Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-03-04
HOOVER KEPT BUSY
IN FINAL HOURS
Retiring President Arises
Early to Attend to Last
Minute Details.

President Hoover to leave the White
House and join President elect Roose-
welt on the automobile ride up Pennsyl-
vania avenue to the Capitol for the
inaugural ceremonies everything was
in readiness within the presidential
home for the change of occupants and
for the starting In motion Of a new
regime.
Considering all that is associated
with the moving out of one presidential
family and the moving in of another,
todB's change Of Presidents Is being
marked for the absence of confusion
and for the ease and convenience with
which all Of that has been accomplished
in this respect.
After weeks of careful preparation
and just as careful execution, the great
quantity Of household effects and per-
sonal belongings of President and Mrs.
Hoover have been moved out of the
White House and are now on their way
to the California home of the Hoovers,
to make room for the belongings of the
incoming presidential family.
Staff Expert in Change.
The White House Is accustomed to
these changes and the staff Of officials
and attaches, most Of whom have been
there for many years and have bowed
out and bowed-in many Presidents and
First Ladies, are expert In making this
presidential moving day pleasant and
dignifed occasion. Naturally there is
a certain air of excitement about the
famous mansion. but in a very short
time everything will be running about
the house Just about the same as usual.
At an early hour the White House
was astir. Last-minute duties, incident
to the departure of President and Mrs.
Hoover and the arrival of the new
President and his household. were
entered upon. Outwardly, the mansion
presented its customary aspect of
solemn dignity and serenity, suggesting
very little of the important epoch in
the history of White House occupants
so soon to follow.
Hoover Retires Late.
Although it was long past midnight
before Mr.. Hoover retired, he arose
before 7 o'clock and after shaving him.
self with safety razor that has served
him for many years. he dressed and
went to his study, where he received
overnight kilograms and other COM
munications, and hurriedly glanced
through the morning papers while
awaiting Mrs. Hoover and other mem
bers of the household to join him for
breakfast
1t had been the Presidents intention
to meet with his so-called medicine ball
cabinet before breakfast for the Gus
tomary morning workout In the rear
grounds, but during the night the
President sent out word to this little
group of friends that the exercise for
today would be cancelled. However,
Capt. Joel T. Boone, naval medical
officer who has been the Presidents
personal physician during his admins
tration. and who was medical officer on
the Mayflower for six years prior to
that, and who has been one of the
regular medicine ball players, presented
himself at the White House as usual
and gave the President his final look
over" and afterward happily described
him as being in excellent physical con-
dition.
Improved Physically.
president Hoover is in splendid
shape despite his many worries and
hours Of labor" DR.. Boone said to this
writer He is leaving the White House
in better physical condition than when
he arrived four years ago"
In this connection President Hoover,
through the medium of regular and
systematic exercise, today tips the
scales at 181 pounds, which Is about IS
pounds less than he weighed on his own
Inauguration day four years ago.
Long before the President arose this
morning the walks through the front
grounds of the White House were vir-
tually alive with people-visitors to
Washington, who had taken this early
morning occasion for their first glimpse
of the home of Americas President and
the surrounding grounds. Shortly be-
fore 9 o'clock, the hour set for closing
the grounds, the walkways and road
ways were thronged with sightseers. In
the vicinity Of the portico over the front
doorway there was q congested group
of people waiting expectantly for q
glimpse Of the President or some mep-
Der Of his household.
Goes to Executive Office.
Following his last breakfast in the
White House, President Hoover went
Immediately to his desk in the Executive
Once. where he at once talked over the
telephone to several of his close asso-
ciates regarding the overnight develop
ments of the banking situation. He also
was confronted with some last-minute
routine business requiring his signstu31
which he disposed Of before putting his
chair aside for q better light at the
window to continue his reading Of nsVs'
papers which he had startee"nefore
breakfast.
The first caller. at the ONCE was
Harvey COUCH. y director Of the Recon-
struction Finance Corporation.
Ramps in Place.
On his walk from the White House
to the Executive Office this morning.
President Hoover saw for the first time
the ramps which had been placed over
the two sets of steps encountered upon
entrance to the rear door Of the Execu-
tive ONCE, which had been put up over
y,fcl,t for the convenience of the incom.