Evening star., 1937-01-20

4 FTER his luncheon conference" the
~ Presidents engagements are fewer dur
~ ing the remainder Of the afternoon.
This makes 1t possible for him to dis
pose Of the routine business which accumulateS
daily on his desk. to complete reading his mail
and to dictate the many letters requiring his
personal answer. In addition to all this. many
personal notes are written by him In lead pencil
to cabinet officers and other administration
heads concerning business Of the moment. He
finds this quicker and more satisfactory than
indulging in lengthy letters to these associates.
The President also talks frequently to these New
Deal lieutenants over the telephone, and when
Congress Is in session telephones to the congress
sional leaders regarding pending legislation.
Probably the most tiresome, boring and IA
tiguing Of all of the Presidents daily chores
is that Of signing his name. Even though he
does not autograph as many photographs as
some of the more recent Presidents it is dull
day when he does not write out his name several
hundred times. He always signs his initials
on his personal notes to cabinet members and
other associates.
With all Of the ordinary burdens and labors
of President in addition to the trying prob
lens brought about by the depression emer-
gency, Mr.. Roosevelt has shown no signs Of
weakening under the strain. Only a few days
ago his personal physician, who keeps an eye
on him daily said the President was in the pink
of condition. Those who have known him for
q long time say he Is in better physical shape
today than when he entered the White House
four years ago.
He keeps his waistline down and otherwise
in trim by taking a swim in the White House
pool late each afternoon on his way from the
executive Office to prepare for his evening meal.
Likewise, he enjoys a daily rundown admnis-
tered by his valet. But he gets little other exer-
else, and except for motor drives and week end
cruises enjoys no great amount of fresh air
The President meets with his cabinet each
Tuesday afternoon at O'Clock. These sessions
generally last from an hour to two hours. Each
Friday afternoon he meets with the members
of his Executive Council. which is composed of
virtually all of the cabinet members in addition
to the heads of the major emergency agencies.
Because SO many Of the cabinet members also
council members, Mr. Roosevelt has long
since abandoned the custom of his predecessors
of holding bi-weekly cabinet meetings.
The President meets with the members OF
the press twice a week. The press conference
for the benefit of the afternoon newspapers is
held at 1890 am. on Fridays, while that for
morning newspapers is at pm. on Tuesdays
Each Thanksgiving season during his first
three years in the White House President
Roosevelt succeeded in getting away from his
presidential duties for a brief sojourn In Warm
Springs, Ga. This afforded him an opportunity
to enjoy swimming in the Warm Springs pool
and to visit with the hundred or so infantile
paralysis patients at the Warm Springs Founda-
tion, most of whom are youngsters. He was
prevented from making his annual visit this
year because he was on his way to South
America at the time. The President really de-
lights in his sojourns at Warm Springs, not
only because of the swimming and seeing the
children, but because he gets real rest and
finds time to spend most of his hours in the
open. Moreover, he gets an opportunity to
drive his own automobile and he never misses
a day motoring around the nearby countryside.
Mr.. Roosevelt gets his same pleasure while
visiting at his boyhood home at Hyde Park.
N. Y, which he frequently visits during the
course of each year.
The only times the President gets a chance
to see much of his family is during the evening
meal and Immediately afterward
I@&,R