The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-05-01
Observations
Roosevelts' Smiles
Can Hide Any Kind
of Private Thought
BY Helen Essary

Let's think back. Way. way
bsck.-"Washington B. R." Why,
OF course! That was the period
before Roosevelt" 1t came to
on end in the year 1888. Come II
years ago next March J.
March 4, when Franklin and
Eleanor Roosevelt rode up Pennsyl-
yania Ave. side Jy side and Flea
nor Roosevelt dished a new era
into the self-conscious social life
of the capital OF the republic by
serving ham sandwiches and paper
napkins in the East Room OF the
White House to several hundred
Inauguration guests.
And what happened in Washing
ton. B. R.? Can you remember
ANYTHING about Washington Be-
fore Roosevelt? Can you recall any
Of the sights and sounds OF the
village on the Potomac? Any Ane-
cdotes about any OF those other peo-
pie who lived in the White House
"B. Re-?
| can remember things. I can
ember a trip made from Bal.
timore TO Washington in the Pull
man chair next TO Jessie Wilson.
second daughter Of Woodrow Viii
son.
L was bringing an extremely
brand new daughter home TO Wash
ington after the brand new daugh-
ter's first visit 10 her grandmoth-
er. ] didn't know who the pretty
girl opposite me was. | admired
her blonde hair parted in the mid
die and braided about her small
head | thought her an angel when
she took my restless child on her
lap.
As We neared Washington she
handed the baby back to me.
Smoothed down her hair. opened
her big, black purse. Took out a
pair OF white gloves and put the
black ones she had been carrying
inside the purse Folded her new
hands demurely and said:
II always keep my best appear
ance for Washington. Mother
tells me | must look well there for
fathers sake
Then il dawned on me that she
was the daughter OF the President
OF the United States. She drove
in an official limousine before she
went TO the White House.
II Woodrow Wilson's family was
sociable. Mr.. Wilson was not. He
would have liked to be gay and
friendly. But Just couldn't loosen
up his intellectual spine.
The handshake OF Warren G..
Harding was not quick and imper-
sonal N the White House fam
lily it was the wife OF the President
Who used TO frighten me. Perhaps
II was that stitf-boned collar Mrs.
Harding wore with all sorts of
dresses. Or that rigid hair-do and
that austere expression behind the
eyeglasses that made me wish
were some place else quickly. For
she really was sweet person.
Whatever the cause OF Mrs.
Harding's remote manner, there
was none OF this quality in her
husbands personality. Mr. Hard
ing was beautiful TO look upon and
did indeed have an encouraging
way with him. He would have
been a gorgeous lord OF south
ern Maryland manor.
When the Coolidges came into
the Executive Mansion, everybody
said, IT'S fine 10 have a cautious
Yankee running things after that
uncertain Warren Harding Even
so, Mr.. Coolidge wasn't much TO
brag about socially except as a
g. 81 at1nnHa and
frugality.
He was a neat little fellow and
looked slightly scared at the White
House part es II you hadn't known
he was the President, you'd have
thought he was an extra waiter in
a very clean suit and tie, got in
to help for the evening.
Mrs. Coolidge was always smil-
ing, always pretty and always hay-
ing a good time.
! don't seem TO remember many
anecdotes about the Hoovers, ex-
cept that IL seemed 10 me they
should have enjoyed the White
House more than they did. They
were earnest, handsome people
Mrs Hoover looked especially well
in her Girl Scout uniform-she
was a pioneering First Lady in a
mild "B R." way.
That remark she made about II
taking more courage for a woman
TO face a dishpsn every day than
TO kill lion showed a profound I'M
Outstanding OF the complicated
business of being a successful wo-
man.
For some reason. neither OF the
Hoovers smiled enough. a smile
10 great alibi, you know. IL
hides any kind OF a private thought.
Certainly it's one OF the biggest
assets any President and his wife
can have. And you can't tell me