Evening star., 1952-09-29

S 0 of David K.
Niles I have
lost a close
~ friend ana aI
trusted associate.
"He served two Presidents of
the United States in positions of
the highest trust and confidence.
Presidents have been served by
many able men, but seldom by
one so truly selfless. His passion
for anonymity was matched only
by his sense of public response
bility.
II have lost a valued assistant.
The underprivileged people Of the
world have lost q great and stead
fast friend"
Services will be held Wednesday
at II am. at Temple Israel, Bos-
ton.
David K. Niles. an astute liberal
with a passion for anonomity,"
served as a key adviser to the
late Harry F.. Hopkins and Frank
lin D. Roosevelt and then became
known as President Truman's
mystery man" until he resigned
from White House administrative
lduties in May, 1851.
Even then, Mr.. Truman kept 81
string on future services of hts
chief trouble shooter" who was
inherited from the Roosevelt ad-
ministration.
Mr.. Niles was appointed in
August, 1912. to one of the six
posts Of executive assistants au-
thorized by Congress to assem-
BILE and analyze" the mass of in
formation the late President
Roosevelt needed for his many
decisions. After the death Of Ste
lphen T. Early. who had been pro-
NOTED to Under Secretary of
Defense, he was the last Roose-
velt intimate who remained Sit
uated Importantly in the execu-
tive branch Of the Government.
Adviser to Donald Nelson.
Prior to his White House post,
Mr.. Niles was special labor ad-
wiser to Donald Nelson, chief Of
the War Production Board, to
whom he went after q hitch as
adviser to Sidney Hillman in the
labor departments of both OPM
and PWA.
The short, dark-complexioned
bachelor was born in the slums
of North Boston, the son Of Rus
sian immigrants named Ascher
and Sophie Neyhus. His father
was a tailor. Somewhere. along
the line he and two. brothers
changed the name to Niles,
though his parents clung to theirs.
Imbued with political ambition,
he graduated from Harvard Uni
versity and became director Of the
Ford Hall Forum, Boston sound
ing board for advanced ideas. In
early years he evinced interest
in the causes Of minority groups.
In more recent years Of q va
lried career. Mr.. Niles became q
key man in the achievement of
independence for Israel. When
the Palestine question came up
LATTER President Truman had taken
office. he Is said to have turned
the whole problem over to MIR.
}, Niles. He dealt with other minori-
Ity groups for the administration
and was an intimate of Justice
Felix Frankfurter Of the Supreme
Court.
Worked for Al Smith.
In 1923 he did some work for
Gov. AL Smith of New York but
what was more important to his
later career, became friends with
the Hyde Park Roosevelts and
their social-worker friend, Harry
Hopkins.
Later, Mr.. Hopkins brought him
to Washington when the Works
Progress Administration was start
ed. He was Hopkins general
: liaison with labor groups. Among
many things credited to Mr.. Niles
which he usually disclaimed, was
an assignment to wrangle q
$500. 900 contribution from John
L. Lewis to help finance the 1896
Roosevelt campaign. Anyway, thu
contribution was delivered.
In 1910, when Mr.. Hopkins
moved to the White House al
: companion to Mr.. Roosevelt th<
tie between the two became ever
closer. During the Chicago
Democratic National Convention
, Mr.. Niles scurried around lining
up delegates for Mr.. Roosevelt
He had a hand in pulling the rue
out from under Postmaster Gen.
l. eral James A. Farley and advised
: key delegates that "the Chief
wanted Henry A. Wallace as Sec
5 ond man on the ticket. Shortl,
after the election, Mr.. Niles wal
!; rewarded with a trouble shooter;
q