Evening star., 1945-01-22
Thoughts by Observer
Of Nine Inuuqurotions
White House Ceremony Marked
Solemnity of Times, He Says
By David La,Orence

OOielnHlly Oh lines, he says
By David Laurence
Thoughts while watching a unique
Inauguration last Saturday this my
ninth since 1913-six Democratic and
three Republican >. each of them i'm
pressive but different /. the simplest
of all being the one held privately
inside the White House because March
4, 1917, happened to be Sunday. :. The
oath was repeated by President Wilson
on Monday before a vast crowd on
the east front of the Capitol
This, like the one in 1917, has an
atmosphere of sadness, of solemnity,
of impending tragedy in tens of thou
sands Of American homes. . The mar
row portico of the White House can
accommodate only few >. the Cabi-
net, the Supreme Court Justices, their
wives Mrs. Woodrow Wilson up
front :. also James F. Byrnes, B. NJ
Baruch, Gen. Marshall, Chairman Ham
negan, Joseph Davies, Judge Rosenman
Tightly -buttoned, heavy overcoats
and felt hats-no high hats. The
women with fur coats and an occa-
slonal white flower. The Presidents
many grandchildren clustered high up
on the curved stairs outside so they
can see. Under the balcony about
20 feet down and 10 feet away are
several thousand shivering spectators
looking up at the scene from the tar
paulin- covered ground.
Republican and Democratic members
Of the Senate and House stand there
in the open as do executives of war
agencies, the press, the Photographers
in a special stand behind, a few soldiers
and sailors-some of them veterans Of
battle. Feels like football crowd
as Marine Band plays tuneful airs. j..
All this while waiting for the cere-
monies to begin.
Prosperous Crowd.
A prosperous-looking crowd even
apart from the $50 members of the ST.
900 contributors club . no farmers,
laborers or factory workers no Tam
many frock-coated representatives
no Indians . only one western hat
and this on white-frocked Oklahoman.
-. The crowd was mostly governmental
Congress and the employees of the
Government better view, however,
than Congress usually gets of the in
augural ceremonies when only the back
OF Presidents head can be seen.
Today everybody sees the President and
watches his expression e. and he can
look directly at persons he knows-his
colleagues in government much
better way than heretofore devised for
an Inauguration.
Bishop iscopalian-moves UP
to the microphones utters a simple
but beautiful prayer. :. Vice President
Elect Truman steps up. :. Vice Presi-
dent Wallace administers the oath . u.
clear, resonant voices no speeches
then pause as the eldest son, Col.
James Roosevelt of the Marine Corps,
Is seen bending down to grasp his<fath-
er by the arms and shoulders. Char
lie Fredericks, husky Secret Service
man, does the same on the other side
-. Together they lift the President to
the microphones. =. He steadies him.
self alone and stands unaided as. he
rests his hand on the open Bible lying
before him on the microphone pedestal.
Twenty-four years since those days
when infantile paralysis struck him
down :. those days when he was As
sistant Secretary of the Navy-a fine
athletic looking young man with a
growing family. =. We used to go to
tea at the house on IN" street when the
now Col. James and the other children
were running about among the guests
). twenty-four years of struggle
against the ravages of infantile pa
ralysis what an inspiration and
challenge to those similarly handi-
capped! {. . One can't help. but feel a
lump in the throat as we see them
| lifting him up :. yet the most power
full man in the world so far as author
ity goes. In moment he makes us
forget the physical handicap as he
| stands there with shoulders erect, his
| gray head barred, his face somewhat
resembling Wilson's ;. the worn fea-
lures and stern expression . an In
| delible impress of IL years in ofice-a
| maturity known to no other in the
Presidency. -.
Clear Cut Profile.
We see clear-cut profile as Franklin
| Delano Roosevelt looks earnestly at
Chief Justice Stone and repeats the
oath of Office slowly . hush over
| the crowd voice emphasis on
defend" the Constitution d. :. the words
| are strong in the wintry air u. full
| face now to the crowd flash of a
smile; then the grave expression again
| as he starts the brief inaugural ad-
| dress :. supreme test of our courage"
-. "a just and honorable peace" :. -.
1--WE shall strive for perfection" I'VE
shall not reach it Immediately but we
shall still strive" -. courage of con-
| victions" I'VE cannot live alone"
=. citizens of the world" phrases
| that will endure u. the least contro-
| versial of all Mr.. Roosevelt's inaugural
speeches-and by far the best =. Msgr.
Ryan speaks the benediction 1t all
seems more like a religious service
than governmental proceeding.
AS the band plays the Star Spangled
Banner, the Presidents lips part and
then tighten again j. a solemn moment
for him and for us all :. his tre-
mendous responsibility for your sons
| and mine overseas now again in
/ the arms of his eldest son they
lower him into the wheel chair and he
| is rolled back into the White House
1 out OF sight to 60 whittier? ;.