U.S. At War: The President’s Week, Apr. 10, 1944

Out at Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Md., they X-rayed Franklin Roosevelt’s chest. It was a mild case of bronchitis, going into its third week. To reporters, the President pooh-poohed his illness, continued to smoke from his long cigaret holder, continued to cough softly but persistently. Last week, he:

¶ Let the Soldier Vote bill become law without his signature. Ten weeks ago he had called an almost identical bill a “fraud” (TIME, Feb. 7). This time he merely termed the measure “wholly inadequate.” Under the bill, soldiers must apply to their home state for a complete ballot. If overseas, they will be able to use the short Federal ballot, but only if they apply for a state ballot by Sept. 1, fail to receive it by Oct. 1—and even then only if their state legislature has expressly authorized use of the Federal ballot. Less than half apparently intend to do so.

¶Welcomed Eleanor Roosevelt back from a 24-day, 14,000 mile jaunt through the Caribbean. Arriving home, tanned and longing for a shampoo, Mrs. Roosevelt brought a souvenir for the President’s library: a model jangada (native one-sail, one-paddle boat) made by a Recife fisherman. Said she to the press: “Easter? Oh, it’s next week, isn’t it? I haven’t any new clothes and won’t have any.”

¶Heard that famed, old (87) white-whiskered George Bernard Shaw had described U.S. “intervention” in “the powerless little cabbage garden called Eire” as “a really stupid mistake.” Sniped Playwright Shaw: “Can it be that Mr. Roosevelt is overworked and is catching too many colds?”

¶Asked Congress for $64,390,000 to carry OWI through another fiscal year.

¶Remained enigmatic about Term IV. Postmaster General Frank C. Walker, ex-chairman of the Democratic National Committee, confessed: “I don’t know. I don’t believe he has made up his mind yet.”