Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 105, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 September 1901 — ROOSEVELT SWORN IN [ARTICLE]

ROOSEVELT SWORN IN

T44E PJEW PRESIDENT TAKES THE OATH OF OFFICE. Tel)* the Cabinet Officer* that Hia Main Purpose Is to Coatiaue the Policiee of McKinley—Pays Visit of Condolence to Widow. Theodore Roosevelt became President of the United States at 3:30 o’clock Saturday afternoon, when he complied with the constitutional provision and took the prescribed oath to support and defend the constitution and the laws of the United States. He took that oath at Buffalo is the library of the residence of AnsleJ Wilcox, a personal friend, with whom he stopped earlier in the week when the physicians thought President McKinley would recover from the wound inflicted by the assassin. The scene was a most affecting one. The new President had just come from the Milburn house, where his predecessor lay cold in death. Overcome by the deep personal sorrow he felt, in his characteristically impulsive way he had gone first to the house of mourning to offer his condolence and sympathy to the brokenhearted widow. Secretary Root, who, twenty years ago, had been present at a similar scene, when Arthur took the oath, after the death of another President who fell a victim to an assassin’s bullet, almost broke down when he requested Mr. Roosevelt, on behalf of the members of the cabinet of the late President, to take the prescribed oath. There was not a dry eye in the room. The new President was visibly shaken, but he controlled himself, and when he lifted his hand to swear it was steady. With the deep solemnity of the occasion full upon him, he announced to those present that his aim would be to be William McKinley’s successor in deed as well as in name. Deliberately he proclaimed it in these words: “In this hour of deep and terrible bereavement, I wish to state that it shall be my aim to continue absolutely unbroken the policy of President McKinley for the peace and prosperity and honor of our beloved country.” • l The great, far-reaching significance of this pledge to continue the policy of the dead President, announced at the very threshold of a new governmental regime, profoundly impressed his hearers, and President Roosevelt’s first step after taking the oath was in line with its redemption. His first act was to ask the members of the cabinet to retain their portfolios temporarily in order to aid him to conduct the government on lines laid down by him whose policy he had declared he would uphold, and every member of the cabinet, including Secretary of State Hay and Secretary of the Treasury Gage, who were communicated with in Washington, agreed for the present, at least, to retain their several portfolios.