Evening star., 1939-07-23

With the third term issue to the fore
in any discussion of 1910, the inevitable
question has arisen whether President
Roosevelt would be able to take an
other four years of the gruelling pun
ishment that our Chief Executives are
made to endure.
Already the pros and cons of this
question are being argued. Arriving in
France the other day for her annual
European visit, the Presidents mother,
Mrs. James Roosevelt, said she believed
her son was perfectly capable of carry
ing on for another term if he should
decide to run.
On the other hand Dr. Edward H.
Cary, past president of the American
Medical Association, told Baylor Uni
versity graduating class: "A personal
visit to the President convinces me that
the strain of the last few years will make
it impossible for him to run for third
term. He has sagging muscles and is
whipped out man. Only his worst
enemy would try to make him run for
third term"
The best evidence as to Roosevelt's
physical condition, quite apart from any
plans for the future which he may or
may not have, comes, of course, from
his own personal physician, DR.. Ross T.
Mc1ntire. For seven years DR.. Nc
1ntire, naval man with the rank of
admiral, has kept the most careful
watch over the Presidents health. The
professional relationship has been sup
plemented by close friendship that has
developed while both men have served
in the White House. Obviously Dr. Nc
1ntire would have the final word in any
discussion of the Presidents health.
Even Improved in Some Ways.
"The President is in excellent physi-
cal shape today" he says. Except for
the fact that he is seven years older, he
is actually in many ways in better health
today than he was in 1888, due to the
fact that he has taken regular, sys-
tematic exercise. He shows no more
any man under similar conditions"
During his entire seven years in the
White House the President has not
been in bed more than two weeks with
illness, according to McIntire. And
then it has been merely mild inf1u-
enza that has sent the President to bed
as precautionary measure. A chronic
frontal sinus infection, dating long way
back, has flared up several times, but
it is neither acute now nor serious, ac-
cording to Admiral McIntire.
Since he's been in Washington he's
been tied to this job," the Presidents
physician says, land therefore he has
held to system of exercise. The Presi-
dent swims in the White House pool on
an average of five times a week. He
also does walking exercises in the pool
with the water up to his armpits. At
the same time he receives thorough mas
sage. The whole process takes about
an hour and quarter.
Spends Much Time in Sun.
He has the most remarkable recu-
perative powers. Although it's very diff
cult, as I've said before, to talk about
the health of q healthy man."
This week end while he Is at Hyde
Park the President, on advice Of DR..
McIntire, is spending as much time as
possible in the sun. He has gone longer
than at any time during the past seven
years without a break away from Wash
ington, and his physician is grateful
for the three-day week end which gives
him something OF change.
''The pressure in his position is tre-
mendous," McIntire says. Il don't like
to see him go much longer than two
months without complete break, Ger
tainly not longer than three months"
While he is in the White House there
is very little time that Roosevelt can
call his own. His days are closely
scheduled, usually with l5-minute ap-
pointments. every quarter hour new
visitor arriving to remind him Of some