Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-13
The President Has
q Busy Day
By Open L. Scott.

of the United States. Their wonder is
inspired right now by the requirements
of the job and by feeling that those
requirements, instead of growing less ex-
acting will grow more exacting.
Yet, Mr.. Roosevelt is asking for
chance to take another four years Of it,
and Mr.. Willkie is clamoring for his
chance to take over the task that Presi-
dent Roosevelt could let co. Both are
not only willing, but anxious, to tackle a
job that, by comparison, puts the jobs
of Europe's and Asia's dictators far in
the shade.
A glance shows why this is so. To be-
gin with President must act with due
regard for the thoughts and opinions of
the Nations voters. Otherwise his use
fulness can come quickly to an end. At
the moment, in addition to his other
work, Mr. Roosevelt must conduct CAM
paign for reelection. # third term re-
suits from the present campaign 1t will be
due to the Presidents personal direction
Of strategy after those who had taken
credit for Roosevelt victories in the past
had pulled out of the picture.
That is just the beginning. Presi-
dent, of course, must keep his finger on
the normal operations Of the Govern
ment. A few years ago this part of the
job was supposed to be too much for any
man and much was written about the
killing burden of the presidency. Today
the normal operations of this Govern
ment are vastly expanded over the pre-
Roosevelt period. They involve decisions
upon policy and performance that only a
President can make, and those decisions
require close knowledge of the Govern
ment machine and its working. That
machine now has more than 1000, 900
employees, outside Of the Army and Navy.
Yet the operation of the ordinary ma
chinery of government can be only a
part-time job for the President.
While running the Government and
conducting a campaign for reelection.
Mr.. Roosevelt must also conduct the most
delicate and highly important negotia-
lions in the field of foreign affairs. The
deal that resulted in exchange of Atlantic
naval bases for American destroyers was
personally negotiated. 1t is the President
who is responsible for the moves that
today concern the influence of the United
States in the Far East and in Europe. A
President must keep in the closest touch
with foreign developments and must
chart the foreign policy Of this Nation
with regard for public opinion.
At the same time he must take steps
to influence that opinion into support of
the moves that he determines to be wise.
That again is task that would seem to
be large enough for any man, no matter
what his qualifications. Yet it can be no
more than part-time task for Presi-
dent.
More than one President has cracked
up on another job of major Importance.
This is the job Of getting along with
Congress. Most business executives are
annoyed by the necessity of dealing on
rare occasions with board of directors
of or 10 members who occasionally
are> critical of executive policies. The
President Of the United States must deal
with a board of directors of 531 men,
bers, at least half of whom are inclined
to be highly suspicious and critical. This
board is divided into two sections. each
Of which must approve the major execu-
tive policies Unless able to maintain
majority support on the board of direc-
tors that Congress really is, any Presi-
dent is hamstrung. The ability to main
tain this majority, representing diver
gent group and sectional interests, is an
art.
Still, the Presidents job today does not
emo there.
AS matters are now organized, Mr..
is running this Nations defense pro-
gram. That program is vast. 1t is many
sided. Its influence upon the country
and its policies is very great. The result
is that many decisions must be maze,
affecting labor and profits and tax policy.
The President insists upon keeping power
to make those decisions. He has refused
to delegate that power, in order to make
sure that control affecting Government
policy did not pass to any single group
in the country during the formative
stage.
But, Mr.. Roosevelt is not only the real
chairman of this country's National De-
tense Commission; he is, in addition,
commander in chief of the Army and
Navy. As commander in chief the Presi-
dent occupies an active role and not the
role of figurehead functioning at the
behest of the Army general staff and the
chief of naval operations. Military and
naval policy fits closely into foreign pol
icy, and the President is formulator and
co-ordinator of all of these policies.
Added up, these major tasks that con-
front a present-day President make a
formidable array. They are supplement-
ed by wide variety of other tasks, such
as serving as the ceremonial head OF the
Nation and dealing with the States and
in the past more than now-thinking
all of the time about the Supreme Court
reaction to executive actions.
Certainly no corporation executive in
this land has any such job as that con-
fronting President. The biggest exec
utive job in any American corporation is
of narrow scope compared to the presi-
dency.
Likewise, by comparison, the Dictator
ships of Europe and Asia are sinecures.
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