Unwelcome Secret

Months ago, persistent rumors were circulating in Washington that the President was in grave physical condition. But because there were official assurances that his health was sound, the people had refused to believe the visible evidence.

In newsreels, the well-fleshed, strong face had begun to look wasted and faintly wistful, and sometimes the firm jaw quivered unaccountably. The ringing radio voice seemed now & then to drag with weariness. These were bad signs, people felt uneasily, but they also felt that the doctors and the White House insiders must know.

In January, U.S. secret servicemen were told by their superiors that the President was in serious ill health. Secret service chiefs took the obvious precautions: they picked a bodyguard for Vice President Harry Truman, told it to stand by for a sudden call to duty.

The call came about March 1. The Truman bodyguard was told that President Roosevelt might go at any time. They were ordered to take up a day & night watch on the Vice President. Last Thursday night they became the President's bodyguard.

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