Evening star., 1940-11-10
Roosevelt Shares
Press Club S Fun,
Food and FrivoIty
He Replies, OFF the Record,
To Third-Term Jokes
AT Gala Dinner

President Roosevelt was ribbed
about the third term and other mat
ters and replied with an otf-the-
record speech at the annual dinner
of, the National Press Club last
hight.
The Chief Executive found on the
wall opposite his table huge car
toon depicting him holding a lcv-
ing cup in the shape of the United
States and asking, "I won it three
times; don't I get to keep it now?"
The cartoon was drawn by Walter
Karig of the Newark News Bureau.
There we're other celebrities to
divert the reelected President, Vice
President-elect Wallace and more
than 400 club members-Fritz Kreis-
Ter, the famous violinist, who came
to play his own Caprice Viennoise"
and other compositions; Fred War;
ing and his choir; Alec Templeton,
the blind pianist, and other stars
of the stage, screen and radio, mar
shalled by Gene Buck, president
of the American Society of Com
posers, Authors and Publishers.
The clubs president, Richard L.
Wilson, correspondent for the Des
Moines Register and Tribune and
the Minneapolis Star-Journal, in
troduced a program that included
both professional and club skits.
President Talks Of the Record.
Mr.. Roosevelt gave hiA CUSTOM
ary -the-record greeting to the
club at the close of the program.
Earlier Mr.. Wilson had presented
to Mr.. Roosevelt a wallet containing
membership card on parchment,
good for IAN indefinite date"
Mr.. Wallace. seated beside the
President, was given "one-way
boomerang" Mr.. Wilson explained
that boomerang should prove quite
useful in presiding over the Senate,
though sometimes they can swing
right back and hit you in the eye"
The clubs presiding officer explained
that it was the first time the or
ganizat ation had an active member
who had become Vice President,
pointing out that Mr. Wallace, as
editor of farm journal on leave of
absence. was entitled to all the priv
tleges of an active newspaperman.
Mr.. Wilson declared that, for the
good of the Nation, President Roose-
welt should install as Secretary of
Labor. chairman of the Defense
Commission and director of traffic
for the District of Columbia three
individuals whom he would present.
The three men who stepped on the
stage wore masks which made them
all look astonishingly like Wendell
Willkie.
John L. Lewis, president of the
G. 1. o., who was to have been
present at the dinner was conspicu-
Gus by his absence. His seat-va-
cant-Was located just few feet
from the Presidents.
The major amateur skit was
iibe at the Presidents interest in
the Navy. Mr.. Wilson explained that
while it was commendable of the
President to entertain such an af-
lection for the Navy, he should rea-
lie that there also was an Army.
A mimic battle on the stage fol-
lowed, with six club members, re-
splendent in gold braid, directing
the maneuvers of a one-man army.
The umpire blew a whistle when the
staff lost control of its forces" This
sketch, in addition to reminding the
President that he also commands an
army, was a take of on the recent
war games.
Wire to Steve Early Read.
Mr.. Wilson read telegram from
the club to the Presidents vacation
ing press secretary, Stephen T.
Early. 1t said:
With its most distinguished men,
Der present this evening, the men,
bers of the National Press Club join
100 per cent in greetings to you,
with the hope that you are picking
them right for every bet across the
board and that you are taking no
more than three puts to green or
four swallows to tumbler. We re-
gret exceedingly you cannot be with
us, but all of us are looking forward
to the time when we can personally
welcome you"
The club ballroom was decorated
with military insignia-battle flags
and standards and various imple-
ments of war furnished by the War
Department.
Music was furnished by the Navy
Orchestra, under the direction of
1t. Charles Benter.
In charge of the dinner were Mr..
Karig, chairman of the clubs Enter
tainment Committee; Frank Wal
drop, chairman of the Membership
Committee; William H. Mylander,
chairman of the House Committee;
Oliver Hoyem, chairman Of the
Dance Committee; Howard Acton.
vice chairman of the Entertainment
Committee; Ernest K Lindley,
chairman of the Speakers Commit
tee, and George w Simpson, past
president.
The guests were:
The President of the United
States,
The Vice Presldent-elect.
The Speaker of the House OF
Representatives.
The Secretary of State.
The secretary OF War
The Secretary of the Navy.
The Postmaster General.
The Secretary of Agriculture.
The Secretary of Commerce.
A.
Acton, Howard Allen, Robert 8.
Adams George NJ. Ardery, William B.
Allen, Bruce r. Atchison, John c.
Allen, Forest Atkins, w. H.
B.
Baer, John M. Beale, w. L., ir
Baird Bruce Beatty, Morgan NJ.
Baity. James L. Beeman, Mark
Baker. Charles II. Ber, Howard r.
Baker, Joe L. Bell Brian
Barkdull. W D. Beneman, George r.