Evening star., 1939-07-23

died in the third year of his first term.
Coolidge lived just long enough after he
left the White House to retire to North
ampton. Mass Hoover is the only liv-
ing ex-President Harassed by the trou-
bles that beset his administration, he
left the White House bitterly unhappy
and highly overwrought man.
Roosevelt's well-being is explained in
no small degree, according to DR.. Nc
Intire, by the extraordinary buoyancy
Of his temperament, his ability to de-
tach iaimsel3sgfxpm the cares. of state
and relax. A close associate tells of
coming into the executive Office late at
night during the early frenzed days of
the Roosevelt administration. The Presi-
dent looked up YEARLY from his desk
to say: This would be tough job if
you didn't have a sense of humor'
He has managed to get in an amazing
amount of travel part of it in the in
terest of change and relaxation While
accurate records from the past are not
available, there seems little doubt that
he has covered far more territory than
any other President. Altogether he has
travelled thus far by train, boat and
auto 156,40 miles. The biggest year was
naturally 1896, the campaign year, when
the total was 1914. Next was ,38,
when the President covered 28,659 miles,
which included cross-country trip that
took him into numerous States. The
grand total also includes 10158 miles
Travelled thus far this year.
Sees Country Each Year.
The Presidents ambition is to make
a cross-country trip each year. Since
late in May there has been discussion
of this years jaunt which is now talked
of for the fall. 1t is not merely prac-
tical politics that dictates this tour of
the grass roots with back platform ap-
pearances and speaking engagements
along the way. For the President it is
definite restorative force to see and
talk to the crowds that have invariably
greeted him.
On these trips the President often
exhausts aides and reporters who ac-
company him. On one day during the
SO campaign. for example, he started at
Providence, r. l., at o'clock in the
morning, motored until 80 through
New England mill towns where crowds
packed the streets. stopped briefly for
lunch and resumed the motor journey
that brought him about pm. to Wor-
cester Mass, where at o'clock he de-
livered one of the most important
speeches of the campaign. His party
and the press were on the ropes, but
the President himself appeared fresh
and unfatigued as he entered the
crowded hall to face the microphones.
On fishing trip the President is able
more or less to forget the pressing prob
lens of his job even though important
mail is forwarded to him. The same
is true when he is at his ancestral home
at Hyde Park. A great family man, he
gets genuine and absorbing pleasure
from gathering dozen or more Roose-
velts about well laden table on BIRTH
day or holiday. He relaxes in hobbies
such as stamp collecting. After one of
the most important days in his entire
career a secretary found him in bed in
the evening with his stamp albums
around him.
Rest Now Would Aid.
In recent weeks he has shown an ir-
ritability which in the past has been
rare no matter how great the provoca-
ton. The reason is that he has been
held too long at the job without
break. The prolonged session of Con-
gress, in which certain of his favorite
projects have been upset, plus the heat
of summer, have tended to wear down
his patience. In past precedents hold,
the forthcoming Western trip, with q
brief excursion to Alaska and q few
days of fishing in Pacific waters, will
restore him.
The Presidents health was not even
the subject Of whispering campaign
In 1886. Mr.. Roosevelt had demon