The Wilmington morning star., 1943-11-11
Inside
Washington
By HELEN essay

My Dear Mr.. President.
Ihere's a little something I Nav.
to say to you about your neu,s want
ferences. You've PROBABLY e 'o'l'
them mentioned in the papers 81
fore. But this is new angis W.
On old story. SO IN
Don't you think you cou,d ~,
them a little more pleasant + +S
they are now? More like the n ~,aI
conferences held at the British '' on.
bassy by the British ambassaS S.'I'
Lord Halifax? You've DroboSI ,'
heard all about Lord Halifax's c oos
ference. I shouldn't be slrnri. vl,
if you knew what it would b "a II.
before it happened. In casa , ras
missed some of the details I bs sVu
hy put them down for your edjfice'
ton. >0'iVd'
The British ambassador did n.
conference in an atmosphere of ents
answers, chrysanthenums ~"
Scotches and sodas, chicken son w"
Wiches, chintz chairs and croao,
cakes. 1 mention especially fbn
soft answers. They were meant e
turn away lend-lease and post.w.r
air-base-control wrath. I must sd
NIT they did their job besutifpI nr
You don't go in for soft worg,
at your press conferences Mr.
President. Not too often. Yol .ro
more likely to be--let me see
what is the word? We'll, can :,
provocative" I suppose This At
titude of yours in the middle NJ
war is indicative of the audacitv =,
cur young nation. When We baya
been on the map a few brndrod
years longer we, too, NAV bo
smooth in the English wav
Your news conferences are M.
as easy on the press as YOU niubt
think. First, we have to stand in
the anteroom, jammed in sar.
dine row waiting-heaven knows
how long-for you to notice that
it's 4 pm. on Tuesday or II am
on Friday. Lord Halifax got 10 bs
conference IS minutes ahead >,
time. Nice chance, if l NAV say
so.
When your come ahead" signal
is finally given, we find ourselves
being rushed and rushing ike a
football squad-trying to get ahead
without being trampled on. We hold
cur Identification passes high, as
we gallop into your oval study and
up to the barricade Of chairs which
the Secret Service insists must be
kept before your desk at such
times.
There you sit, facing the crowd
with your presidents flag behind
you. You are generally reading a
letter or a treatise of some sort
and pretending that running the
world is a casual sort of business.
Beside you, is the usual vase Of
flowers. Before you those d SIX
knick knacks - donkeys, paper
weights and the like. Gifts from
loving friends and public.
At your right and our left in a
neat row, sit members of the
CLOAK Room Cabinet - Lowell
Mellett, Jim Barnes, Laughlin Cur
RE or maybe Elmer Davis. Elmer
always looks as if he wishes he
were still working with the press
instead of against it. Nice Marvin
| Mcintyre is generally present So
lis Steve Early, half sitting on
table (Steve gets to look more like
you every day.. Behind you are
two stalwart Secret Service men.
The press keeps coming Then
someone calls "All In" The con.
ference begins.
| It's always aWfully hot in me
| conference room. Since you nave
gone in for lectures on Journalism
and other extraneouS matters NE
standing time is long and tlreSome.
l expect somebody to faint at eacH
conference. Nobody ever does IL
probably your inspiring personally
that keeps us on our toes.
AS 1 said before. at the BRUSH
ambassador press conference
things were quite different Lac
embassy, as you know is a maar,
swanky place. After we had '1oo
its deep carpets. slithered acres
it's polished inlaid marble nooiS
glanced at several majestles Oh It's
walls and been directed TINS wa.
by first footman and tha' W.
by a second footman, we hao SY
quired a useful respect for D'
trappinRs of empire. liam
The atmosphere in the oaiIloo.
where the conference was helq So'
soothing to flesh and spirit Dla,'
mirrors reflected hauntngT w
lighted crystal chandeliers DIV
bowls Of yellow and rust chf5Sou
themums and autumn leaves l.'
chintz-covered chairs were oe'r
and relaxing. Gold screens cdos,
the late afternoon sun. 1t was w.
Of dim and cozy in the big 'Op
with now and then flash oil ll''"
flame as cigaret was llgn'e"
Lord Halif2x, whom ! ',ae
d man Of integrity and aouiQ,
I do feel that we must keel. III
eye on the postwar plans VI
British commonwealth talked s yr
ly, confidently, purposetully, Il
knew that although it was no
the moment to 60 in for hys'E%,i
Joy, victory was well in the '1 All
pocket. It was after the tax :,
the moment for tea and thhg'
rived. p,si
l really don't believe, Mr. IN