Evening star., 1945-04-20
Truman Names
Charles 6, Ross
Press Secretary
Correspondent Will
Succeed Reinsch,
Recalled by Cox
(Ptcture on Page ALL
BY J. A. FOX.


President Truman today an
nounced appointment of Charles G..
Ross, Washington correspondent for
the st. Louis Post-Dispatch, as his
press secretary and said he will as
sumo his duties around May IS.
Mr.. Ross, SO, a veteran member
of the Washington press corps, was a
high school associate of the Presi-
dent in Independence, Mo-, at the
turn of the century.
He will succeed James Leonard
Reinsch, who was unexpectedly re-
called to Florida, where he is asso-
ciated with the radio interests of
former Gov. James M. Cox of Ohio.
Mr.. Truman said Mr. Reinsch will
be on call just as former War Mob
ilization Director Byrnes is for any
thing the President wants.
Mr.. Truman made the announce
ment of Mr.. Ross appointment at a
suddenly called press conference, at
tended by probably score of writ
ers who happened to be in the White
House at the time.
Cox Needs Reinsch.
The President read telegram
from Mr.. Cox, Dayton (Ohio) pub
Usher and Democratic presidential
candidate in 1920, who explained
that he needed Mr.. Reinsch back in
his organization and hoped he could
be spared.
The telegram from Mr.. Cox said
Some time ago you made an ap-
peal to me which think I respond
ed to at the moment in good spirit.
Now I am going to make an appeal
to you. Please let us have Leonard
Relnsch back. When we gave our
consent we were not sufficiently
mindful OF the tremendous task
ahead of radio in connection with
the television, frequency modulation
ard what not. On special occasions |
for your personal uses his services
could be availed of without embar-
rassment to us. 1t might not seem
a patriotic impulse which prompts
this message, and yet I am sure on
reflection you will see it is justified. ~
Mr.. Truman then commented that
Mr.. Cox is his friend and that he was
complying. The President added
that he called in Mr. Ross last night |
and the writer agreed to take over
the White House assignment after
the San Francisco Conference.
Called Up Teacher.
Mr.. Truman said he then called
Joseph Pulitzer, publisher of the
Post-DiSpatch, and asked that Mr.. |
Ross be given leave for at least two
years. The President added, with
grin, that he and Mr.. Ross called
up their high school English teacher,
Miss Matilda Brown, and told her
that they were going to work to-
gether.
There have been reports published
that Leslie L. Biffle, secretary of the
Senate, also would join the White
House staff, but the President said
today there is no foundation for
such rumor. He said Mr.. Biff1e
was more useful to him in the
Senate.
Until Mr.. Ross is ready to come
to the White House, Jonathan
Daniels, who was President Roose-
velt's press secretary, will continue
in that capacity.
1t was announced earlier today
that Mr.. Truman's old vice presi- |
Dental Office force has been moved
to the White House.
The staff includes Mrs. Lauretta
w. Young, Jericho Springs, Mo-;
Miss Shirley M. Green and Miss
Rose A. Conway, Kansas City, and
Miss Reathal M. Odum, Benton, Ill. !
Miss Odum was designated as Mrs.
1ruman's secretary.
Native of Missouri.
Mr.. Ross, native of Independ-
ence, was graduated from the Uni
versity of Missouri in 1905 and did
his early newspaper work on the
Columbia Missouri Herald. He was
with the Post-Dispatch and the old
st. Louis Republic for the net two
years and then joined the faculty of
the Missouri School of Journalism,
where he served until 1918. In 1916
II he took sabatical and served as
subeditor of the Melbourne Herald
in Australia. He came to Washing
ton in 1918 as chief correspondent
of the Post-Dispatch, a post he held
for the next 16 years. From 1884
to 1889 he was editor of the news
papers editorial page and since
then he has been contributing editor.
Mr.. Ross is former president of
the Gridiron Club, former chair
man of the Overseas Writers and
he is also member of the National
Press Club. He is Phi Beta Kappa
and won the Pulitzer Prize for
nwspaper correspondents in 1882.
He is married and lives at 1T
Kennedy drive, Chevy Chase, Md.