Evening star., 1945-04-13
Mrs. Roosevelt Shows
Typical Poise After
Hearing Death News

From the time an emergency call
from the White House reached her
at a Thrift Shop tea yesterday until
she left by plane for Warm Springs,
Ga, Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt demon
strated the same poise and strength
that has carried her through II
years in the White House.
Her words on learning Of her hus-
bands death were typical of the
woman who was determined that
infantile paralysis should not keep
her husband from rising to the high
est Office in the land
II am more sorry for the people
of the country and the world than
I am for u.s." Mrs. Roosevelt said,
according to Presidential Secretary
Stephen Early.
Mrs. Roosevelt was attending the
tea at the Sulgrave Club. She had
arrived at the club about AIS pm.
Sat in Front Row.
She spoke briefly to the group in
the second floor ballroom, praising
the shop as an organization "to
help Others" She finished at
about 4::3O o'clock and took a seat
in the front row beside Mrs. Reeve
Lewis, chairman of the shop board
At Abs pm. Mrs. Catherine Col
Inns, veteran operator at the club
received call from the White House
with the remark that the call was
urgent" Mrs Collins asked Mrs
Henry Miller guest at the tea, tc
notify Mrs. Roosevelt. Mrs. Miller
passed the word to Miss Meredith
Howard, mistress of ceremonies
who told the Presidents wife te
:, go to telephone 20 steps away.
Mrs. Roosevelt answered thu
phone, Hello, hello" several time!
before the woman's voice said, Mr.
Early is calling, Mrs. Roosevelt,
Mrs. Collins said Then the oper
ator put down the key and did no
listen to the call But she knew tina
. it lasted only few seconds. Thel
Mrs. Roosevelt turned and wakes
!. back to the door Of the tea room.
Il am very sorry TO leave" sh
said 1T has made me very happ
to come. I am always interested il
what the Thrift Shop does Sh
began putting on her gloves ar
6 went on speaking.
= Il am very sorry to leave you Il
this way. But 1 have an urgen
=, message from the White House
= There is an emergency
+ Walked Steadily Downstairs.
4 The Presidents wife then Wake
= toward the stairs. Mrs. Lewis an
S Miss Howard walked down with hel
She turned and shook hands wit
each at the club door. The tele
, phone operator said she locke
S closely at the poised woman in tn
S garnet dress and matching hal
' walking steadily down the stair!
!. and wondered idly what the "emer
S gency" was.
e Mrs. Lewis and Miss Howard sal
the Presidents wife broke into
run as she approached the ca
= parked for her across the stree
2 Five minutes later. Mrs. RooseveI
: was back at the White House. I
her second-hoor sitting room. Mr.
: Roosevelt heard the news OF he
;. husbands death from Mr.. Early.
, Il told her that the President ha
:. slept away" Mr. Early said later.
: Mrs. Roosevelt promptly sent
e message, signed Mother, TO ht
S four sons in the armed forces-thre
in the Pacific and one in Londo
= In that message, according to NJ
i Early. Mrs. Roosevelt told her so,
r that the President did his job
: the end las he would want to do"
:. Bless you all and all our love
n added Mrs. Roosevelt.
d Daughter Stays.
Then she received Vice Presider
t Truman in her sitting room. whic
= adjoins the Presidents bedroom.
e A few minutes after Mr.. Truma
r was sworn in as President, Mr.
S Roosevelt left the White House wit
i Mr.. Early and Vice Admiral Ro:
G T. McIntire to board the plane fc
e Warm Springs.
# Her only daughter, Mrs. Ann
Boettiger, said good-by to he
mother at the White House. ST,
o could not accompany Mrs. Roose
: welt because her youngest chill
9 Johnny Boettiger. is seriously i'll &
Bethesda Naval Hospital.
Mrs. Boettiger. described latel
as Mr.. Roosevelt's closest conf
II dante, was at her child's bedsid
: lead it into the paths of peace mu.