European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 21, 1964, Darmstadt, Hesse Monday september 21, 1964 the stars and stripes Page 7 president spends vigorous quiet day9 editor s note Robert m. Jackson editor of the Corpus Christl caller times recently spent a weekend at the Whitehouse visiting with his old Friend Lyndon b. Johnson. The two men had roomed to Gether in Washington in the 1930s when both were congressional aides shortly before Jackson became a reporter forthe associated press while re Newing old ties Jackson had an intimate look at How the presi Dent lives. Here is his account of a quiet saturday at the White House the a. By Robert a. Jackson Washington a at precisely b o clock on saturday sept. 11, ism. A tall figure in Tan checked silk pyjamas opened the door of a bedroom in the White House and stepped into a dim foyer off a Broad unlit Corri Dor which runs the length of the executive mansion. A Man who had been sitting inthe corridor handed him a stack of newspapers. Over his shoulder As he stepped Back into the bed room the president of the United states asked that half a Canta Loupe and some hot Tea brought into his bedroom. Be it was later than usual for thai morning ritual. But the Bright Nadlang Light on the four poster mahogany bed had not gone out that morning until 3 five hours of sleep the chief executive was starting what had been designated As a quiet weekend at Home. Evidence of study the Dence littered floor bore Eliof a Long night s study scattered around one Side of themed were letters typed reports what appeared to be some pamphlets or other official publications pasted up copies of clippings from papers and Maga zones and news summaries typed single spaced but still re Quiring several pages for their thousands of quiet Quick moving trim Man who had taken the breakfast order in the corridor came in and started picking up the papers. When stacked they made a pile 10 or 12 inches High they were placed neatly on Dresser near the aide started drawing the blinds. What kind of a Day is it is it cold outside the president asked it s Clear and 87 degrees he replied. No. Sir excuse me. If now the opening Draper had just uncovered the outside thermometer. When the president had gon to get the papers mrs. Johnso had Arisen and retired to an adjoining room. As soon As climbed Back into the dig bed he started going through the papers quickly and systematical a. He reads with incredible rapidity. He was a fast Mcadean his we. Asked the other a if he bad Ever taken any of the modern Speed Reading courses he said no. Obviously however he could hold his own with most of their graduates 6 papers read i tical. He read it All with equanimity. About 12 feet from the bed Are free television sets. They Are mounted on a rack Side by Side and they can be operated by re Mote control by the president rom his bed. Each is tuned to a lation carrying a different one f the three National networks. Tie president turns on the Pic ure on All three sets and then he urns on the sound of the one he nooses to hear at times switch no frequently. While the newspaper readings in Progress his aide is laying it the Day s clothing. He make she selections himself without aying a word. He brings out a Ark suit a shirt with a very Alt Grey Stripe a dark striped in. Freshly polished Black shoes and new Black socks size 11j4here were shoe Trees in the hoes. The shirt had come from he laundry on a Hanger unfold d and wrapped in a plastic bag. He Valet carefully selected cuff inks and inserted them. The suit Ike Lse was removed fresh rom a plastic bag. The suit and Hirt were Hung on the outside of i magnificent mahogany Ward Robe. The other articles were arranged carefully on a wooden St and Mode for that president had eaten most of his Cantaloupe from a bedside Ray right after he started rearing and he sipped Tea As heur Ned the pages. Occasionally be added some hot water froma Large Silver pot on the try and jiggled the Tea Bug in the Beautiful Blue banded White China cup. That particular set is the Franklin d. Roosevelt from nearly every admin Stratton Are still i existence and Many of them in constant use. In three successive family meals on the quiet weekend food was served on plates from the Roosevelt Benjamin Harrison and Ulysses s. Grant adm Elstra Lions after perhaps an hour of Reading he ordered the remainder of his breakfast in egg and some Toast. Be Chat Chot meanwhile a maid had brought in mrs. Johnson s breakfast there was no Idle chit Cha mrs. Johnson had brought with her a Large Slack of letters. She signed them As she nibbled a her quiet mor Liui at Home had its moments of domesticity however. At one Point Lynd Abird Johnson popped by to bid her parents an affectionate Goodby. She was in a hurry. She was leaving in a few moments for Kentucky and Tennessee. The Beautiful tall Young Ger was in sparkling Good humor and she tried out on her App re Clat Lve father a line from the speech she would deliver in ten Nessee. And what profound political advice did the parents have for their daughter As she pm the papers he read were the Washington Post the new Yor times the new York Dull news the