscles had
been restored during the preceding six
months.
A year and a half ago insurance
companies wrote a $4,000 policy on
Roosevelt and last Summer three physl-
clans who examined him for magazine
story said his general health was that
of a man much younger than his ~
years.
Forced to conserve his perambula-
tions, Roosevelt as Governor reduced
his routine to essentials and made bus1-
ness come to his desk.
Because of his illness, Mr.. Roosevelt S
public life actually has been two lives.
The first ended with sickness and In
cluded two elections to the New York
State Senate; his challenging Of Tam
many Hall bv opposing the election OF
William F. ('Blue Eyed Bflly') Sheehan
of Buffalo to the United States Senate;
participation In the fight for the
nomination Of woodrow Wilson; selec-
ton by Josephus Daniels as his
Assistant Secretary Of the Navy; prt-
mary fight for the United States Senate
nomination, and selection in 1920 as
vice presidential nominee. with James
M. Cox as the presidential candidate.
Began Second Life in 1924.
Roosevelt. on crutches, nominated Al
! Smith in 1924 and began his second
| public life" He worked patiently to
| heal the wounds of that titanic sectional
struggle Party leaders streamed to his
New York City home. Thousands OF
letters went from his pen to them.
In 1923 Roosevelt again nominated
the happy warrior" and, listening to
Smith, permitted his name to be drafted
| for the governorship. Al lost; Frank
won and two years later surpassed
Smiths record by carrying New York
| by 726,000 votes. From that cloudy No
! vember day of 1880 he was marked for
national consideration.
And then the political alliance Of
Frank" the son. Of aristocrats, the
scion Of wealth, and al" the self-made
statesman OF the masses, came apart In
the ensuing dramatic chapter Of the
| Roosevelt saga.