F. D. R.'s Three Horses

Upton Sinclair, 65, vegetarian, moralist, Socialist, muckraker, politician, agnostic, Californian, abstainer, feminist, movie producer, violinist, physical culturist, antiFascist, antiCommunist; friend of Jack London, Theodore Roosevelt and Albert Einstein; one of the most prolific U.S. authors (67 books, 500 pamphlets); prohibitionist son of a bibulous father and twice-married critic of American marital habits, last week gave book-length vent to his latest enthusiasm: Franklin Roosevelt.

Presidential Agent (Viking; $3) is the fifth volume of Author Sinclair's vast panel of novels on modern life (1,500,000 words). In it, his hero, idealist Lanny Budd, talks over his doubts and problems with his good friend, Franklin Roosevelt.

Why, said Lanny in 1937, did the U.S. help Franco by clamping down an embargo on Spain? Explained the President:

"In my thoughts I compare myself to a man driving three horses.. . . One of these horses is young and wild; that is my New Deal group, backed by organized labor and its sympathizers, the intellectuals; they want to gallop all the time. . . . The second is much older, and inclined to be mulish; that is my block of Southern states. And then my third horse, a nervous and skittish steed which I seldom dare to mention by name. You will consider my naming it confidential, please?"

"Of course, Mr. President."

"My Roman Catholic charger. There are 20 million Catholics in this country, and the great bulk of them think and vote as their Church advises. Their vote determines any close election. They have been told that General Franco is defending their faith against atheistic Reds."

"What they have been told is Franco propaganda, and mostly false."

"That may be so--but will they believe it from a Protestant? I must have their support for my domestic program; so there I am."

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