The President's Week

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:

P: 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.

P: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."

P: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?"

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

P: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."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.