Evening star., 1945-12-29
President Draftinq
Thursday Message
To Nation on Yacht
Laughs OFF Concern
Over Hazardous Flight
For Holiday at Home

President Truman today was
aboard the yacht Williamsburg
on a Potomac Chesapeake cruise
that will keep him away from
the Capital until Wednesday
morning. In the meantime, he
will draft the radio address he
is to make to the Nation Thurs
DAY night on his legislative pro-
gram and on the annual state of
the Union message, which goes
to Congress soon after the legis-
lators end their Christmas holi-
day, January IA.
The President returned from his
Christmas trip to independence Mo.
yesterday afternoon, landing at Ma
tlonal Airport at 2:35 o'clock after
five-hour trip from Fairfax Field
! Kansas City, Kans. Reporters and
photographers who accompanied the
President were unable to land here
on account of the low ceiling, and
their plane eventually was set down
at Newcastle. Del, at 6:22.
Mr.. Truman went Immediately to
his desk on arrival and signed 81
bills, including one liberalizing the
CT Bill of Rights.
Laughs Off Hazards.
The President laughed away con-
Germ over his flight Christmas Day
which was made in the face of bad
weather. and, as he alighted here in
a heavy mist, he said that he had a
pleasant trip both ways.
In reply to reporter who observed
that "a great many people were wor-
ried" over the outward trip in ice
and fog Christmas Day, the Presi-
dent said:
"They need not have been. We
had very pleasant trip-both
ways"
did you have a very rough trip
today?" he was asked.
mo, it was pleasant trip-sun-
shine all the way, and only fog in
taking off and landing"
He told secretary en- route to the
White House that he flew at 1900
feet most of the way and averaged
230 miles an hour.
Drops Through Low Clouds.
Visibility at the airport here was
given by ATC officers as Ia miles;
ceiling, TOO feet. The President S
C54, the Sacred Cow, could be heard
over the field, but was not visible
until it dropped through the mist a
few hundred feet up. Commercial
planes were not grounded yesterday
as they were when the President
took off Tuesday.
In addition to working on the bills
passed in the closing days of Con-
gress, Mr.. Truman also received
Secretary of Agriculture Anderson
Dean Acheson, acting Secretary OF
State, and Senator Vandenberg, Re-
publican, of Michigan, an American
delegate to the United Nations Gen
eral Assembly meeting in London
next month. The latter two saw the
President together.
The White House said arrange
ments would be made for Secretary
of State Byrnes, who returned from
Moscow shortly after noon to re-
port to the President today. Mr.
Byrnes probably will 60 to nearby
Quantico, Va, to see Mr.. Truman
aboard the Williamsburg.
Anchors Off Mount Vernon.
The Williamsburg anchored of
Mount Vernon overnight and papers
and mail, were sent to the President
there this morning. The boat was
to leave after the mail pouch was
put aboard.
Reconversion Director John w.
Snyder will join the President after
being delayed in returning from his
home in st. Louis, where he spent
Christmas. .-.
Invited to accompany the Presi-
dent on the cruise were Secretaries
William.D. Hassett, Matthew j. Con-
nelly and Charles G. Ross; Admiral
William D. Leahy. personal chief OF
staff; Judge Samuel I. Rosenman
special counsel; George E. Allen, un-
official adviser, and DR.. John r.
Steelman, administrative assistant