Evening star., 1941-11-16
Old Friends Work Together

Uncle Sam in his fight for democracy
goes in for dual control, maybe on the
theory that two heads are better than
one.
There's the William s. Knudsen-Sid-
ney Hillman combination, capital and
labor representatives, or the two heads
that wag as one in the Once of Produc-
ton Management
The latest double setup is the Eleanor
Elinor collaboration at work at twin
desks with twin vases, twin clocks, twin
telephones in a ninth-fioor suite in the
Office of Civilian Defense which is 10
cated In V-shaped building on Dupont
circle.
Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt and Mrs
Ilinor Morgenthau have been close
friends for many years and it was logical
that when the wife of the President be-
came assistant civilian defense director
she should enlist the help of the wife
of the Secretary of the Treasury. The
two have shared many interests in
human betterment.
The way Mrs. Roosevelt Is going at
her own job indicates that she may be
seen around Washington for q week,
maybe two weeks, at time But even
though the Nations most Travelled First
Lady is not making any new lecture
engagements, she'll still be on the 70.
She hopes later to visit State and
regional defense meetings when these
get organized. She never has been able
TO resist seeing first hand what progress
is being made. In addition therell be
trips with the President to their HYDE
Park, N. Y, home
Dollar-a-Year Workers
While she is away Mrs. Morgenthau
Is her stand-in. That Is as near .
formal title IS the latter has. Mrs.
Roosevelt can sign herself assistant di.
rector In charge of volunteer participa-
ton In civilian defense. Both she and
Mrs. Aorgethau are down for that
mythical dollar -a-year
In the post World War period. both
Mrs. Roosevelt and Mrs. Morgenthau
were peace workers. They were raising
their children in the hope there would
be no bugle calls in their lives. Mrs.
Roosevelt has four sons Of military
age and Mrs. Morgenthau two.
But now convinced that there is only
slim chance that peace can be main
are turning to defense the energies that
just yesterday they devoted to slum
clearance plans, ways to help young
people get jobs and art programs.
1t was as farmers wives that Mrs.
Morgenthau and Mrs. Roosevelt first
met. Shortly before the former Elinor
Fatman, niece of Gov. Lehman of New
York, married young Henry Morgenthau,
jr., in 1916. he had bought 400 acre
farm at Fishkill in Dutchess County,
New York.
About IS miles away at Hyde Park
lived another country squire, Franklin
D. Roosevelt. and q good neighbor rela-
tionship between the two men developed
into close friendship and political team
work Their wives found they had much
the same outlook on life.
Mrs. Roosevelt has driving, tmeless
energy that enables her to forge ahead
Mrs. Morgenthau has the quiet ability
to follow through. In many ways they
complement each other.
Studied Drama
Reserved by nature, Mrs. Morgenthau
likes to keep in the background. A
native Of New York, Mrs. Morgenthau
grew up to have serious interests in
education, social welfare and the
theater especially in the producing
phase. She studied drama at Vassar.
and was starting out to make a career
or herself in producing childrens plays
hen she married.
AS in the case of Mrs. Roosevelt and
,ne President, Mrs. Morgenthau and
her future husband played together as
children. The elder Morgenthau. who
was Ambassador to Turkey during Presi-
dent Wilson'S administration, instilled
his philanthropic interests into his son
and the latter and Elinor renewed their
childhood friendship through their ac-
tivities on behalf of New Yorks Henry
street settlement house
After their marriage Morgenthau, like
the President, encouraged and shared
in his wifes socal-minded interests.
1t was at a tea at the Morgenthaus
home after he became Secretary of the
Treasury that the idea for Washingtons
self-help society was initiated. Through
this organization many men and women
who had a hard time of it during the
depression were able to help each other
through an exchange of services.
Mrs. Morgenthau has helped organize
the Poughkeepsie Community Theater,
the Vassar Workshop, the Duchess
County Health Association. She has
served on the Board of Visitors of the
Hudson River State Hospital
In many of her projects she has had
through the years the support of her
friend. Eleanor, although Mrs. Morgen-
thau had feared that when her friend
became First Lady the formality of the
White House would be barrier.
But Mrs. Roosevelt has never allowed
the high iron gates of the Executive
Mansion to keep her a prisoner of ira
the first Presidents wife to take a job
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