Evening star., 1949-03-15
Photographers Defend
Truman Beach Shots
In 'Feud' With Ross
BY Joseph A. Fox
stor SsoH Correspondent

KEY WEST, Fla., Mar. ia
mild feud between the White
House and news photographers
accompanying the presidential
party over suppression OF some
Truman vacation pictures has
spiced the routine Of the Chief
Executives holiday.
Because OF what hi character.
lied primarily as the completely
unauthorized invasion Of the
Presidents privacy" Charles @.
Ross. White House press secre-
tary. yesterday took possession Of
some newsreels and still shots of
the presidential party at "Tru-
man Beach," and OF the little
White House. where Mr.. Truman
is quartered. In protest at the
censorship the still photog.
raphers destroyed their own
plates.
The President was not in
formed OF the incident at the
time. but was filled In later by Mr..
Ross. who contended to reporters
that In addition TO what he con-
sidered q breach OF the amenities
by the aerial expedition. there
also was q security angle In
volvcd.
photographers Defend Action.
The photographers-who are TO
entertain Mr.. Truman at their an
nual dinner In Washington Satur-
day night-defended their own
course by arguing that their ex-
pedition had been arranged with
the assistance OF Rear Admiral
Robert L. Dennison. presidential
naval aide; Comdr. william Rig
don OF the naval aides staff. and
Comdr. Ell Vinock. operations offi-
Ger at the base. Mr.. Ross said he
didn't know whether any one would
be reprimanded for the affair.
The tempest stirred In late
morning while the President. Chief
Justice Vinson and others In the
presidential party were on the Sc
cluded beach which has been put
at Mr.. Truman's disposal.
All looked up as q Navy blimp
cruised over at an altitude vari.
ously estimated at 200 TO 500 feet.
Mr.. Ross said he at first thought
the Navy was taking some pictures.
Then he saw the familiar faces Of
White House photographers peer
ine on the scene below with their
The President waved.
Ross Moved Rapidly
Mr.. Ross moved fast. First
went q call 10 the airport at Boca
chica TO keep the blimp aloft
until he arrived. Then In COM
pany with James Rowley. head Of
the White House Secret Service
detail and Admiral Dennison. the
press secretary made a quick
drive through Key West to the
airport. nine miles distant and
greeted the photographers as
they landed.
Don't you have any regard for
the Presidents security" he de-
according to the photo
version.
"Of course we do" responded
Byron Rollins OF the Associated
Press. president OF the. White
House Photographers Association.
Al this point. there Is not ex-
actly a meeting OF minds between
Mr.. Ross and the photoRrap pliers
The press secretary told a neTsi
conference that he made no
for the Aims. that he
only made q request that the
pictures be not used" And fol-
lowed this with the suggestion
that they could be developed by
the Navy. and any that passed
White House scrutiny could be
released.
Secret Service Takes Film.
Al Muto OF International News
Photos. who has a rather low
boiling point. interrupted to as
sert, on behalf OF the still photog-
raphers. that YOU said that those
pictures never would see publica-
ton so rather than give you the
pleasure Of censorship. We de-
them" That disposed Of
his own handiwork and that OF
Mr.. Rollins and Milton Freier-
Of Acme.
Thomas Craven OF Paramount,
who Is acting as pool man for the
Ave big newsreel companies. and
Joseph Vadala. National Broad
Television. asked that
their reels be sent to the respective
for developing and
that the White House could pass
on the finished product. The
Secret Service took over the film.
In the quiet sector. the princi-
pal development was the sched-
lled midday arrival Of former
OF State Marshall and
william D. Pawley. former Ambas-
sador to Brazil. who are flying in
from Miami to lunch with the
Mr.. Ross said he does not know
now long they will stay.
The visit was described as en-
tirelY social.