Submitted to the ORMULTNO-L maillist by Peter Wasser on
3/30/00
The Dalles Daily Chronicle
The Dalles, Oregon
August 2, 1934
Mrs. Roosevelt Passes Through Dalles
Presidents Wife Given Flowers, Letter Of Appreciation
A brief glimpse of Mrs. Roosevelt (Anna Eleanor) as she passed rapidly
through The Dalles at the wheel of her small roadster shortly before 2
o’clock this afternoon was all that citizens saw of the country’s first
lady – on her way to Portland to meet President Roosevelt (Franklin
Delano) when he disembarks from the cruiser Houston there tomorrow.
Mrs. Roosevelt stopped her car for a few minutes at The
Dalles-California highway junction east of here while Cliff Allen,
member of the city police department, presented her with a bouquet of
flowers and a brief letter offering her the hospitality of the city.
Chief of Police Frank Heater shook hands with the president’s wife and
offered her a police escort, which the first lady declined.
City Prepared
The city was “dressed up” in anticipation of Mrs. Roosevelt’s visit, and
crowds of people who had been standing on the streets since noon saw
her. Business men, acting spontaneously, had placed flags for the length
of Second street as reports were current during the morning that she
planned to pass through here after leaving Bend, where she spent the
night.
She drove her car at a rapid pace through the city’s main business
thoroughfare, but smiled and waved her hand at the crowds gathered to
see her as she passed by.
The letter delivered to her by Officer Allen was sent by Miss Celia
Gavin, city attorney, commissioned to greet Mrs. Roosevelt by Daughters
of the American Revolution, who felt that some formal show of
hospitality by the city should be made.
Allen was told by Mrs. Roosevelt that she could not accept the city’s
invitation to stop because she had refused similar invitations all along
her route, and was loathe to delay her arrival in Portland.
A number of persons who had driven to the highway junction obtained a
close-hand view of Mrs. Roosevelt as she conversed with Allen and
Heater.
A state police officer who also had been waiting at the junction for her
preceded the first lady’s car into The Dalles and notified citizens of
her approach by blowing his siren.
