Evening star., 1950-03-21
Truman Finding Rest
But No Vacation in
Key West Sec|usion
Task Of Being President
Never Ceases Moment,
Not Even on Beech
By David Laurence

Not Even on Beach
By David Laurence
KEY WEST, Fla, Mar. al
Uneasy lies the head that carries
responsibility-for there is no such
thing as a vacation from the presi-
Dental job.
President Truman has found
here rest and seclusion-a chance
for meditation, a chance to think
through some of the major prob
lens that bother him. He gets a
vacation, OF course. from the pres
sures Of a daily calling list and
from the hour-by- hour demands
on his time from heads of depart
ments and governmental agencies.
But the task Of being President
never ceases for a moment.
Even on the sandy beach where
the President goes for a daily
swim. there is telephone in the
dressing room a few feet away.
He can talk to Washington or Lon
don or even Moscow il he wishes.
Nobody who has looked over
this quiet retreat at the southern
most tip of the United States
could possibly begrudge Mr.. Tru-
man this bit of isolation. It isn't
at all luxurious-it's just a plain
military barracks where there is
privacy. because it is a naval sta
tion with high wire fence around
it and a handful of sailors and
marines guarding the entrances.
The only luxury is the sun and
the blue waters of the Gulf Of
Mexico.
Press Just as Vigilant.
Life goes on almost exactly as
It does in Washington. The press
corps is here-not as large as at
the White House, but just as vigi-
.ant, just as professionally objec-
tive, just as curious and persever-
ing in representing the peoples
interest.
In back of the President is an
efficient staff in Washington,
which Sits the important from
the unimportant before sending
down a pouch Of mail. Anything
that comes here for action is of
the topmost significance and
much Of what is done here isn't
publicized at all.
Once a day Charles G. Ross,
veteran newspaperman who acts
as press relations secretary for the
President, gives out the news that
the President has decided to make
public. Mr.. Ross answers ques-
tions freely and altogether one
might say that the routine is car
ried on exactly as it is in the exec
utive Offices in Washington.
This is readily accomplished be-
cause CT the airplane and the
telephone. The President can
send for anyone and bring him
here by air in a few hours for
conference. He can do business
by telephone if he wishes to work
faster than the airplane can carry
his letters or orders.
Even TIE idea of a three-way
hook-uo with two or three other
persons participating In a tele-
phone conference has been devel-
oped for the Presidents benefit
and he frequently takes advantage
OF this mechanical set-up.
Irritated by Rumors.
What are the things that the
President is concerned about?
Naturally the furor over the State
Department personnel is arritat-
ing. No President likes to have pot
shots taken at his cabinet mem
bers. Yet the demand Of a SEN
ate committee for information
about State Department personnel
accused of disloya1ty is something
that has to be taken into account
by the President. To refuse the
files implies guilt. To give them
up to unrestricted scrutiny means
publicizing unverified reports that
often creep into official files. So
caution is the word. But If the
Senators find they must see the
secret files. they'll see them-there
will not be any standing on prece-
dent.
Then there's the rumor about
the status of Dean Acheson as
Secretary OF State. The moment
Chief Justice Vinson arrived here,
this rumor started. Will he sue
ceed Secretary Acheson If and
when the latter ever retires? The
reporters asked this very question
and found that they are way
ahead Of the game. So far as the
President is concerned, his present
Secretary Of State suits him. As
Tor the Chief Justice. his post as
head OF a coordinate branch of
the Government suits him, too
and it's life job, besides.
Anyway, the idea just now is
not to look too far into the future.
Conceivably anything could hap
pen. Mr.. Vinson could someday
60 to Moscow on a mission, or he
could become Secretary of State
but that is not probable in the
foreseeable future. What's more
important is not to find a new
Secretary Of State but q new pol
icy-and that's something else
again.
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