If You Ask Me
by Eleanor Roosevelt

As a matter of fact, I always call Mr. Truman "Mr. President," because when a man has held a high office he usually keeps the title for the rest of his life. That is why people call Mr. Stevenson "Governor" and men who have been senators are called "Senator." Whether this is correct or not, I don't know; but I do know it certainly is very common usage.

I wish I knew the rules for becoming a Gold Star Mother, but I'm afraid I don't. My impression is that it was only during wartime that mothers were given the gold star when their sons were killed in action.

It most certainly is! I was one of the founders of A.D.A.—at least, I was present at their first meeting and have been a member ever since. I believe that their objectives are good and keep us alert to and aware of problems we should think about. I don't always agree with A.D.A. policies and actions, but one can't expect to agree on everything with any group.

No. The President was receiving the head of a state in the proper manner. I take it for granted that he had good reasons for wanting to have personal talks with King Saud; otherwise I am quite sure he would not have invited him. If the President had told the people of the country his reasons for so doing, they might have reacted differently; but I think that once the President has invited the head of a state to this country we must take it for granted that there is a legitimate and important reason.

My husband was in law school the first year of our marriage. He had inherited a small income and so had I and we lived on this, but as soon as he went into a law firm we used mainly what he earned for joint living expenses.

The Bible is a book of history. Adam and Eve are symbolic of the first people on earth. As a history the Old Testament tells the symbolic story of the development which the scientists tell us went on through the early eons of time.

I don't know what I could have had on. I always wear a thin chain, but it has no medallion and the locket at the end is not visible. I wonder if you could have seen me wearing a string of amethyst and crystal beads with a large crystal in the clasp in front, which might have looked like a medallion. These belonged to my mother-in-law and I sometimes wear them. My usual pearls are being restrung, so I have been wearing some different things during the last weeks.

Most of my grandchildren use the French word and call me "Grandmère." Some of them call me "Grandmother."

Yes, I think it is fair. He is a public servant, and others are treated in the same way. The President is taxed, however, on any income that he may have outside of his salary; and I assure you that if a man is fortunate enough to have outside income it is all spent on the cost of being President. If a man does not have outside income, he is very likely to go out of office owing some money.