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TIME: Almanac of the 20th Century
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TIME, Almanac of the 20th Century.ISO
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<text>
<title>
(1940s) FDR's Day
</title>
<history>
TIME--The Weekly Newsmagazine--1940s Highlights
PEOPLE
</history>
<link 08172>
<link 00073><article>
<source>Time Magazine</source>
<hdr>
FDR's Day
</hdr>
<body>
<p>(June 10, 1940)
</p>
<p> Franklin Roosevelt's day begins around 8:30 a.m., with a
leisurely breakfast in bed, a review of news and the day's work
with Secretary Stephen T. Early, a careful check through New
York, Washington, Philadelphia and Baltimore newspapers; a look
at overnight cables. Often, these days, there are also quick
conferences with State Department chiefs. Languid, shrewd
Secretary of Commerce Harry Hopkins often sits in, listening
more than talking, unmindful of smoke curling into his eyes from
a forgotten cigaret. When the grandchildren are on a visit, one
is usually climbing around the bed (Franklin III or Sara).
</p>
<p> Dressed, he sits on a little wheelchair that looks like a
typewriter table--no arms or back--and an attendant places his
hand on the President's broad shoulders, pushes him to the
elevator, down the pillared outside passage (if the day is fair)
and into the Oval Room to his desk. Walking is still a
difficult, lurching task to him, only possible with a cane and
an aide's arm.
</p>
<p> At 10 or 10:30 appointments begin. Lunch is a conference over
desk trays. The President is not skillful with his hands: they
fumble with papers, with spectacles; the wood matches he uses
often break under his heavy fingers. When he appears casual,
easy, charming, his hands are still. He likes to laugh, even
these days--a delighted roar that shakes him up & down--and
still in the horded minutes of his day finds time to write lusty
wisecracks in memos to his aides, to think up little gags to
spring on his press conferences.
</p>
<p> He has one priceless attribute: a knack of locking up his and
the world's worries in some secret mental compartment, and then
enjoying himself to the top of his bent. This quality of
survival, of physical toughness, of champagne ebullience, is one
key to the big man. Another key is this: no one has ever heard
him admit that he cannot walk.</p>
</body>
</article>
</text>