Evening star., 1948-07-02
UnrcalistiC Furry
Mrs. Roosevelt Will Not Run for Office;
Has Never Deviated From That Position

to sympathize with party executives
but, viewing present turbulent de-
velopments, she said no.
OF her four sons, Elliott and
Franklin, jr., are openly pro-Eisen-
hover while James, California ma
tional committeeman, is privately a
sparkplug of the widespread effort
to dump Mr.. Truman and substitute
the general or Justice Douglas. John
is not in politics.
Name Never Mentioned.
At q secret White House meeting
Wednesday to canvass the vice presi-
dency, attended by Mr.. Truman, his
staff, Leslie Biff1e, FSA administra-
tor Ewing, Interior Undersecretary
Chapman and National Chairman
McGrath, Mrs. Roosevelt's name was
never mentioned.
This demonstrates that the Presi-
dent yesterday was being polite
rather than deliberately planning
to appeal to Mrs. Roosevelt to run
with him.
The President and Mrs. Roose-
welt enjoy friendly personal rela-
tions. With considerable dignity
he has held aloof from the wise
cracks of some of his circle, he does
not share the feeling of some South
erners against her and on at least
one occasion both he and Mrs. Tru-
man went to bat for her hard and
swiftly.
The McKim Incident.
Shortly after Mr.. Roosevelt died
Edward McKim, a Truman admin
istrative assistant, barged into the
stenographers' room on the distaff
side of the White House. (This is
the same Omaha insurance man
who recently arranged for the Presi-
dent to deliver his farm speech to
four-fifths empty auditoriup in
Omaha)
Mr.. McKim suggested to the girls
that Mrs. Roosevelt was no longer
riding the gravy train" in steno-
graphic service, they could pack and
60 home now. In tears one of them
went to Reathel Odum. Mrs. Tru-
mans secretary. Miss Odum spoke
to Mrs. Truman.
Mrs. Truman swept down on the
unfortunate Mr.. McKim in super
sonic fury. She explained that as
far as she was concerned he could
take his own advice and that II he
ever interfered again with her side
of the house, he would be compelled
to.
The President not only agreed
with his wife, he insisted upon send
ing to Hyde Park a Stenographe1
familiar with the type of mail Mrs
Roosevelt had been receiving for 1;
years to help her until the fabulous
accretion of it should be cleared
away. Not long afterward Mr.. Nc.
Kim disappeared from the Wash
ington scene. The above Is partia.
explanation Of why the Omaha
debacle did not entirely surprise
experienced Washington correspon-
dents, who only regret they have
never heard Mrs. Truman's com.
ments on it.
| Stand on Palestine.
But Mrs. Roosevelt has found her.
self unable to agree with all the
Presidents actions, including the
Palestine vacillation. She has 81
stated in her column, she has always
been frank about it in conversation
and she has written him many lons
maternal urgings to broaden ht
circle Of advisers and hear NOR
and better counsel before acting.
So intense was her feeling abou
Palestine she offered, before publicl.
attacking United States decisions, Il
resign as United Nations delegate i
the President and Secretary Of Stat
Marshall felt she would embarraS
the administration. They said no
positively.
Mrs. Roosevelt also shares New
Dealer resentment against the Presi
dents summary treatment of sucl
men as James M. Lands, Marine
Eccies, etc. The President can de-
pend on her never to engage in poll
tical cabals; he can always be SUR
she will exercise her right as a free
born American to form and stat
political opinions.
As for Mrs, Luce, she is not friend
ly with Mrs. Roosevelt and has fire.
ouently made her the victim OF on,
of the sharpest tongues in politics.