The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-10-28

Moment Thrilling
When President
Reveals Landing
BY HELEN EssARY

- III duldllC IllNlN oAOulu Ad'p
written the story OF President
Roosevelts news conference wnen
be showed the reAet map OF The
Mulberry or harJor manufactured
for the D.Day landing on the Nor
mandy coast.
AS the curtain slowly went up
on the play. about Is minutes after
It's announced rising time OF 1
O'CLOCK, the audience cine press
found itself being turned from the
line of entry into their regular
standingroom-only positions III the
study OF the executive olnces OF
the White House, into another cor
ridor.
Then, sharp turn TO the left.
And stTaightway, without warning,
into the presence OF man who sat
In a wheel chair before a large war
time relief map. The man in the
wheel chair had a ha.ssmoAed ci-
garet in a long holder In one hand.
In the other hand he held ruler
Immediately behind him stood
stout bodyguard, arms folded, eyes
watchful. Farther TO the back was
Press Secretary Steve Early
a little ahead of Early stood a
young officer in the uniform OF the
Army. On the other side OF the
relief may was a young man in the
uniform OF the Navy and beside
him Admiral William Leahy.
On tables about were models of
strengthening ships and landing
barges. Such was the setting for
the drama.
There was no big desk in front
OF the central figure in the play.
on which he could rest his arms in
the manner OF executives. No pro-
lection Of any sort from inquiring
eyes.
He just sat there. exposed 10
anxious, unspoken thoughts. is he
well?". Does he look better than
he did at Fridays conference?'...
els he just tired or is he strong
enough for four years more?'
That man in the wheel chair was
the most important person in the
world. He had control over the
lives and fortunes OF millions or
peoples. People OF all races and
shades of thought depended on his
word. II reelected. his powers in
the future. when the time comes
10 finish the war and to try 10
establish peace, were so great that
IL made you SILVER, as you watched
him. TO think what he might do.
And yet there he was in wheel
chair--as he has been mostly
since he came TO the White House
\ slight figure, really. But still
a lighting figure. a man on whom
the destiny OF the entire world may
well rest for your lifetime and mine
and for generations TO come.
was so fascinated with the po-
tentialities OF that figure, that
forgot 10 listen 10 what he was
saying.
When did come TO now and
then from my mental wauderings,
/ would hear words describing the
most fantastic landing feat human
beings have ever accomplished
from an open sea onto enemy
beaches. ships heavy with stones
and sand were sunk TO provide a
breakwater." -. Twenty thou
sand tons OF supplies a day were
unloaded on floating docks that con.
nected with pontoon causeways."
What kind of a Gulliver's Trav-
els story was this We were listening
TO; And yet ii wasn't an imagin.
airy tale TO the thousands OF young
men who were killed and wounded
on the first days OF the invasion.
A-J % ha thnt,e 10 uyhn xr{Il dta
on many days still to come.
The room where we stood, atten.
tive 10 the presidents. slightest
gesture an voice infection. was
officially known as the Conference
Room. Colloquially, the room is
called the Fish Room in honor OF
the bowl OF goldfish that stands in
q corner.
Some years from now. Hollywood.
or its successor, will be searching
for ideas with which TO picture this
conference as part of sequence in
its super, super production Frank
lin Roosevelt, much as ii search
ed for material for the film Wood.
rom wilson.
II Sam Goldwyn had been In the
Fish Room OF the White House
on Tuesday, Oct. l6. 1914. he would
have said. I'm dreaming. This
isn't true"
was in the Fish Room OF the
White House on that day.
And thought as | looked al
the weary shoulders OF Franklin
Roosevelt: Why can't you lay
your burdens down"