THE PRESIDENCY: The People’s Man

Very early New Year’s morning Charles P. Ruby, railroad trainman, arose in his Washington home. He hurried to the gates of the White House. There, before dawn, he sat down on a box, began a long wait. Later another man, Arthur Demars, jobless insurance agent, came along, stood up behind Ruby. It was very cold. A White House guard came and asked what they were doing.

“Waiting to wish the President a Happy New Year,” explained Ruby.

“Huh,” replied the guard walking off, “I wouldn’t sit out there in the cold that long for half the White House.”

Shortly after 7 a. m. another guard came up, told Ruby and Demars: “The President wants to see you. He says if you two are this anxious to see him, to come on in.”

The bewildered Messrs. Ruby and Demars were escorted into the basement of the White House where they found President Hoover in sweater and sneakers surrounded by his medicine ball Cabinet. They wished him a Happy New Year, were introduced to Secretary of the Interior Wilbur, Associate Justice Stone. Had they had any breakfast? They had not. The President ordered a meal — scrambled eggs, bacon, coffee, hot rolls. They were served while he went off for his morning exercise. When he returned they had gone.

John W. Hunefeld, Washington housepainter, who for three years had proudly led the Public past the President at the New Year’s Day reception, again headed the procession when the White House doors opened at 1:30 p. m. That day President Hoover shook 6,429 hands.

¶ As forecast, George Akerson, President Hoover’s No. 1 secretary, went cinema last week. He resigned his $10,000 White House job to take a $30,000 position as public relations executive with Paramount-Publix Corp. President Hoover, whom as Secretary of Commerce Mr. Akerson had helped greatly to build up popularly and politically to receive the Republican nomination, spoke of his “great regret at losing an old friend.” Adolph Zukor, P.-P. president, hailed his new executive as “a splendid example of manpower.”

¶ Last week President & Mrs. Hoover gave their son Allan his annual White House party. Two hundred young people were invited for 10 p. m. Honor guest was Miss Fannie Homans of Boston, niece of Secretary of the Navy Charles Francis Adams, and great-great-great-granddaughter of President John Adams. She danced the first dance with Host Allan in the same East Room where her great-great-great-grandmother Abigail used to dry the family wash. As a mark of favor at supper she was served the first slice of cake from a cake plate used in the White House by the Adamses. “Home, Sweet Home” came at 1 a. m.

¶ President Hoover proclaimed the London Naval Treaty to be in effect.