Evening star., 1943-08-25
BY FRANK l. WELLER,
Associated Press Staf Writer.

BY FRANK I. WELLER,
Associated Press Stan Writer
Harry Hopkins says his White
House job is Idea buffer
That's his answer to the question
which has stirred speculation ever
since he became part of the White
House inside scene
Harry tells, at last, that of l3l
million Americans he. a person who
likes to sit down to good letting
alone, must perk up and listen at
any odd hour the President picks
to argue with himself on whether
he's right or wrong
If Harry, asked how about 1t,
says he's not sure, Mr.. Roosevelt
wants to know what ails him. If he
says Yes" the President may say,
'Nuts!" If he says NO" Mr.. Roose-
welt may say "Nuts!" If he says
nothing, the President may say,
Nuts, we'll do i'll"
"Aw, nuts!' is the favorite greet
ing between the two.
Officially, Mr.. Hopkins is chair
man of the Munitions Assignment
Board and (the only special as
sistant to the President, at $4,000
a year. He works from dawn to
dusk with the British American
chiefs of staff, deciding how, when,
where and what military supplies
to send to the many battle fronts.
"Boss" Interrupts Leisure.
Then he smuggles himself into
the mansion for quiet dinner, and
is just about to reach for the poker
chips or Racing Form when The
Boss buzzes.
Despite all their ribbing of each
other, Mr.. Roosevelt seriously seeks
in Harry the reaction of a whiplash
mind to imponderables of wartime
| government
For his part, Mr. Hopkins is ut
terly devoted to the President.
Curiously the two Mr.. Roose-
velt, a son of wealth and earlv
american tradition, and Mr.. Hop
kins, son OF an Iowa harness maker
ana for years a poorly paid social
worker are Of the same mental
makeup:
Quick, brilliant repartee, then
down to the serious business.
TO some, it seems the President
values Mr.. Hopkins as a sounding
board above all else. He outlines
IDEAS, Mr.. Hopkins listening, but
ting In or backing out-for Mr..
Roosevelt could listen to a million
men and still have the same opinion.
Knows When to Quit Arguing.
Harry the Hop" Mr.. Roosevelt
calls him. Others call him the
shadow"
Harry will argue with "The Boss"
put he knows when to quit, He
knows when the President needs
laugh. Sometimes when Mr.. Hop
klns is tired and the President is
tired, and the Chief Executive
oounces about bit with only Harry
10 hear. Harry gets up his dander
ana tells the President of the United
States to walk east til his hat
floats.
This winds up in a laugh. and
Harry says he gets the hell out"
before The Boss" forgets to grab
some rest for another hard day to
come tomorrow. "a
Abroad, Mr.. Hopkins is consid-
cred Mr.. Roosevelt's most powerful
war deputy. The British and the
russians are reported here to feel
ne knows their problems intimately
and has effectively pleaded their
needs. American commanders saw
he sees first, however, to American
needs.
Harry, i'll from a stomach all
ment that cost him his Job as Sec
retary OF Commerce, did not finch
"nen Mr.. Roosevelt asked him to
make hazardous air flights to inter
view, in the Presidents behalf.
Prime Minister Churchill and Pre-
fnler Joseph Stain on war measures.
Backing Up Promises.
He told the British they would
be led so they could fight, and that
American shipbuilding would be the
greatest in world history. He told
the Russians they would get war
planes from the United States,
He came back saying he never
had seen anything so valiant as the
BRUSH and the Russian fighting
spirit. He said Hitler could not
whip either country If the United
States could give more aid. They
got it.
Mr.. Hopkins dresses like a tramp.
Mr.. Churchill offered to buy him
the best hat in London if he would
throw in the Thames River the bat
tered old felt he wore over there.
Harry settled for cutaway, striped
pants and shoe shine, but he hung
onto his hat even when he was re-
ceived at Buckingham Palace.
He still wears it. He loves red
suspenders, buys them by the dozen.
That's his only hobby.
Mr.. Hopkins calls himself a nom
conformist. He wants new ideas.
He says he does not subscribe to
old ideas and methods just because
they are old. He says they must
work today.
He has been the target of much
bitter criticism. He has been called
the biggest spender in history
nine billion dollars when he headed
relief. In 1884 he hired four mil
lion men in one month.
1t was his job, he says.
Health Now Mending.
Mr.. Hopkins moved into the
White House the day war started
in Europe. He was Ill. Mr.. Roose-
welt told reporters he was not able,
physically, to hold down desk job.
Now that Mr.. Hopkins health is
mending, he is going to take his
family, in the fall, into a private
house he has purchased in George
town. Congressional critics have
been bowling too much, Harry says,
about his living in the White House.
Not that he cares, he adds, but
the President wanted him handy
for ideas-and the Hopkins health
did not permit him to run from
home to White House every time
he was wanted. Harry says he