Baltimore Sun. Tend Thart his Day s work. There Hadwen no phone Calls and relative few interruptions up until that me. U was about 1 30.at 12 30, a sheaf of papers under his Arm the president arted for the executive offices a walked rapidly greeting the cards and other White House ploys he happened to pass it Otic Wise saying executive offices Are to aled in a Lew building several undred feet from the White Louse proper and connected 1th it by passageways the resident went directly to his urge Oval office seated himself n his huge chair and whirled round turning his Back to the arge and ornate desk. At Mailer desk behind the larger her campaigning mis. The Only Admonit Loi Philadelphia inquirer a Chicago Tribune. For the mos part he started on the front Page of each paper and went right t h r o u g h it skipping Only the entertainment the departmental and the comic least one of those papers that morning had a stinging anti Johnson cartoon and several had articles or columns which could charitably be described Only As barked on Sion none she got was from her Mother she walked out the door. It waive Universal word of Mother everywhere Darling be sur to Lake a coot. It might Tun an hour and a Quarte after the Reading had started there was a Light Lap at the do and in walked Jack Valenti. The president greeted the slight Dap per brisk texan jovially and buttered with him a few moments then without a word of instr i lion or direction Valenti Steppe Over to the pile of papers on Iii Bureau. He went through then rapidly Reading some All Tway through and Only glancing a others. He separated them carefully into several plies. The Valenti had finished the pres Dent got out of bed to dress an editor s note because this Isan election year we must be totally objective and impartial in both the Lone of stories and amount of space devoted to the two major candidates. This Story however we feel to be of such interest and so Well written that it deserves the display it is Given Here. It need not necessarily be a Day i the life of Lyndon b. John son. We think on the motherland. It gives an outstanding look at a Day la the life of the Holder of the Job president of the United Stales of be he busied himself with the hone and with papers. A Tele hone Call Box with perhaps two Down push buttons on ii was in instant use. After some 15 Man jets of phone conferences with Latt officials and the signing of considerable mail. Bill Moyers and Valenti came in. Mayers is he slender Young Marshall ex., Man who studied to be a Baptist minister and instead has pent most of his adult life work no for the Man from Johnso City in a variety of capacities. Aides unobtrusive both Moyers and Valent brought More papers for the presidential Eye. There were conferences on the Day s act Lvi ties. Neither Moyers nor Valenti sat Down and although there was nothing frantic nor harassed n their Demeanour they transacted their business with the utmost dispatch and departed a unobtrusively As they had in item of business was re Ceplon of our newly appointee ambassador to Norway. As she entered the room George Reedy he presidential press Secretary brought in the photographer and reporters through another door. The visit of the lady am Cassador a career Diplomat o1 years service la the state department lasted Only Lon enough for photographs. When she left George ban the big smiling under Secretary of state came into the room escorting the american ambassadors to Greece Turkey and Cyprus. The photographers were permitted a Lew pictures and then Reedy herded reporters and photographers out of the room. Ball am the ambassadors had been seated on two Low. Comfortable sofas a the far end of the Oval Roo they sat facing each other. In in each a lip. At the Imd of theofas a Brown rocking chair Hud been placed for the conference lasted u con Sld Rahle time. When it wended the door was opened an the reporters and photographer who had been invited by to president to take u walk on the grounds started streaming in the room. The president strode rapidly out the French door onto a Terrace and thence to the driveway which encircles Thrawn on the South Side of the White House. An attendant Wah Olding him and her the twi beagles on a Leash. Wilbou ausing the president started Riding Down the driveway All the ambassadors about Hundred reporters and photog a hers and numerous secreted vice men several with Alkie talkies in his Wake. The Asphalt covered driveway elliptical. One walks downhill n one end of the Ellipse and of course Uphill on the other the president does not stroll. He rides. He never ceases talk no during the arduous walk except to pause to listen to ques on. The reporters struggle to Etas close to him As possible he unaccustomed exertion Andle difficulty of trying to hear he president take notes while walking and jockey for better is Ilion prove too much for Allnut the most Hardy. Ball and the mass tudors diplomatically with Rcw after one Lap. At each sue Eedeng Lap there Are More drop uts. Scarcely a third of those who started Jade the whole Alk. Lunch Coll these Wal Kathon press Confer aces have been going on for ome time. The record to said Tobe 15 