Evening star., 1945-04-13
Death Of President
LeavesD. Residents
Grave and Quiet

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The news that President Roosevelt
was dead reached Washington
hundreds Of thousands early in tn,
evening as late workers still wer
crowding streetcars and buses ant
others were eating dinner or relax
ing in their homes after the day.
work.
The usual thousands were in res
taurants or emerging from movies
or waiting at ticket windows Of the.
aters when the shocking wore
stifled laughter, stilled casual chat
ter and left the people quiet ane
grave.
The tragic tidings spread quickly
through newspaper extras, ovel
the radio, by word Of mouth.
Many Thought 1t Rumor.
The suddenness Of the news left
some incredulous.
They thought at first it was only
another report, like the rumors OF
an armistice in Europe, which have
been spread at times recently.
why, he hasn't been SICK" some
remarked.
If he was, nobody heard about it.
II can't believe it."
But it must be true"
Then some recalled that they'c
thought the President looked drawn
haggard in recent newsreels. Others
remembered published and unpub-
lished reports of his health.
But all were saddened. There was
not much laughter or idle talk on
the crowded streetcars and buses OF
along the downtown streets or at
neighborhood stores. People looked
suddenly solemn.
Crowds Gather.
The White House, where Mrs
Roosevelt hastened after receiving
the news, where Vice President Tru-
man soon took the oath of Office as
President, drew the immediate at
tention of crowds in the vicinity
With wartime restrictions prevent
ing them from approaching closer
the people gathered across the
street, opposite the Executive Man.
sion, along the sidewalk and inside
Lafayette Park.
Within a few minutes after the
word spread, about 900 stood on
the curb opposite the main en-
trance. They waited expressionless.
They looked actually stunned at the
news. There was little talk among
them.
Occasionally passer-by who had
heard no details would softly ask
a policeman: Did it happen here?"
The police gave what little infor-
nation they had
White House police were aug
mented quickly by Metropolitan
police who had been stationed at
nearby Blair House for diplomatic
function. Pedestrians were routed
across the street from the White
House.
Newsmen Assemble.
Newspaper and radio correspond
ents and cameramen, rushing from
their Offices and homes, flashed
their passes and hurried into the
White House pressroom for further
details. The little room soon
teemed with activity. Perhaps rs
news people milled about with quiet
efficiency. Foreign correspondents
were among them. Microphones
were set up.
An elderly cab driver remarked
to q newspaperwoman returning
from the White House to her office:
This is a terrible blow, Miss. We
don't realize how terrible. That
man had all the questions and All
the answers" His voice trembled.
The crowd across the street wait
ed-for what they didn't seem to
know. They stared at the White
House, and saw nothing but a few
cars going in and out, few people
on official errands entering or leav-
ing. Many must have deferred
their dinners indefinitely.
Extra Out in Minutes.
The news flash that the Presi-
dent was dead, sent by an Associated
Press correspondent at Warm
Springs. reached The Star city
room at $50 pm. Within minutes
an extra was out-the first of a
series of four extras, the last giving
complete details of Mr. Roosevelt's s
death, the swearing in of President
Truman, Mrs. Roosevelt's departure
tor Warm Springs by plane and
other circumstances.
The downtown crowds bought the
extras avidly. In front of The Star
building, the papers were snatched
from the neWsboys before the ink
was dry. Groups of people then
sifted into the lobby, hoping for
further details. At Tenth and F
streets, a constant ring of people
five or six deep surrounded a news
stand and pressed forward to buy
up the vendors Stars as soon as
successive extras arrived. 1t was
the same way all over downtown.
The announcement of the Presi-
dents sudden death was short
waved to American soldiers through
out the world by the Army News
Service in New York, the War De-
partment disclosed.
Men and women of the Army
Navy and Marine Corps in the Capt.
tai were grave and subdued as they
bought papers or discussed the news
in little knots.
Waitress Sobs at News.
At restaurant in the 4500 block
of Connecticut avenue NV, some
one walked in and announced the
news. A waitress put down her tray
and covered her face with her hands
sobbing.
A physician, awaiting an appoint
ment in the lobby of a hotel, re-
marked: Its bad. But this coun.
try will go on and finish the wal
and fight for the kind Of peace he
wanted"
He came so close to seeing the
war won," an elevator man said
IT'S a pity he couldn't have livee
just a little longer"
well" said a Marine sergeant or
a downtown street, looking at ar