ELEANOR ROOSEVELT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 100, 30 April 1945, Page 3

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT

PLANS FOR FUTURE WILL CONTINUE HER WRITING In an article published in the Daily Mail last Monday, which arrived in Auckland by the Lancastrian aircraft on Friday, Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt writes of her husband and speaks of her own future: My husband's friencs ana associates have come to assure me of their desire to help me in any way, writes Mrs. Roosevelt. I've had time now to read the many messages that have come from leaders of nations throughout the world. To many of them I. think their burdens are going to seem heavier, because a man who seemed to be able to understand their countries and their peoples has been removed from the world scene. Prime Minister Churchill's tribute to my husband before the House of Commons was one of personal feeling as well as an expression of public sentiment. The two men had worked so closely together since the war began that personal feelin?,' was bound to grow up between them. I think, too. there Avas a sense of trust and understanding developing even among leaders who saw my husband less often.

To a great extent this arose from his intimate knowledge of history, the never-ending curiosity about the way other people lived and thought, and his innate friendliness.

I remember how we laughed at my husband one night when in talking of the future and problems which would arise for various countries, he mentioned a certain part of the world and, with a twinkle in his eye, remarked: '"When I'm through here, we might go out there and "help them solve some of their problems. I really think I know more about them than they do. I've been studying them very closely for the past few years." That sense of continuing growth and development was always present with him.

Rumour has been busy on the subject of my own future. One rumour was that I wanted to be a special delegate to the San Francisco Conference, and I had to tell Congresswoman Norton I couldn't possibly go and beg her not to make a speech about it! According to another rumour 1 was going to run for a Federal elective position. Finally, it was stated that I was a candidate to be Secretary of Labour. I had to tell several people quite forcibly that nothing would induce me to run for public office or to be appointed to any office at the present time. I have jobs that. I consider myself obligated to do and that I want to do. I've always looked upon my daily column as a job I wanted to have considered on its merits. Being the wife of the President, of course, there were certain restrictions imposed upon me. Now I hope to write as a newspaper woman.