Evening star., 1934-03-04
BY THEODORE G. JOSLIN,
Former Secretary to President Hoover

A FORMER President said some
n years ago, while experiencing
~ strained relations with the
4 \ Washington correspondents,
that no Chief Executive could
satisfy the press until long after he
was dead and buried. His predecessors
and successors have echoed from time
to time, feelingly if privately, the
sentiment he expressed.
But he and they, if alive today,
would at least qualify the statement.
for Franklin D. Roosevelt has come
nearer than any of them to meeting
the expectations of the 400 men and
women who, in these times of stress.
write half a million words day to
bring to our fireSides news of develop
mentS at the seat of the Government.
And, to complete the picture, these
writer's have functioned quite satisfac-
torily to the President.
OF course, Mr. Roosevelt has rounded
out only one year Of his term of office
He still has three years to go. So long
a period offers limitless possibilities.
But the comradery between him and
the press that has developed during
the last II months augurs we'll for the
future. 1t is especially significant
House today is more the center of
news than it ever has been in history.
Best Source of News.
With regularity that is almost
monotonous the executive offices have
provided the setting for events that
make the headlines streaming across
the pages Of the newspapers. Because
1t Is the one best source for news, more
writer's, serious minded journalists and
the garden variety of reporters alike
gather there than at any time since
the Fourth Estate became an adjunct
Of the Government.
They assemble sometimes 200 strong
for the bi-weekly conferences with the
President, abidingly confident he will
talk-the one thing any President
must do to satisfy them. They fore
gather every day and several times a
day with the press contact secretary,
Stephen Early, who has discharged
his exacting duties with extraordinary
ability. They waylay the never-ending
line Of callers, quickly interviewing and
as quickly transmitting to the world
the news thus obtained.
Equally expeditiously, the same news
comes clacking back over the teletype
into Mr.. Early's Office, an innovation
of recent weeks that permits the Presi-
dent to keep tabs on what his callers
are saying and what the writer's are
broadcasting to a news-conscious peo-
pie.
AS the beloved "Ike" Hoover, chief
usher for many years, remarked to me
few weeks after the second family
Of Roosevelts had come to the Ex-
ecutive Mansion, Il don't know
whether I am running the White
House or a nickelodeon," so the
attaches in the Offices do not know
whether they are serving at the work
rooms OF the President or standing
duty before the main entrance to q
four-ring circus. From morning to
night crowds pour in and out of the
Offices.
Cross-Section of People.
However numerous the callers, what
ever the nature of their visits, the
writer's always look forward with the
keenest anticipation to their confer
ences with the President himself.
Often single press association will
assemble half a dozen of its men,
each a specialist on given subject,
each with his ear cooked for the sig
nificance Of every remark. No scrap
Of news is lost. Then, too, the corre-
spondents Of individual newspapers
gather. They represent all shades Of
political opinion. There are Republic
ans, Democrats, independents, liberals
and pinks. They are a cross-section
Of the American people.
They wait in the lobby for the sig
nal to proceed into the presence" /"
The lobby where they congregate is
hardly bef1tting the headquarters Of
the President of the most powerful
nation on earth. It has more the
appearance of a third-rate hotel. The
men stand In groups or lounge in the
chairs and setteeS arranged around
the bare walls. They talk, laugh,
argue and read in an atmosphere
heavy with smoke.
Picture, II you viii, such q setting
on any conference day from the be-
ginning Of the depression down to
date. Rumors, hints, Whispering
have been handed about that some
thing big Is about to break" The
hour for the conference Is close at
hand-and edition time Is too close
for comfort. The impatient news
paper men mill about the lobby.
The President sounds his buzzer.
He is ready to receive the press. The
secretary steps to the lobby, where
the ever-faithful pat" McKenna,
veteran Of many administrations, is
on duty. A whispered word and "Pat''
claps his hands twice-the signal
over the years that the President Is
waiting for the press.
There Is . rush to the door. The
surge Into the Prehdent's once whan