The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1943-04-22
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WHITE HOUSE SPRING DAYS
Washington, ID. C.

WHITE dOUSE SFEING DAIS
When the White House butler says
Dinner is served, it doesn't mean
what it used to mean. Most of the
time, it's nothing more than SIM
pie three-course meal for two or
three persons, served not in the state
dining room, or even in the family
dining room on the first floor, but in
the Presidents study on the second
floor.
Except for the occasional visit of
South American president, social
activity at the White House has dis
appeared. Roosevelt dimes with Mr..
and Mrs. Harry Hopkins, Justice
Byrnes, Judge Sam Rosenman, or
perhaps with Grace Tully, his blue
eyed, white-haired private secre-
tary. Mrs. Roosevelt is off-again,
on-again, as usual.
A friend of Gen. "Pa" Watson,
aide to the President, sent him some
f1nnan haddie the other day, and
Watson passed it along to the Presi-
dent. Meat" said Watson, cor
anything that passes for meat, is as
precious as gold these days" The
President enjoyed the free fnnan
haddie.
If Grace Tully is there for din
ner, it means work after dinner. On
the average of two evenings week,
the diCtation isn't finished in the
daytime, and Grace stays over. For
the war has not decreased the Pres
ident's diCtation. Jimmy Byrnes re-
marked the other day, II don't see
how he can handle so much paper
work"
Fact is, the President is leaning
heavily on letters, and cutting down
interviews. His appointments run
from 1890 to lunch, with an occa-
sional conference at two o'clock. But
afternoons are reserved for debating
to Grace Tully. The only thing to
throw this regimen out of gear is an
afternoon press conference, a talk
with a man like Anthony Eden-or
the spring sunshine.
Sometimes the President swings
around from his desk, takes quick
look at the sunshine over the South
Grounds, and says to his Scottie,
Lets 60 for a ride-what do you
say, Falla?"
A Ride in the Country.
This means a quiet tour into the
country, without motorcycle escort,
in a car which looks like anybody
else's shiny limousine, and stops at
the traffic lights like the car of any
ordinary citizen.
Members of the Presidents init
mate staff insist they see no change
IN him under the pressure of war.
The war hasn't altered his mood
or his methods. He still laughs
heartily, eats well, and dictates me-
thodically, with never a read that
back to me-"
Grace Tully explains it by saying
the President is a psychologist, and
he keeps good temper for the sake
of the people around him.
The slackened social activity
doesn't shut out the house guests,
however. Any day, Mrs. Roosevelt
is likely to get a letter from old
friends or relatives who are coming
to town, and she replies. Won't
you stay with us?"
They do. They come for a day
or two, sometimes for a week. But
they 60 their ways, and see little of
the President. He will dine with
them once in the course of the visit,
but the rest of the time, dinner is
served for two or three in the
private study.
In short, evenings are very quiet
at the White House, and except for
the Presidents own late hours at
his desk, the electric light bill is
the lowest in years.