Evening star., 1949-06-12
Reading and Writing
What Is the Cabinet Reudino?
By Mary MeGrory

The Navy should take heart
Things may soon be better. AT
least between rounds on the B-36
Banshee scrap. Defense Secretary
johnson is reading Influence OF
Sea Power Upon History" by AL
fred Thayer Mahan. The unifica-
ton man is splintering his reading
time among four books at the
moment and manages to get q
chapter a day in on "The Federal
list" alexander Hamilton), "On
Active Service in Peace and War;
Henry L. Stimson) and "Elihu
Root" philip Caryl Jessup). in
addition to the Navy tome.
Cabinet members in general
seem to take their reading cues
from the President. who is an
omnivorous reader of non-fiction
A survey indicates that II the talk
ever gets around to books at the
Friday morning cabinet meetings,
there's very little chit-chat about
the new novels. Lone dissenter is
Postmaster General Donaldson,
who frankly confesses a weakness
for mysteries and historicals,
Right now. he's occupied with
Philip Wylie's racy new shocker,
"Opus 81" and finding it just the
thing to take his mind of Hill
hearings.
A Book q Day.
Mr.. Truman has wide choice Of
reading material, since he re-
ceives an average Of q book q day
through the mails. Half come
from publishers who want him to
see their wares and half come
from private citizens who think
he may benefit from the reading
of some special book. This last
group includes comic books sent
in by children, with covering notes
of recommendation. Despite this,
the Chief Executive confines him
self mostly to history and biogra-
ply of the Civil War period. His
enthusiasm seems to be infectious.
Anyway, Secretary Tobin. is max
ing his way through Lees Lieu
tenants" for the second time.
Attorney General Clark is an
other Lee fan, also reads every
thing he can get on Lincoln, Sam
Houston, jackson, Wilson and the
two Roosevelts. For spiritual in
spiration," he consults the West
minister Study Edition Of the Bible
which his staff gave him. When
speech-writing. he leans on Roget's
Thesaurus; when cooking, on the
Dallas Junior League Cookbook.
Sec. Brannon Likes Cert.
When Secretary of Agriculture
Brannan Is looking for an ice
breaking story during his tours Of
the corn belt. he goes to Bennett
Cerf's Shake Well Before Using"
The man with the plan" is also
studying one of his own depart
ment's publications. not. however,
anything like Sex Habits Of the
Watermelon" or any other PAM
phlets that have drawn recent
senatorial fire. He's concentrating
on the Agricultural Yearbook
which this year is devoted to grass,
He is also enjoying '"Titans Of the
SOIL" Edward Jerome Dies story
of pioneers in agriculture.
The Secretary of Interiors read
ing is q family affair. Mrs. Krug,
who reads faster than her hus-
band, screens the new books for
him. He and his son are doing
"The Life Of Audubon" and DAN
lei Boone" together. He has just
reread Marquis James Andrew
Jackson" A man whose job is
conservation. he has gone through
Our Plundered Planet" by Fair
field Osborne. and Road to Sur
vival." by william Vogt, . local
conservation expert. He has also
read Churchill's 'The Gathering
Storm and Sherwood's Roosevelt
and Hopkins"
Secretary Of Commerce Sawyer