Although Priscilla, like many Americans, disagreed with Roosevelt's domestic policies, she recognized his death on April 12, 1945 as a "world shaking event" and joined with the rest of the nation in honoring his memory.  This letter describes local and and national reactions to Roosevelt's passing and Truman's assumption of the Office of the President. (Alumni Papers, Priscilla M. Holloway Papers, 1919-1946).

150 dpi Image of This Item

701.

April 17, 1945

Cheri,

Your # 290 came today, leaving # 289 trailing on the way--something nice to which to look forward for me.  I got, too, your Easter card; that is, the return of my card to you and it made me happy to see that you got it before Easter.  Now that your mail has to go a rather round about way I am sending such cards earlier than I used to.  I'll answer # 290 later in the week, for I still have a number of items on past letters on which to comment, and tonight I want to write you the impressions I noted here on the passing of the late President Roosevelt.

My first knowledge of this world shaking event (and I think this is one time one may be forgiven for a superlative) came on Thursday afternoon last, shortly after 4:30 p.m.  The mayor of Port Washington came into the office to see the boss on business, but his first words to us were, "The country has suffered a great loss".  My heart almost stopped beating for a brief moment--I thought something had gone terribly wrong with the war and I was afraid to hear it and afraid not to.  Then he told us what had happened.  There was dead silence in the room for perhaps ten seconds--stunned is the only word I can think of at the moment to adequately describe the collective reaction.  Then we all burst out with "Is that really true"; "Are you sure" and like banal remarks.  He assured us it was.

The first reaction, after the brief moment of real disbelief, was that now we were saddled with Truman.  Everyone thought of Truman's friendship for Prendergast (he even attended his funeral a month or so ago); his early affiliation with the Klu Klux Klan; and the reports of his hail-fellow-well-met camaderie [sic] with night club entertainers.  At least my second reaction (and I know it was the reaction of many) was that after all we did have to change horses in the middle of the stream.  The great cry of all Roosevelt supporters in the last campaign (even of those Republicans who supported him then--and they were many in number) was that we must not change horses in the middle of the stream.  Mother put it rather aptly with an English translation of an old German proverb--"Man proposes, but God disposes".

Although newspapers have been cut to the bone in their paper usage, the Journal had an extra on the street by six o'clock that Thursday night.  The first ones went on sale just as I left the building to go to French class.  I bought one for our souvenier [sic] collection; I thought you might like one inasmuch as this is the first time a President of the United States has died in the middle of a war.  The extra was not a full paper, but only a part of the first section of the paper, and the green sheet.  Next morning I also bought a Tribune as usual, but I am not clipping this one but am also saving it for our collection, for that morning paper had every column of the first page edged in heavy mourning black.

Someone remarked that it is the Trib's policy never to speak well of the living or ill of the dead.  Their reports of the death and funeral and entrance into office of the new President, Mr. Truman, were masterpieces of restraint (in good taste, I mean) and eulogy.  Last Sunday's NYTimes (which came today) has some fine stories of the funeral and I am sending this whole paper to Marjorie Dunne because I think it will be of much interest to her.  If you will permit a momentary digression, the magazine section of the Times contains an article about San Francisco which I think will be very informative for her too.

As soon as the news of Roosevelt's death was announced over the radio all scheduled programs went off the air from then until Monday morning of this week.  In place of the usual programs there were eulogies by important

150 dpi Image of This Item

All of it was handled with a dignity that was beautiful in itself.  The kind of dignity one likes to associate with the office of President of the United States.  There were some few who criticized the "fuss" as they called it for one man, when so many of our servicemen are fighting and dying day in and day out.  In vain did one attempt to show that it was not only respect and dignity for the man, but especially for the high office he held.

Here in Milwaukee all retail establishments closed entirely on Saturday out of respect.  Almost all of the stores had one show window containing nothing but a picture of Mr. Roosevelt on an easel, flanked by American flags, with a vase or basket of live flowers before the picture.  This remained from Thursday late, or Friday early until Monday morning.  Mount Mary college chapel and St. Thomas Acquinas [sic] church had memorial Masses.  Others may have had, but those were the two I heard about specifically.  And the archbishop ordered special prayers to be said after all Sunday Masses.

I note from the Times that there was a special Mass at St. Patrick's cathedral in New York--the solemn Mass read on special state occasions.   Archbishop Spellman wore the ermine tipped robe of his office that is worn only on very special occasions.  The organ played taps, and as a closing the National Anthem.   It sounded very correct and right to do this.

It was not my Saturday to work, but in passing permit me to note that the Electric Company offices remained open Saturday morning, as usual.   They never mix sentiment with business down there you can be sure.  Another illustration of the same is a form letter sent to all heads of departments with "suggestions" for V-E day.  The one item specially marked on this list was that employes [sic] should be encouraged to remain working!  I agree that there should be no whiskey drinking celebration, but one would think they could note that those wishing to give thanks to God might leave to do so in their respective churches.

Although at first we realized with dismay that Mr. Truman is now President, the things he has done so far have made us realize we must give him a sporting chance to do things before we criticise [sic] him.  At the moment everyone, including the Chicago Trib, is whole heartedly behind Truman, realizing he has been thrust into the most difficult of positions without too much experience.  He himself put it this way, "I feel as though the sun and the moon and the stars had fallen on my shoulders".

I think I have mentioned before that I have taken the opportunity of reminding a few people that we now have had to change horses in the middle of the stream.  I could not resist, not out of pure cussedness, but to prove the arguments I used last fall and which seemed to amuse the superior males in the office who hate to admit a woman might be able to author a thought or two.  I have also pointed out that perhaps this sudden change is not as calamitous as we first had thought, for already Stalin has sent Molotov to San Francisco instead of only an ambassador (as he had planned to do).  And Stalin, too, has announced Warsaw Poles must be admitted to that conference too.  Inasmuch as this is a rather about-face for him, one wonders if perhaps the element of indecision about Truman's policies may win us more than Mr. Roosevelt's admitted charm, in the peace conferences to come.

The Trumans moved into Blair House yesterday, unti suchl time as they can enter the White House.  I suppose it was considered not safe for the

150 dpi Image of This Item

# 701, page 2

President to live in an apartment house.  Mrs. Roosevelt expects to move out by the end of the week.  That must mean an herculean task for her--to move out the accumulations of 12 years.

To us it still seems quite incredible that there is a President Truman.  One had become so accustomed to having a President Roosevelt that the whole thing still seems quite unreal.  We listened to Truman's speech to the armed forces tonight; it was short but seemed dignified and sincere.  He does not have the microphone presence of Roosevelt, nor his charm, but if he makes a good, honest President and can be forceful at the peace table, then we can do without the charm.

When one spoke of the possibility of Roosevelt's death (and he had been known to be not too well for some months) it seemed that time itself must almost stop at such a calamity.  For he was a symbol to parts of our own country, and definitely the white hope to the unfortunates of the world.  Yet it did happen that he died, and except for that first moment of incredible disbelief, the world kept on going; the war did not slacken its pace; the world conferences continue.  Bob Hope of the radio put it rather well tonight.  He remarked there were those who said our fallen leader could not be replaced, but he likened him to a soldier in the ranks.  When one good soldier falls there is another to take his place, and the ranks are always closed.  He likened Roosevelt to the fallen soldier, and Truman to the soldier that takes his place in the again closed ranks.  For life must go on, musn't it?  Many greater men than Roosevelt have died and the world has gone on too.  After all, as the old proverb says, it is "God who disposes".

I love you, dear one, with all my heart and soul and with every breath I breathe.

Priscilla