Evening star., 1938-02-24

=
ones literary out
put is concerned. ""''' Lawrence
Heretofore, Presidents usually have
waited till they left Office before
writing for newspapers or magazines
on professional basis, and opinions
have differed even among former
Presidents about it. Woodrow Wilson.
for example, wrote only one brief
magazine article after he left office
and refused to become a syndicated
columnlst. Calvin Coolidge, on the
other hand, sold his comments through
newspaper syndicate. Herbert Hoover,
our only living ex-President, has
some rather high ideals about the
presidential office and its associations
even with an ex-President. Several
months ago, newspaper syndicate
wrote to him with an idea of Offering
lucrative contract. He replied as
follows:
Il have long had the feeling tha.
the task Of the columnist should be
left to professional writers who must
earn their living thereby. They do
1t effectively and it seems to me It
is hardly fair competition for people
like myself. If We have ANYTHING
to say that is of value we can USUALLY
reach the country through the news
columns in general without trespassing
on the profession of Others"
Former President Theodore Roose-
veit became a contributing editor to
weekly magazine as we'll as a syndi-
Gated columnist after leaving the
White House, but it is not believed
that there is another case on record
OF President of the United States
engaging while in office in any money!
making activities directly related to
his office as Chief Executive.
The Cause of Discussion,
Z Certainly there is nothing illegal
about it, and the question of what
IS ethical or proper is matter of
opinion varying with observers. The
Idea itself of a President writing for
newspapers on what goes on behind
the scenes is not wrong Mr.. Roose-
velt has every justification for select
ing any business or profession he
nkes-if, indeed, one grants the idea
that it is right for a President to
make money in ways that are related
10 the Office which he occupies.
Members of Congress frequently ac-
Sept money for lecturing and for the
writing of magazine articles, so there
can hardly be any criticism on the
theory that Mr.. Roosevelt is an elected
officer and should give his whole time
TO the job for which he draws a big
salary. The objection will come on
the ground that many peope believe
. President of the United States
should not engage directly or indi-
rectly in any business whatsoever
while he is serving in the highest
office in the land
For If it is right to have a Presi-
dent engage in money-making ac-
tivities, it would be right for Mr..
Roosevelt to appear on a sponsored
radio program and accept money for
hreside talks. Or it would be equally
right for him to allow his name to
be used for fee on testimonials ad-
vertlsing certain products in prefer
ence to others. There are many con-
Germs which would give plenty Of
money to be permitted to say in ad-
>ertisements what cigarettes the Presi-
dent smokes or what suspenders he
wears or what kind of razor he uses. |
Maybe there are innocent and lepiti- |
mate ways to make money, but a
large segment of the American people |
would think them improper If a Presi-
dent really commercialized his office
for private gain.
Criticism of Papers Recalled.
Mr.. Roosevelt'S willingness to ac-
eept money from newspapers when |
he has denounced them and, by in !
direction, has given praise to the radio
and the movies is somewhat of a |
but inconsistency has be-
come virtue hereabouts, so it is quite
possible Mr.. Roosevelt thinks it is
all right now. and that maybe news
papers are not so bad after all.
just why a President Of the United |
States should want to make any more
money than his salary of $4,000 a
year, which is supplemented by free
automobiles, an allowance for travel
ing and official entertainment and
free servants, all of which costs the
taxpayers something around 5000, 900,
Is q bit difficult to understand. But
It is something hardly to be con-
demned in this instance, because it
means that the profit motive is rising
in MIR. Roosevelt's psychology today.
whereas only a few months ago the
Tugwells and the other brain trusters
were talking glibly to him about the
service motive" and the need for
curbing and restraining, If not elimi-
mating altogether, the course of the
profit motive
Mr.. Roosevelt fortunately has the
hrge to engage in money-making.
80 do millions of other citizens, and
not few of them will say it may
be perfectly all right for an ex-Presi-
dent to do it, but they are not so
sure 1t is good taste for President,