U.S. celebrates 61st birthday of President
He’s apparently still traveling – thousands at paralysis benefits
Washington (UP) – (Jan. 30)
President Roosevelt was 61 today, and tonight tens of thousands of Americans, wishing the Commander-in-Chief continued good health and strength, celebrated his birthday at benefits for his favorite cause – the fight against infantile paralysis.
For the President, his birthday marked the beginning of the United Nation’s 1943 drive to crush the Axis. He set the stage for that beginning in Casablanca. Tonight, he was presumably occupied with plans and projects for carrying it forward.
His anniversary date found the President apparently still traveling. In flying to North Africa to meet Prime Minister Winston Churchill, he engaged in perhaps the greatest personal adventure of his life. Returning from Casablanca, he talked for hours with President Getúlio Vargas at Natal, Brazil. Reports of that conference, held on Thursday, were the last ones mentioning Mr. Roosevelt’s whereabouts.
Tonight, more than a score of entertainment celebrities helped to enliven nine dance parties in the President’s honor in the capital. They had luncheon at the White House with Mrs. Roosevelt, who had participated with them in a rigorous round of hospitals, theaters and banquets yesterday and last night.
Highlight on the night’s schedule was a coast-to-coast birthday broadcast.
In addition to concluding another year of an unusually active life, President Roosevelt has completed 10 historic years in the White House and nearly 13 months of leadership in the most terrible war the nation has ever waged.
He looks a little older than last year; there are a few more gray hairs, one or two more wrinkles on his face. But the President appears to be in good health and, his associates say, has suffered less than usual this winter from colds and sinus affliction.
Nicaraguans declare holiday on Roosevelt’s birthday
Managua, Nicaragua (UP) – (Jan. 30)
All government offices and schools were closed today in an official observance of the 61st birthday of President Roosevelt.
The order closing the public offices said Mr. Roosevelt is:
…Nicaragua’s best friend and a courageous defender of the weak and oppressed.