laps. There was some Dos Ute on the quiet Day As to whether 13 or 14 were Degoti Ted. Fourteen one statistician computed would have been exactly 3.25 Miles and nearly altar tar of it up a rather Steep ill the walk was ended when irs. Johnson came out of the White House trying to get Heru band to come in for lunch. In walked one More Lap Wither and then he quit. Later he Aid he would have set a record lad she not come out most of the reporters were breathless sweaty and dishevelled when they finished. Women re porters lost shoes at least president finished in High Good humor and not even breath no hard. He was hot though. Be was dripping with perspire Ion. He complained it was be cause a suit that was too heavy lad been Laid out for him. As soon As he got Back into the executive mansion he discarded his coat and tie taking off the tie without untying the knot a mannerism he has had for at least 30 years the Mobile press conference had lasted an hour and 15 Man utes. It was getting along toward3 o clock when lunch was served right after lunch the Johnsons greeted some Good friends dust. Judge Sarah t. Hughes o Dallas who administered the oath of office on that fateful nov 22 and rep. J. J. Pickle Austin Tex. The congressman had with him his pretty daughter who is entered i a Junior College in Washington this fall. The presided visited with his guests for a while and took them out on the famous Truman Balcony of the men seemed to Spring up out of where. The president started a stroll round the driveway where haad walked so Long in the after Oon his guests trailing. Half Way around the White House car aught up with the party and the Ling couple got into it and president had called him and her when he first came out and soon an attendant appeared with them. Then completely re axed in his shirt sleeves Withney his wife my son and me Long the president started walking about the grounds talk no to and playing with his dogs. At a Gate on the Side toward the Treasury building the president and her demonstrate How Shean stand on her Hind legs and it her front paws through the ars on the Iron Gate so gaping tourists can pet her. Suddenly e turned and told a guard to in Ock the Gate. Out onto the s i d e w a 1 k we trolled. By this time a Scon of secret service agents Wen oeland seme with the Waffle Alues. At least one went across he Street and kept Pace from Here. The traffic Lor Washington was Light. The reaction of those n passing cars was almost hilarious. Car after car w o 11 pass with the Driver obviously unaware of the identity of the All nun walking the dogs. Then Here would be a squealing of rakes As recognition came. White House for picture Takin then he excused himself. A nap1 perhaps a Short one but he do have some More conferences and no one knows How Many Tele phone Calls before he came int the upstairs parlor shortly Alt i to Greet a Small group of friends from Long Long of them stayed for Din nor and the talk was mostly Oise dim Ichisi when three of thus present. Including the president occupied 130-a-Monui rooms i the basement of a Small Hole near the Capitol the last departing guests he arrived by taxi and a Whithouse car had been ordered t take them Home. The Preslac insisted on seeing them out. Mrs Johnson excused herself. It to guards on the ground floor War surprised to see the Presl Dan strolling out the Back door afte10 o clock at night and without any Advance notice they gave no sign of it. But secret Servic he stopped and Shook hands wit each. They were from Florida hey said and he told them a Tad been in Florida toe Day be Ore. There he u on Pennsylvania avens we stopped to talk in front of the White House. Then were Mora cars but still relatively few pedestrians. One Young couple was strolling along peering in entry through the wite House ence. The beagles Cam up be Hind them and started sniffing at their heels. Iron their conversation h became apparent the couple had arrived Fate on guided Tow during the Day and Wen walking Back i thew teahouse in the nope of seeing what Ever they had missed. They we completely oblivion of the pres ident and his dogs. We Cound t stand it. We be Sony tapped theman s Arm. Harden me we said but u you Are looking for he president then he is and if you step up Aid introduce yourself he b shake dude t believe it they finally spoke and Shook lands. The Man lamented that the Only thing wrong was that nobody Back a Mai Toba would believe . His excited wife produced a bit of paper and of i a 1 n e d the presidential Auto graph. By that time a sizable crowd was gathering. The presi Dent signed a dozen or so Auto graphs and then said he could sign no More. We turned into the big Gules. The guards held Bac Iii crowd and cloned the gain. We went in the main Entrance of the while House the beagles a Lull in Tow. We got into the elevator and a Butler took charge of the dogs. When the president left the elevator. It seemed that he looked even bigger and stronger anymore vigorous than Ever. But As the shadows of in dim corridor engulfed him he looked strangely was 10 h. It would be five minutes before the phone by hissed would be ringing with word of a coup in Vietnam
