Evening star., 1950-04-09

And perhaps even little longer
In these past five years, while
the President has preserved the
unruned. unworried demeanor
that is characteristic. There has.
however. been one marked change
in the onethme haberdasher
since that night Of April IL. l945.
when the sudden death of Frank
lin Delano Roosevelt stunned
people at war and catapulted Mr..
Truman into the presidency.
Then he was an uncertain
figure. moving in new and
strange world. who had to look
to associates of questionable loyal
ty for advice in bringing a global
war to successful conclusion,
while. at the same time. keeping
the economy of this country on
even keel.
Sure-footed and Confident
To friends in those days he
often confided:
Il didn't ask for this job and
I didn't want it. But now that
I've got it I'm going to do the
best I can"
Today. there is none Of this
self-deprecation. He is sure
footed, moves confidently, and as
the old saying goes. the Chief
Executive Doesn't ask em-he
tells EN-"
The President. too. has grown
graver; the Office does that, but
he can still laugh at a'joke, and
those around him every day swear
by "the Boss" for his unfailing
courtesy and thoughtfulness, de-
spite the burden he carries.
No man ever assumed the presi-
dency under more trying circum-
stances than did Harry Truman.
A few months before he had
just been one of 96 Senators
elected out of Kansas City, or
rather. jackson County, with the
backing of Thomas J. Pendergast,
notorius political boss. The pro-
tege never could be tarred with
the Pendergast stick. despite ar
dent efforts of enemies. and as a
new Senator. MIR. Truman worked
hard and painstakingly. In 1910,
he was re,elected-but just barely.
AS county official back home
Mr.. Truman had always been a
meticulous spender of public
money and when this country
started rearming. he had an idea
that It would be a good thing II
the same principle were applied tc
the terrific expenditures in pros.
pect. At his urging, the Senate
created a watchdog" committee
to keep a line on things, and ir
accordance with custom, he was
made chairman.
The Truman Committee" func-
toned efficiently. and when 1945
rolled around, and President
Roosevelt decided to shoot for a
fourth term. he tapped the little
Missourian for Vice President to
replace Henry Wallace.
Became His Own Man
Others had wanted that vice
presidency. and their disappoint-
ment was intensified when the
Roosevelt Truman ticket won. for
there was a feeling that the Pres
ident's health was such that the
No. 2 man might easily become
the 33d President Of the United
States.
When that very thing hap
pened, less than three months
after Inauguration on the wind
swept portico of the White House,
the Roosevelt successor. never a
particularly militant New Dealer,
was looked upon by many an as
sociate as an interloper who had
come into the presidency on a
rain check.
There was some pointed evi-
dence of this spirit the afternoon
that the Roosevelt funeral serv-
ices were held in the White
Houses east room. The new
President ua1ked in with bic
family, and was received with a
lack of attention that hardly
could have been accidental.
And it was this sort of feeling
that persisted through party
ranks right down to November 2,
1948, when Harry Truman beat