The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-11-23
Observations
Press Meeting
Gay, Confident
as Ever
BY HELEN EssARy

that angel in the song. Or the
key TO television
Then ! would not have had to
sCurry so fast through the wei
leaves and puddles OF rainy
morning across the White House
grounds from the Executive Office
TO the Big Front Door.
Putting and splashing my way
from the first Fourth Term news
conference of Franklin Roose-
welt to the First Fourth Term
news conference Qadies only of
Eleanor Roosevelt.
Both conferences were called
for II o'clock. ! didn't have 10
toss a coin 10 decide to 90 TO Mr..
Roosevelt's meetin first and take
a chance on edging in little latc
on Mrs. Rooseyelt's meetin. After
all. presidents ARE presidents.
And not TO he overlooked.
Mr.. Roosevelt's conference GER
tainly was fun. had wonder
full time. Most OF the news
people came away chuckling Say
IuA W tdNl OkAEA w NAAt " lANb"
er you were for him or not you
might as we'll enjoy him. Any
how, there isn't anything much
you can do about him. Not for
a while, anyhow"
Mrs. Roosevelt's conference was
not fun. II was solemn. After
having laughed with the Big Chief
for Is minutes, especially when
he searched through his desk for
the yellow paper on which he
had written his own bet"on the
electoral votes he would get, IL
was kind of depressing to get in
20 the serious atmosphere OF the
White House second floor sitting
room, where Mrs. Roosevelt and
the members of her conference
were struggling over world prob
lens domestic problems and PEI
sonal problems.
We ladies of the press queried
Mrs. Roosevelt on every issue
from low 10 cure the disease
known as isolationism to how
much China have you broken
since you came into the White
House We touched likewise on
such matters as the servant prob
lem, Nine. Chang IA, shek, will
you have much food at the inaug-
uration parties? Is il true that
you are going TO Paris? And
what Is Communism made Of?
Are you glad to be back. Mrs.
Roosevelt? somebody asked. But
she hasn't been anywhere. yet"
4 soto voice remarked. Then Mrs.
Roosevelt and everybody else
laughed. 1t was the first laugh
there.
Before I so further I want to
report on the look OF the top
drawer in Mr.. Roosevelt's desk.
How would you expect II to look?
Very tidy? You're wrong.
II was as messy as my own top
desk drawer. Or yours. Odds and
ends of papers and bits OF pencils
and clips skidded about as he
hunted up his election bet.
II seemed at one moment as II
be were going 10 spill all the
stuff on the floor. Then a Secret
Service man sprang forward.
Strengthened up the drawer. And
found the fatal paper.
To get back to my subject a
comparison of the two Roose-
veltian meetings. They proved
once again how many more kinds
OF things are expected OF women
than OF men.
Mr.. Roosevelt was asked some
sharp world questions. You know
big, thrilling questions. Nobody
dreamed however of inquiring.
for example, If he had any plans
10 do over the carpet in the East
Room. Or what about the water
glasses in the drinking fountain
in the outer office of the Execu.
tive Mansion.
Or was he going to replenish
the cracked glasses belonging
thereto? And X he did would
he change the pattern TO some
thing of the type preferred by
Mr.. Hoover!
The presidents conference was
satisfied TO have him be a world
figure-or world beater. Which
ever way you feel about things.
Not so were We with Mrs.
Roosevelt. Mrs. Roosevelt had TO
give specific answers to every
problem now troubling the world
plus-well, at one point we got so
specific and so very domestic, /
should not have been surprised
IL somebody had injured Mrs.
Roosevelt. have you made any
plans for using up the potato
parings from the White House
kitchen during the next four
years?
Women do have a hard life.
Doubling in the duller virtues
while settling world affairs and
keeping the nail polish unchipped
is something OF a strain on any