Evening star., 1936-02-29
NAVY ROOSEVELTS
Death of Assistant Secretary Stirs Interest in
Possibility of New Family
Honors.

new cabinet officer for the Navy De-
partment, if that becomes necessary
for any reason-will come from either
Massachusetts, or New York.
There are two sons of former Presi-
dent Theodore Roosevelt who might
carry on the Roosevelt tradition in the
Navy epartment-Kermit. who was
born in 1889, and is a close friend of
the present Chief Executive, having
accompanied him on many OF his
cruises, and Archibald, who was born
in 1894. There is Theodore Roosevelt,
jr.. third of the famous clan to be As
sistant Secretary of the Navy, but he is
out of the running, having held the
job before and being of another po-
litical faith than that of the President.
Out of political sympathy with the
Chief Executive, too, is Mrs. Alice
Roosevelt Longworth, SO that even the
penchant of the New Deal for giving
women high place in government at
Washington is detoured in this case.
Col Rooseyelts sons-William Morrow
and Henry Latrobe, jr.-are considered
too young for such political burden.
Observers consider it extremely un-
likely that Mr. Roosevelt would ap-
point one of his sons-James or Elli-
otto the post of Assistant Secretary
of the Navy. But there are those who
do say that the real Sc etary of the
Navy is "F. D. R." himself.
ONE hears the names of several
possibilities" mentioned for the
post of Assistant Secretary. Among
these prominence is given to Vincent
Astor, who was junior officer in the
Navy during the World War, and
James A. Moffett, former federal
housing administrator.
Then there is the story that is going
the rounds in Washington now, that
Secretary Swanson will resign, on ac-
| count of i'll health, and President
Roosevelt will give the cabinet plum
to the man who gave the New Deal
engineer his first chance in national
| politics-the Ambassador to Mexico,
Josephus Daniels.
From time to time the name of
Gov. James NJ. Curley of Massa-
chusetts is suggested for either the
post of Secretary or his assistant.
The Bay State Governor Is considered
to be one of the best orators in the
Nation and, as all the cabinet officers
are slated to take the stump during
the coming campaign, outstanding
speakers are needed to return the
| Ctryo r,ha
will be IA on March 81. could not be
expected to undertake a rigorous
speaking campaign. But, of course,
President Roosevelt may have dark
horse in mind for appointment as
Assistant Secretary. Although Nc
Kinley, Wilson. Harding and a
Coolidge picked a Roosevelt to be
Assistant Secretary of the Navy,
Roosevelt in the White House might
have entirely different ideas about
duplicating this, for he has already
done his bit toward upholding the
| tradition.
But should some Roosevelt get the
assignment, it would be carrying
forward into national life another
descendant of that Claes Van Roose-
velt who emigrated from Iceland to
New Amsterdam in 1649. For Claes-
short for Nieholas-settled near the
site of the present Brooklyn Bridge.
on the fertile farmlands of those
days. He it was who founded the
line in America, giving five Assistant
Secretaries of the Navy to the United
! States, as well as two Presidents.