Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-04-08
By joseph A. Fox

day announced the selection of
Steve Early to be Undersecretary
of Defense, the comment of an
old newspaper friend offered a
f1rst-class appraisal of the tough
minded individual who is slated
to be the No. 2 man in the arms
setup.
Recalling an earlier newspaper
story to the effect that Mr.. Early
was President Truman's choice for
Secretary of the Army, the
speaker said:
We'll, it's a cinch that Steve
didn't have anything to do with
that piece; for if he had, it would
have been accurate. If he's talk
ing, he's not giving bum steers
to anybody"
That was a truism Washington
reporters saw demonstrated more
than once in the IL crowded years
when Stephen Tyree Early ham
died press relations for Franklin
D. Roosevelt.
Never Led Astray.
A pointed questior-or series OF
ouestions-might provoke an
eruption in the Office of the press
secretary. But old timers around
the White House recall no in
stance where they were led astray
deliberately by the presidential
spokesman.
This same forthrightness was
carried into other relationships.
Whether President Roosevelt or
some of the other top brass in the
Administration was involved, the
plain-speaking Mr.. Early never
hesitated to express disagreement,
if he believed that was called for.
The Roosevelt Early association
dated back to the pre-worfd War
I era, when Mr.. Roosevelt was
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
and Mr.. Early was a reporter Tor
the Associated Press. The Presi-
dent never had a more loyal aide !.
whose duties wents far beyond
press work, and he in turn re-
ciprocated with friendship that
was reserved for only few.
Opposed Third Term.
But when FDR decided to seek
third term, Mr.. Early didn't like
the idea and said so.
In the course of a days bust
ness, too, inevitable conflicts
would arise. While Mr.. Roosevelt
was not a person who brooked
endless argument. his aide would
push his own viewpoint as far as
possible. Sometimes the obJector
got the decision; again. in clipped
accent, FDR would settle the mat
ter with hrusque:
steve, I'm not asking you. I'm
telling you"
There is also the well-remem-
bered occasion when a high Gov
eminent official gave out war
time story that the White House
considered extremely bad policy.
The Early telephone was in &C
ton within a few seconds after a
news ticker carried the account,
the origin of which was plainly
evident, although the source was
not identified.
The offending official, as is
sometimes the case, fell back on
the old excuse that Cd he had
been quoted incorrectly, and CD
what he had said was off the.
record, anyway.
The press secretary's response
to that was couched in language
that would have done credit to
Jubal Early, the Confederate gen.
eral. AS working newspaperman
of many years with both United
Press and Associated Press, Mr..
Early had heard that one before.
There was another occasion
when White House reporters felt
they, perhaps, had averted blood
shed.
AS captain of machine-gun
company in France in World War
I. Mr.. Early saw some rugged
service. After this country got
into World War II. hopeful in
dividual showed up at the White
House one day with a request for
draft deferment he proposed to lay
on the secretary's desk.
Newsmen who knew that the
Early view of this would be exceed
ingly dim, suggested that the draft
would be better than some things
that might happen. The reluctant
recruit decided that a word to the
wise was plenty.
Pullman Official.
Shortly before Mr.. Roosevelt's
death. Mr.. Early, who had relin-
ouished his press duties to handle
other White House work, turned in
his resignation to be free to con-
slider some attractive offers from
private industry. But with new
President in the White House,
Steve buckled down again. giving
the same loyal service his old
friend had known for so long
Finally, after three months. he
stepped out to become vice pres
ident of Pullman, Inc, the post
he since has held.
In sharp contrast to some Of the
others in the Roosevelt official
family, Mr.. Early steadfastiy has
refused to write any memoirs.
although none was closer to the
former President, nor knew more