Roosevelt ‘gay until end,’ Russian-born artist says
Woman was alone with President when he complained of ‘terrific headache’
RALEIGH, North Carolina (UP) – The last impression left by Franklin D. Roosevelt on the woman portrait painter who was alone with him when he was stricken was a man who was kind, pleasant and “gay until the end.”
Mrs. Elizabeth Shoumatoff, middle-aged artist, who was sketching the late President as he worked on some papers in the “Little White House” at Warm Springs, Georgia, was on her way home to Locust Valley, New York, today.
Mrs. Shoumatoff was still shaken by the sudden collapse of the man who had been chatting cheerfully as he arranged his papers a short time before.
Friend of cousins
Mrs. Shoumatoff, a Russian-born artist, was a friend of the late President’s two cousins, Laura Delano and Margaret Suckley, who were with him at Warm Springs.
She had done a watercolor in 1943 of Mr. Roosevelt wearing his favorite Navy cape which he liked so well that he had it copied and distributed prints to close friends at his last birthday party.
She had gone to Warm Springs to sketch the President for another portrait while he relaxed at his Southern retreat. Mrs. Shoumatoff was accompanied by Nicholas “Robbins” Katzubinsky, a Russian-born photographer whom she employs to photograph in character studies persons who do not have time to pose at length for portraits.
Wrong identity
It was Katzubinsky who in the contusion following Mr. Roosevelt’s death was identified as N. Robbins and was said to be the artist with him at the time he was stricken.
But it was Mrs. Shoumatoff who was alone with the President when he complained of a “terrific headache.” He was sitting before the open fireplace. She summoned Miss Delano, who sailed one of the physicians attached to the Presidents staff. Mr. Roosevelt was unconscious when they reached his side.
“The President never looked better than he did just before he was stricken,” Mrs. Shoumatoff said. “He was such a wonderful person, and he was so gay until the end.”