THE PRESIDENCY: The White House Week: Nov. 15, 1926

The White House Week

¶ It was the morning after the day before. The President arose earlier than usual, took a long walk on the streets of downtown Washington, returned to the White House, ate a hearty breakfast. Then in his office in an easy chair in front of the tall south windows he read newspapers and election telegrams, placidly. Messengers came in with more despatches; he picked them up mechanically, smoking slowly. The expression on his face was as emotionless as that of a man thoughtfully perusing the telephone directory. Then William Randolph Hearst came in for luncheon, suggested that the President go to California for his vacation next year.

¶ Two days later, President Coolidge made his official pronouncementon the election: 1) The only nation-wide election was in the contest for the House of Representatives, and there the Republicans successfully defended their majority; 2) The Senate elections were held in only a few more than one-third of the states, were local in their issues, and hence were no repudiation of the Administration: 3) Defeated Senator William M. Butler of Massachusetts would be urged to continue his duties as Chairman of the Republican National Committee; in fact, he could give it more attention, now that he had done with “that timeconsuming office of Senator.”

¶ To the White House came John Masefield, Lincoln-like British poet of the sea and of the chase, and Mrs. Masefield. He found the President “talkative and extremely affable.” Later a Washington correspondent asked him: “Did you talk about poetry* or books?” “No,” said Poet Masefield.

¶ Thomas Rogers, better known as “Charges Alone,” full-blooded Arikara Indian of North Dakota, who killed or captured 90 Germans in the World War, was appointed a letter carrier by President Coolidge last week and assigned to duty in Mandan, N. Dak. The President authorized Postmaster General Harry S. New to waive the usual civil service rules in the case of “Charges Alone.”

¶ The President received a report from the Civil Service Commission stating that, for the first time since the War, the number of Federal employes in Washington had fallen below 60,000 (to 59,849). The Treasury Department made the largest cut in personnel, 119; the Navy Department added the most, 40.

¶ Frank W. Stearns. Boston merchant, longtime friend of President and Mrs. Coolidge, had his 70th birthday. The White House was the place of celebration.

*President Coolidge’s favorite poets are: Burns, Eugene Field, Kipling, Milton, Riley, Scott, Whittier.