Accidents Are Sure To Happen

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 17, 8 November 1950, Page 6

Accidents Are Sure To Happen

Sir Leonard Isitt is reported to have inadvertently had his hair cut before President Truman, who had to wait his turn in the barbells queue. Well, well, accidents will happen, and who is to know who’s who in a barber’s shop? It will be recalled that the late President Roosevelt liked to meet the American public, but there are often difficulties. On one occasion a man came up to him and said, “Do you remember me? I made your shirts.” “Oh yes, major schurtz,” replied Roosevelt. “I remember you quite well.” What was the next move? Every President has his own ways and his hobbies. Harry Truman is an accomplished pianist, but the award for the most versatile President must surely go to Jefferson. He was a fine singer and a gifted Violinist, and as an inventor and an architect. Business men have still to thank him for inventing the office swivel chair. He was also responsible for the waffle iron. He spoke Greek, Latin, German, French, Italian and Spanish. He also spoke the language variants used by 40 Indian tribes. He was a fine horseman and a fine shot. But above all, Presidents like to be “one of the boys.” Sir Leonard conferred this on Truman to an extent not given to the average American.

These days Presidents are closely. guarded. It is vei’y difficult for them to feel that they are “one of the boys,” or to have a run down town all on their own. Franklin Roosevelt was latterly one of the most closely guarded men in the world. But it was not always so. He laughed at the idea that anyone would attempt to kill him until a notorious agitator, Ginseppe Zangara, shot at him and killed Cermak, Mayor of Chicago'. Thenceforward it has become acepted that Presidents must be guarded whether they like it or not. The most curious part of Sir Leonard Isitt’s incident in the barber’s shop is that the President was there at all.'"lt was one of those incidents out of which dreams are made—or maybe it was natural for the President to seek a close shave.