Evening star., 1935-05-04
ROOSEVE[T'S SON
TO Be AIDE HERE
James Seeks More Training
in Politics, but Will Have
No Title.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

bOo1ON, MAY, tN.h.N.a.'.-
James Roosevelt, the Presidents eld-
est son, is going to Washington to
work with his father and, incidentally,
take another training course in the
subject in which he is most inter-
ested-politics. a
While 1t has been denied that
James Roosevelt would become a
member Of the White House secre-
tariat, he is going to Washington to
serve in an advisory capacity to his
father, with no title.
James is now in Boston, where he
has been engaged in the insurance
business since his graduation from
Harvard in 1880, and he will leave
for Washington Tuesday night. It
Is said he plans to spend two or
three days a week in the National
Capital, and that he probably will
retain some interest in his insurance
agency here.
It Is believed that President Roose-
velt wants his son in Washington, for
one thing, to get and report on the
psychological reactions" of the peo-
pie to the New Deals plans. James
also would help in sizing UP persons
with whom the President comes into
contact, and probably do some mis-
sionary work of a confidential nature.
It Is known that the President re-
spects the young mans judgment.
Secretaries Already Burdened.
The White House secretariat has
been overburdened with duties as a
result of the serious illness of Louis
McHenry Howe, secretary and life
long friend of the President, upon
whom the Executive has depended SO
much for advice and counsel. Be
cause of his illness Mr.. Howe can
give little help now. and this has
thrown a tremendous load on Marvin
H. Mcintyre, appointment secretary,
and Stephen Early, press secretary.
One reason that James Roosevelt
will have no title with his new duties
is that a Presidents secretary has al
most cabinet ranking. 1t was felt that
1t would not be tactful or in good
taste to elevate James to this extent:
that people might feel there were too
many Roosevelts in high places
James, now 28 years old, served as
secretary to his father during part
of the 1892 campaign. He Is. more
over, his fathers favorite sailing and
fishing companion, and there is nat
ural bond of sympathy and under
standing between them. James is q
strapping youth, feet inches. 2
inches taller than the President, and
he knows through long experience
just how, tactfully, to assist his father.
Sure, we're all crazy about politics
in our family. except my brother FL
lott" James Roosevelt remarked on
one occasion during the 1882 cam
paign. He literally grew up on poll
tics, from the time he was 8 years
old, when his father, then in his late
20s. went to Albany as a New York
State Senator.
Handled Bay State Patronage.
James Roosevelt assisted James M.
Curley, then mayor Of Boston, now
Governor of Massachusetts,, in or
| ganizing the Roosevelt pre-conven-
tion campaign three years ago. He
has handled most of the Federal
patronage In Massachusetts, for the
administrations development that
brought criticism upon him from
some sectors of the Bay State democ-
racy, as the States senior Senator,
David I. Walsh, was thought to be
entitled to act as spokesman for the
party. Some Massachusetts, poll
ticians made references to James as
the "crown prince" in 1888 after he
had intimated openly in a speech
that candidates for appointive offices
would be wise to obtain his indorse-
| ment.
Like his father, James was gradu-
ated from Groton School, in 1926, and
from Harvard, in 1880. Later he at
tended Boston University Law School
while working without pay in an in
surance brokers office to learn the
business. He said he wanted the
helpful in politics" In school he
was active in athletics, rowing on the
Harvard varsity crew in 1928. He
suffered fractured leg while playing
| foot ball at Harvard.
He married Betsy Gushing. daugh-
ter of DR.. Harvey Gushing of Boston,
noted brain specialist, In 1880. They
have daughter, Sara, now 3 years
| old.
(Copyright 1895. by the North American
Newspaper Alliance. Inc)