Evening star., 1948-03-05
CordeIi Hull
The Memoirs Of CordeT Hull
III Health Forced Hull to Quit Cabinet Post
Despite Repeated Roosevelt Pleas to Stov
By CordelI Hull
Assisted by Andrew Bsrdins)
CHAPTER XXXV.

| py SOTQeli F1uit
Assisted by Andrew Bsrdins)
CHAPTER Xxxv.
Some time before Franklin D
Roosevelt was nominated at Chicago
on July 20, 1914, for a fourth term
he again proposed to me at the
White House my nomination as Vics
President. He said he knew could
have the nomination If I would
take it.
The President knew would not
take 1t, however, because the war
was still on and I was thoroughly
involved in foreign affairs. I felt
as I had in 1910, when repeatedly
refused an identical suggestion,
namely that I could serve better,
in the circumstances, as Secretary
Of State than as Vice President.
expressed my appreciation to the
President, but said was deeply en-
gagged in foreign policy and did not
feel I could leave it.
The fourth term seemed more
natural to the general public, in
cluding myself, than had the third
term. The tradition had already
been shattered, and in 1914 we were
at war, which had not been the
case in 1910. The President felt
the situation was difficult, we were
in so deep, he was at the helm,
and therefore he should yield to
the widespread demands that he
stand for election again.
I took no part In the campaign
that followed.
Asked Preparation Of Speech.
The President sent me q memo
randum dated September 90, 1914,
in which he said: II hope much
that in making your plans, you will
arrange to 60 on the air about twice
between now and election day. The
country needs some of your clear
thinking and needs to have 1t Kept
up to date"
He then said it was his thought
that he would make one speech
between then and election day on
foreign policy and he would be
"eternally grateful" if would have
prepared for him a draft of
speech.
When I received this memoran-
dunn I had already planned to call
on the President at the White House
the following Sunday and inform
him of my forthcoming resignation.
made the call as planned and told
the President, with a feeling of the
keenest disappointment, that I had
been overexerting myself for some
time and that now found myself
in such physical condition that I
would have to resign. I said was
leaving my office within another day
or two to 60 straight to bed, where
I must remain for an indefinite
period.
The President did not seem to
want to believe me. We had al
rather casual conversation before I
left his office. The question of pre-
pairing q speech for him and Of my
making two campaign speeches was
not mentioned by us then or there
after, although the department later
assisted the President In preparing
his major foreign policy address of
the campaign.
Left Office on Birthday.
Three days later, on October 2,
my 73d birthday, I left the State
Department avery Ill man. I spent
10 days at my apartment trying
vainly to recover, during which time
I carried on mytwork to some degree,
and was taken to the Naval Medical
Center at Bethesda, Md, where II
remained for about seven months,
at times in a very grave condition:
The terrific strain of nearly IL
years in the State Department
half again longer than any one else
in our history-during one Of the
most crucial periods in the life Of
our Nation, had utterly exhausted
me.
Soon after I arrived at the hos
pital, the President sent the White
House physician, Vice Admiral Ross
T. Mcintyre, to reassure me about
my condition and to convince me
that I would recover sufficiently to
resume by duties within a reason
able time. Then tho President Wis
tied me and spent an hour and
half during which he urged upon
me the wisdom of not resigning.
He assured me I could take some
cave and after a reasonable period
return to my ONCE at the State De-
oartment.
I did not hesitate, but promptly
declined to withhold my resignation.
said 1t was next to taking my life
20 be compelled to resign, with the
tremendous plans to which I had
been giving my chief attention not
ret adopted. But, I added, I had
almost utterly exhausted my
strength in undertaking to carry
these gigantic efforts, and
had swung down to the lowest
-ung on the physical ladder. said !
I could not possibly retain my Office
With its terrific responsibilities and
at the same time make recovery.