Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-01

lat a reasonable hour, and
must eliminate many of the less
important social and ceremonial
activities.
But let me make one thing
clear. AS of this moment, there
lis not the slightest doubt that
II can now perform as well as /
ever have, all of the important
duties of the presidency. This l
say because | am actually doing
so and have been doing so for
many weeks.
Duties Are Endless
OF course. the duties OF the
President are essentially end
less. No daily schedule of ap-
ipointments can give a full time
table-or even a faint indication
of the Presidents RESPONSE
bilities. Entirely aside from the
making of important decisions;
there is the formulation of policy
Through the National Security
Council, and the cabinet; CO.
operation with the Congress and
with the States; there is for the
President a continuous burden Of
study, contemplation and refiec-
ton.
OF the subjects demanding
this endless study. some deal
with foreign affairs. with the
position of the United States In
the international world. her
strength, her aspirations, and
the methods by which she may
exert her influence in the solu-
Ition of world problems and in
the direction of q Just and en-
during peace. These-all of them
ARE a particular constitutional
responsibility of the President.
! These subjects, requiring study
and contemplation, include, also,
major questions affecting our
economy, the relationships of our
government to our people. the
Federal Governments role in as
surfing our citizens medical and
educational facilities, and i'm
Iportant economic and social
policies in a variety of fields.
The President is the Constitu-
Itional Commander in Chief of
our Armed Forces and is con-
stantly confronted with major
questions as to their efficiency.
organization, operations and
adequacy.
Never Escapes Office
All these matters, among
others, are with a President al
ways; in Washington, in a sum-
Imer White House on a week.
END absence, indeed, even at a
ceremonial dinner and in every
hour of leisure. The old saying
lis true, "A President never
escapes from his Office"
These are the things to which
7 refer when ! say I am now
carrying the duties of the Presi-
dent. So far as I am concerned,
II am confident that1 can con-
|tihue to carry them indefinitely.
Otherwise, would never have
made the decision I announced
today. IS
The doctors insist that hard
work of the kind ! have described
does not injure any recovered
coronary case, if such a recovered
patient will follow the regime
they lay down. Certainly, to-
this moment, the work has not
hurt me.
Readiness to obey the doctors.
out of respect for my present
duties and responsibilities, is
mandatory in my case. ! am now
doing so, and I intend to continue
doing so for the remainder of
my life, no matter in what
capacity I may be living or may
be serving.
incidentally. some of my medi-
cal advisers believe that adverse
effects on my hSalth will be less
in the Presidency than in any
other position I might hold. +,
They believe that because of the
watchful care that doctors cam
and do exercise over a President,
he normally runs less risk of ply
steal difficulty than do other citi-i
zeIis. This fact is probably of
more Importance to my family |