The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1946-01-30
Harry Hopkins, Who Played
Vital Role Involving New
Deal Era, Died Yesterday
PROMINENT FIGUR E
WAS CON SIDERED
CLOSEST ADVISER TO
F.D.R.
CBy Associated Rress)

Hopkins, considered the late
President Roosevelt's closest adj
wiser, died yesterday afternoon
in Memorial Hospital of a disease
his physicians have not yet
classified, though it began to
manifest itself as early as 1889.
DR.. Cornelius Rhodes, director of
the hospital, said the nature of
the disease could not be deter
mined until after further inveS-
tigation.
Starting as a social worker in
New York City, Harry Lloyd
Hopkins became federal relief
administrator during the depres-
sion years of the early 1930s,
then, as President Franklin D.
RooSevelt's closest confidant and
adviser, was cast in an interna-
tional role in World War II.
As the Presidents special as
sistant, he attended historic con-
ferences with leaders of the Unit
cd Nations and helped to shape
policies of war and peace, but
remained largely man of mys-
terry TO the public generally.
For a man who sat at the hub
Of world affairs for so long, Mr..
Hopkins was one of the most in
conspicuous figures in Washing
tom He Stunned social functions
and, except for periodic missions
abroad, his official activities
were cloaked in silence. He
rarely talked 20 reporters. ! 80
Far from the career diplomat
in conversation, the dissimilarity
was even more pronounced in the
manner of attire. This lahky,
loose Jointed man with long lean
face and thin brown hair went
about his momentous tasks dress
ed like a government clerk. He
was VIGOROUSLY indifferent about
clothes.
Held High Posts
For years he wore the same
battered SLOUGH hat with up
turned brim. Once when he was
photographed while wearing that
hat in London, British hatters
offered to donate a new one. But
he wouldn't accept it.
However, before starting his
first trip to London he had
bought three new suits and two
overcoats. To friends who ribbed
him about that, he retorted:
We'll, a guy can't go visit the
King with shiny pants" And he
was received by King George
VI. raw .. ... ..i.,a
In the war years. when he
reached the height of his power.
Mr.. Hopkins not only was special
assistant to the President, but
also chairman of the Munitions
Assignment Board and member
of the War Mobilization Com
mittee.
As the presidents enissary
and as lend-leaSe supervisor, he
made half a dozen trips to
Europe. Africa and the Middle
East before and after the United
States entered the war.
He accompanied Mr.. Roosevelt
on his celebrated Atlantic Chart
er meeting at sea with Prime
Minister Winston Churchill of
Britain in 1941. He attended the
Casablanca conference between
the two when unconditional
surrender" was decreed for the
Axis.
Lived At White House
He was with them at Cairo
where China's Generalissimo
Chang Kai-shek joined in; at
Tehran. Iran, where the first
Big Three" meeting was held,
with Premier Joseph Stain of
Russia participating, and later
at the Crimean big Three"
meeting.
AS a premilinary to the Grim
can meeting he conferred in
Rome with Pope Plus XII. the
Italian foreign minister and AL
lied military chiefs. He also
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