The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1936-04-23
Presidents Personal
Secretary Dies Sat.
Had Stood by Chief Executive
Until He Was Considered
One of Family

fight-much Of it under an oxygen.
tent-against heart and chest COM
plications.
Funeral services were held at 4
p. m. Tuesday in the high-ceilinged
East Room, scene Of many state
functions. Burial followed at Fall
River, Massachusetts. Howe's home
town which he visited on the infre-
quent occasions when he left his
"other home" at the White House.
Expressions of regret came from
leaders in public life who since ear
ly World war days had known
Howe, first as an aide to the then
youthful Assistant Secretary of the
Navy Roosevelt, then as his political
counsellor while governor of New
York and finally as his secretary at
the White House.
Baker Pays Tribute
Newton D. Baker, secretary of war
while Mr.. Roosevelt was member
of the little cabinet" said of Howe:
Ellis devotion to his country was his
outstanding characteristic. His death
is a great loss"
The President learned of his Sec
retary's death when he returned to
the White House from dinner Sat-
urday night. Mrs. Roosevelt tele-
phoned Mrs. Howe Immediately.
In the 20-odd years since Louie"
as a newspaperman, had first ex-
planned the intricacies of politics to
Mr.. Roosevelt as first-term mem
Der of the New York legislature, the
little quiet-spoken Howe had be-
come a member of the family.
To him, the President remained
until the end only Franklin in per-
sonal salutation and ''the boss when
referred to in talks with friends
Mrs. Roosevelt was Eleanor"
Lived at White House
Since 1892, Howe was constantly
close to Mr.. Roosevelt's Office, living
at the White House with an Office
only few steps removed from that
of the President.
After the election, Mr.. Roosevelt
in his first public utterance said
Howe and Chairman James A. Far
ley, of the national committee more
than anybody else, were responsible
''for the great victory"
The friendship between the Presi-
dent and Howe started in Albany,
NJ Y, when Mr.. Roosevelt was a
youthful state senator and Howe a
newspaper reporter.
When Mr. Roosevelt came to
Washington as assistant secretary of
the navy in the Wilson administra-
ton, Howe came with him. When
Mr.. Roosevelt made his unsuccess-
full race for the vice presidency in
1920, it was Howe who planned the
campaign and picked the campaign
sides.
Two of the aides were Stephen T..
Early and Marvin Mcintyre, now
secretaries to the President.
Stood by Roosevelt
In the wake of the 1920 campaign
when Mr.. Roosevelt suffered an at
tack of infantile paralysis which
threatened to end his political career
if not his life, Howe stood by de-
votedly.
Abandoning his own affairs, Howe
went to live with the Roosevelts. He
was credited with convincing the
President that, the physical handi-
cap Notwithstanding, political ca
reer still was possible.
Howe held not title while Mr..
Roosevelt was governor of New
York, but he continued to give his
political advice. Always he could see
presidential possibilities for "the
boss"
Because OF his part IN electlng Mr..
Roosevelt, Howe was called "king-
maker" Warwick" mystery man."
and politician supreme"
More than a year ago his illness
was so critical that hope was aban-
doned, but the veteran political
strategist surprised physicians by
stamina and his apparent recovery
Last August when White House
repairs necessitated cutting off of
electricity and plumbing, Howe was
removed to naval hospital. The Pres
ident made several trips to the hos
pital to visit his friend, the last only
few days ago.
Juniors Entertain