The Washington times., 1938-04-23
The Presidents Family

of friends and acquaintance. Trying to smear
by smearing his family never regarded as
20 =, ethical or decent This smear-the- family
campaign against the President is no ex-
Family certior Indeed # !. dirtier than most
The current smear-the-family attack on the President
centers on his oldest son. James Roosevelt This is be-
cause Roosevelt has recently been made his fathers
confidential secretary at $4,000 year; because he
didn't work up from the ranks to the title of lieutenant
colonel in the Marine Reserve Corps which he wears
because the President is suspected of daydreamng that
sometime James might succeed Franklin John Quincy
Adams succeeded John Adams.
Let's take up these objections to James Roosevelt one
by one.
The Presidency is notorious man-kiing job. Any
President needs staff of able secretaries
to take of the work off his shoulders.
'""eS Here is President who, in addition, suf
fer from the effects of affcton which long ago de-
prved him of most of the of his legs. He needs
aid whatever the aids official title who help him
around physically as we'll as in his official and political
duties. Gus Gennerich the Presidents bodyguard and
helper for years, is dead. Could anybody be fit
ting as successor to Gennerich with additional duties,
than the Presidents oldest son?
AS for the marine reserve Internationally, it
Is an empty title in peacetime, though in wartime
James Roosevelt would have to live up to by going
out to fight. This title made for him for very
practical purpose. Diplomatic rules of etiquette
involved and rigid When nations head travels
in other countries mis- confidential aid has to sit below
the salt at official functions unless he has sort
of title that suits the doctors of protocol.
And if the thought has crossed the Presidents mind
that James might be President some day-well, it's
funny kind of American father that hasn't
time dreamed of his son in the Presidency.
Other members of the Presidents family have been
smeared from time to time-Mrs Roosevelt herself
for being an active and socially minded person who
'7t Ho,, TL. likes to get around and
I. things on her own; Elliott Roose-
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES welt for working for Mr.. Hearst;
Anna Roosevelt Boettger's husband for doing like
wise James for being in the insurance business before
he got his present job Franklin, jr for being arrested
for speeding as Harvard boy; and and forth
Apparently the only thing that would satisfy these
Smearers of the Presidents family would be for the
PRESIDENT to keep his family incommunicado through
out all his years in the White House. It enrages the
smearers that the Presidents children are all definite
and vivid personalities who insist being themselves
Or would it please the to have the Presidents
children emulate various and daughters of various
wealthy Old Dealers?
Suppose the daughter had passed up her American ct
zenshp to marry busted from some small busted
C,nnooo Th, European country. Suppose James
TratoJ T; were polo player and nothing more;
AZ ~ suppose Elliott went South in the win
ter to bet the horses and North the summer to bet on
the horses. Suppose Franklin, r angeed musical come
dies, John had blonde secretary" after another
Our guess is that even these noble deeds wouldn't
please the Old Dealers; that they would call the Presi-
dents family pack of iders and wasrels if they could
see any political capital in so doing.
The President, we think, might as we'll make up his
mind that he can't please his Old Deal critics. Probably
he has already done Anyway that crack of his before
the ladies of the D. A. R. that all Old Americans like him
self descended from immigrants and revoutionists
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