Evening star., 1935-01-18
ROMANCE CAPITAL TOPIC.
Became Friends During Roosevelt
Campaign Tour.

ANNohC DuIlHk ItOUSCNtEt
Campaign Tour.
For months the Capital had buzzed
with rumors of the romance of Anna
Roosevelt Dali and John Boettiger.
The two were seen riding together
out at Fort Myer. where the Roose-
velts keep their horses, in the early
morning. and dancing together at
fashionable Washington hotels at
night.
They became friends during the
Roosevelt campaign tranScontinental
tour when Mrs. Dali was with her
father and Boettiger covered the trip
for the Tribune. Later he was as
signed to the Washington staff of the
| newspaper.
Boettiger Previously Married.
Both Mrs. Dali and Boettiger were
married at the time they met. But
rumors of estrangement from their
respective spouses already were circu-
lating. Both were divorced last year.
Mrs. Dali was married to Curtis B.
Dali in July. 1926. at Hyde Park, N. Y,
and they went to Europe on a three
months honeymoon. She has two
children. Anna Eleanor Dali (Sistie),
born March Is, 1927, and Curtis
Roosevelt Dali, now years of age.
She suddenly left Washington last
June and established residence in
Nevada, where she obtained a divorce
the last of July.
Boettiger had no children of his
own, but had been step-father to two
IN his previous marriage to a widow.
He has been the spectacular type
OF newspaper reporter. In Chicago
he was known for his coverage of the
Jake Lingle case. which resulted in
his writing book concerned with
field Of crime far from the rari-
fled air Of presidential comings and
goings. which eventually claimed him.
Covered Roosevelt Activities.
After some Is years of newspaper
ing In Chicago he was assigned to
cover Roosevelt on the day he made
his nomination acceptance speech in
Chicago, and thereafter followed his
future father-in-law day by day, often
asking him potentially explosive ques-
tions In press conferences.
This duty, Of course, took him to
Hyde Park in the Summer and to
Warm Springs at THANKSGIVING time.
on which assignments press and presi-
Dental family have a grand time
together IN many of the leisure hours.
The Dall-Boettiger romance recalled
that other matrimonial sensation of
this administration-the marriage of
the Presidents son Elliott to Miss Ruth
Googins of Fort Worth, Tex, after his
divorce from Elizabeth Donner Roose-
welt of Philadelphia.
Mrs. Roosevelt Silent.
Washington again marvelled at the
swift, silent movements of the Presi-
dents wife. Last night, lovely in
pink satin evening gown, Mrs. Roose-
velt was playing the gracious hostess
to several thousand guests at the
formal reception to the judiciary-and
was present as mother of the bride in
the Roosevelt New York town house
this morning.
a IeW guests remarked the absence
OF Anna, usually one of the gayest at
White House social affairs. But no
one could possibly have guessed from
her mothers calm and gracious man
ner that family event of importance
was only few hours away.
Since her arrival here Mrs. Dali has
been one of the most popular mem
bers Of the younger Washington set.
She is tall, pretty. good dancer and
possesses high spirits and wit.
She arrived with the rest of the
family for the inaugural ceremonies in
1888. Dali was seen here with the
family few times after the cere-
mony, but then faded from the pic
ture. Mrs. Dali and her children con-
tinued as residents of the White House.
She fitted back and forth to New
York as an assistant to her mother in
their writing and radio work.
Then she began to be seen occa-
sionally with Boettiger. Rumors of
romance were met at the White House
with constant denials.
On one occasion Mrs. Roosevelt
parried questions with: Some may
have heard rumors, but haven't"
Periodically. however, Mrs. Dali and
Boettiger were seen at Washington
dance-spots dropping in for a few
numbers and then leaving. They were
usually alone and obviously absorbed
in their conversation