Detroit evening times., 1945-01-21
PATH UNTRoDDEN

The path down which Franklin
Delano Roosevelt now travels is
virgin territory for an American
chief executive. and the way is
filed with dizzy pitfalls even
though a hlood-streak rainbow of
victory hovers over the end OF the
road.
He'll make the trip, he says, "a
little left OF the center of the
road" with the mental burden of
knowing that he has the future OF
America, plus the actual lives OF
millions OF Americans and the
hopes OF a good portion OF the
world in his hands.
Can he do il? Only the God he
finds himself communing with
more and more these days. knows
the answer TO that one. Yet the
President can light up another
cigaret, cock his cigaret holder at
q rakish angle and grin today, and
say that he believes he can make
the grade.
TEAM" APPROVED
He likes the altered team he
has built around himself for his
fourth term, from the new Wee
President Harry Truman, Assist
ant President" Jimmy Byrnes and
young Ed Stettinius right down
the line TO the latest command Of
ficers installed by his constant
military advisers, Admirals Leahy
and King and Generals Marshall
and Arnold.
No one mortal man can achieve
the myriad goals which lie ahead
of F.D.R. The President, who will
be So years old at months end,
will rise or fall not only through
his own efforts but the efforts OF
his team. To him will go much
of the credit if the team helps
him achieve his goals. And to-
him. alone, will 60 all the blame
" he, or the men he has hand
picked 10 help him, fslter or fail.
That's history,
NOW CLEARING DECKS
He now is clearing his decks for
action, cleaning his house-though
physically the peeling White
House hasn't been in worse need
of a coat of paint or a general
overhauling since the British
burned it 40 years ago.
Roosevelt is gradually delegat-
ing more and more tasks 10 his
specialists. Byrnes' unofficial title
Of assistant president" is not as
unofficial a some believe. The
director of war mobilization and
reconversion is making many do
mestic decisions without consult
ing the President. Under Stet
tinius the state department is
being thoroughly shaken and en-
lsrged. 70 deal more with foreign
commerce and public relations
abroad after the war.
RosENMAN ADVISES
The indescribsbly huge military
action of the country is being
attended TO primarily by his mill
tary counselS. The man with the
next biggest and next best office
In the executive Offices is the
Presidents closest legal adviser,
Judge Samuel ]. Rosenman.
But the "Old Man" or Boss,
as ne is called around the White
House. but never 20 his face. has
finger in every pie. he carries
the chief load.
The writer got TODD closeup
of him during and for few
minutes after the last press con
ference of his third term. The
President is leaner these days, as
well az grsyer OF face and thin
ming hair. He's humanity proud Of
the new fatness OF his stomach.
His personal physician. Vice Ad-
n1iral Ross T. Mcintyre, has
taken about Is pounds of him
with the he Of the Presidents
many worries.
WEIGHT WATCHED
Mcintyre watches him like a
hawk, 20 keep his weight (lS2)
from falling Of any more. Re-
Gently he has ordered the Presi-
dent 10 take q tall glass OF milk,
With an egg whipped up in A.
about I 30 each afternoon.
He works every night. There
may be movie over in the pluShy