National Defense: President’s Week: Oct. 28, 1940

Last week the President

» Presented the Army & Navy Legion of Valor’s annual medal to 14-year-old Donn Fendler of Rye, N. Y. Boy Scout Fendler, who had his hair slicked for the occasion, ate berries and kept his head while lost in the Maine woods for seven days in July 1939.

» Signed a bill recodifying nationalization laws and denying citizenship to members of alien groups advocating overthrow of the U. S. Government by force.

» Ordered a survey of critical U. S. war materials, particularly machine tools, still undelivered to foreign customers. Reason: in case U. S. requisition is necessary. He made clear that this order did not apply to Russia, that Russia is considered a “friendly power.”

» Conferred for 20 minutes with C. I. O. President John L. Lewis, long sore at him, who had not yet declared whom he backed in the campaign. Result: nothing visible.

» Vetoed a bill to mobilize homing pigeons for national defense. Reason: the bill went “a little too far in time of peace.”

» Had his picture taken with the six-man pistol team of the White House police force, resplendent in new uniforms and unrecognizably pleasant faces. (White House policemen are famed as dourpusses.)

» Put in Postmaster General Frank Walker’s fat hands $6 in crisp bills for first sheets of new one, two-and three-cent National Defense stamps.

» Over all major networks at 8 a.m. told the men of the U. S. about to register for military service that “Today’s registration … is the keystone in the arch of national defense.”Said he: “Democracy is the one form of society which guarantees to every new generation of men the right to imagine and to attempt to bring to pass a better world. Under the despotisms, the imagination of a better world and its achievement are alike forbidden. Your act today affirms not only your loyalty to your country but your will to build your future for yourselves.”

» Apparently decided to hold open until after elections three important vacant Government posts: Labor Relations Board Chairman, Federal Communications Commissioner, Work Projects Commissioner.