Vanishing American

The White House had its "help wanted" sign out last week. The main reason: after years of silent but substantial service to two Presidents (at $12,000 a year), round, amiable Lawyer Samuel Irving Rosenman, 49, was finally making good his worn threat to leave Washington.

In 1932, when he was a New York State Supreme Court Justice (at $25,000 a year), Sam Rosenman had begun building the New Deal brain trust for his good friend Franklin Roosevelt. Later, he had had a hand in writing many an FDR speech. A shadowy figure, he had moved quietly in & out of Washington, never staying long enough for political gossip to get a good start.

War brought him to Washington more often, and lengthened each visit. In 1941 Rosenman was called to reorganize the entire defense agency setup. Result: the Supply, Priorities & Allocations Board. Later, Commuter Rosenman helped organize the War Manpower Commission. Next, the Governments' snarled public-relations agencies needed attention. So Rosenman, between running errands and writing speeches for the President, and advising him on the selection of candidates tor Government jobs, planned the Office of War Information.

At FDR's death, Rosenman packed up for Manhattan and a private law practice (possibly a partnership with ex-FEA attorney Oscar Cox). But someone had to help out Harry Truman. Resignedly, Rosenman briefed the new President on the Roosevelt work and policies, helped write Truman's first message to Congress and his foreign-policy speech, was soon reported to be exercising more influence over Truman than he had over FDR. But Rosenman was not interested in influence. Also, Democrats were beginning to talk about that shadowy figure again. This time, "Sammy the Rose" said he was gone for good.

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