Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-03-03
BIZ JOSEPH 3. MoHRAT

A chill wind blew from the
northwest, It brought a few
drops Of rain.
At the Mayflower Hotel
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 81
awoke to assume the presidency
OF the United States.
He locked himself into the
steel braces that lent support
TO his lifeless legs. It would be
q long day.
The man from New York
State arose with avowed deter
mination to try and quell the
mounting fear that choked the
Nation. The words were there,
in his typed inaugural address:
THE only thing we have to
fear Is fear itself-nameless,
unreasoning. unjustified terror
which paralyzes needed efforts
TO convert retreat into adj
vance"
Roosevelt Attends Church
FDR-the monogram already
was q fixture-was pale and
quiet when, surrounded by his
family and the cabinet he had
chosen, he entered old st.
Johns Episcopal Church across
Lafayette Square from the
White House.
His headmaster from Groton
School days, DR.. Endicott Pea
body, prayed for Roosevelt and
the promised New Deal.
Roosevelt left the church for
the White House, to join a
weary President Herbert
Hoover.
Across the nation, commerce
was paralyzed. Food in album
dance rotted on the farms for
want Of 4 market. Factories
lay still and cold.
Millions were unemployed.
Millions were hungry, angry,
despairing, frightened, shat
tered. A few were defiant Of all
authority in their desperation.
A very few had hopes.
The 157-year-old Unite d
States Of America had given
new depth and sinister mean
ing to the word depression"
At the White House the Pres
ident-elect waited in the back
seat of an open-topped, glisten-
ing black limousine.
100000 Line Streets
President Hoover emerged.
He stepped into the car and the
men tipped their hats in greet
ing. They shook hands. Roose-
welt remained seated because
Of his paralysis. Hoover sat in
the seat next to him. The Ia
mile ride to the Capitol began.
1t was estimated that 500, 900
persons lined the streets that
day. They stood 10 deep, craned
from atop crates, perched in
the wet trees.
Roosevelt lifted his silk hat
to the waving. friendly crowds.
At the capitol. 100000 spec
tators waited, seated, standing
and in the trees and on nearby
roofs. They were good-natured,
II not exactly in holiday spirits.
The flags on the hill whipped
in the northwesterly gusts that
flicked across the plaza. They
were at half-staff in tribute to
Roosevelt's original attorney
general designate, Senator
Thomas ]. Walsh Of Montana,
dead two days.
President Hoover left his sue
cessor. He went to the ornate
Presidents Room, just off the
Senate floor, to perform his
final acts Of office.
Excitement Grows
In the Senate Military AZ
fairs Committee room. Roose-
welt waited. He penciled new
thoughts in his address. He
sat quietly. reflectively.
Outside, excitem mt was
growing in the crowd. The
minutes before noon dragged
by. Roosevelt entered the Sem
nate chamber to watch his Vice
President, John Nance Garner.
sworn in by Vice President
Charles Curtis.
Then the President-elect rode
in q wheelchair TO the great
bronze doors. A herald sounded
a fanfare from the colonnaded
platform outside. The doors
swung open.
Up the maroon carpeted
ramp Roosevelt walked. lean
ing on the arm Of James, his
eldest son.
A band sounded Hail To The
Chief"
The wind rustled the white
beard Of Justice Charles Evans
Hughes. The 300-y ear-old
Roosevelt family Bible. covered
with oilcloth. lay open to First
Corinthians-"And now abid-
eth faith. hope and charity,
these three: but the greatest Of
these Is charity"
Nation Hears President
Hughes intoned the oath.
Roosevelt. arm raised. hand on
the Bible. rejected the tradi-
tional II do" and repeated the
oath.
The 3lst American to hold
the Presidency turned quickly
toward the rostrum.
---zxvwwa