Evening star., 1944-04-23
Keeping the President Fit for His
Busiest Days in the White House
BY J. A. Fox.

When President Roosevelt headed
south at Easter for the sunshine and
recreation ordered by medical advisers
to fight off bronchitis and a sinus dis
turbance, it was the first time since
Pearl Harbor that he had been able to
shelye for an extended period the sched-
ule that usually keeps him occupied is
or Is hours a day--which gives an idea
of the rigorous demand the ofice makes
on the occupant of the White House.
In the 28-month interval since this
country entered the war, Mr.. Roosevelt.
OF course, has enjoyed some brief holi-
days, but generally on week ends. The
grueling trips to Casablanca and Te-
heran, as well as the oficial visit to
Monterrey, Mexico, last April and an
earlier war-plant tour Of inspection to
the Pacific Coast, also afforded some
relaxation. for Mr.. Roosevelt Is q good
traveller and enjoys every minute he is
on the move. At no time, however, has
the President been further out of touch
with world affairs than the telephone At
his elbow
Even the current vacation had strings
to 1t, for as Secretary Stephen T. Early
told newsmen, the President planned to
relax completely-except for the work
that always must be carried on between
the White House and the Chief Execu-
tive, regardless of where he may be- and
particularly in wartime.
Too Much Detail
On this occasion, though. the Presi-
dent did get away from the burdensome
routine that ties him down in WASH
ington. His personal physician, Vice
Admiral Ross T. McIntire, grimly In
sisted on that, and the President yielded.
Admiral McIntire said the President had
been handling too much detail that
others should attend to.
An ordinary White House day starts
for the President about or am. when
he breakfasts in his bedroom and goes
over half-dozen morning newspapers.
Soon thereafter comes the daily con-
ference with the three White House Sec
retaries-Mr. Early, Maj. Gen. Edwin M.
Watson and william D. Hassett.
Because Mr. Early's immediate con-
Germ is the liaison he maintains between
the President and the press and radio,
late news developments receive the first
attention. On Friday mornings, the
President gets squared away for the
semiweekly news conference he holds
at 1890, sometimes assembling "back-
ground" on questions likely to be raised
by correspondents, and again, going over
with Mr.. Early matters that he proposes
to bring up on his own. Often the Presi-
dent has anticipated questions that
come up later at the news conference.
Answering Questions.
"I thought that somebody would bring
that up" he will say, digging into the
pile of papers on his desk for data that
serves to answer, II elaboration is in
order.
On other than Friday mornings Mr.
Early conducts the news conference, and
at the meeting with the President, gets
ready for these sessions.
Gen. Watson is in charge Of the Presi-
dents appointments, and at these early
morning meetings the days schedule is
worked out. or rather. the gaps are
filled, for It often happens, naturally,
that some engagements have been made
long In advance.
After the days program has been
shaped with his secretaries the Presi-
dent is free to turn to other matters.
Every Monday morning he sees the con-
gressional leaders in his study to discuss
Capitol Hill developments. These con-
ferees are Vice President Wallace,
Speaker Rayburn and the majority
leaders of Senate and House, Senator
Barkley of Kentucky and Representative
Mccormack Of Massachusetts,.
Other early callers are likely to be
Admiral William D. Leahy, his personal
chief of staff; War Mobilization Director
James F. Byrnes or some others OF the
immediate White House staff.
Daily Round of Callers
Then comes the daily round of callers.
This list virtually is limitless. Members
of Congress, farm and labor leaders,
delegates from every organization under
the sun, old friends. Generally 1t Is near