The Days of a Man [j888 



In the course of the night he recalled a conver- 

 sation he once had with Murphy, the Democratic 

 "boss" of New York State. Expressing surprise that 

 Murphy should have chosen a Republican for a 

 certain remunerative office, he was answered: 



You are a young man, Mr. Roosevelt. When you are as 

 old as I am you will know that there is no politics in politics. 



The essence of Civil Service Reform, according to 

 \ an ithet . Roosevelt, was "to take politics out of politics." 



From that time on, as will later be seen, I had 

 with him many and varied relations. These ranged 

 from that of valued friend and adviser (especially 

 on matters pertaining to the Pacific) to "molly- 

 coddle" or "international Mrs. Gummidge." For, 

 though a lover of peace as a general thing, Roosevelt 

 was increasingly obsessed with the elemental glories 

 of war, and cherished the belief that, as he expressed 

 it, "to play a great part in the world, a nation must 

 perform those deeds of blood which above all else 

 bring national renown." In the efficacy of the inter- 

 national "big stick," also, he placed his trust. For 

 differences of opinion he had always large charity, 

 for difference in feeling often none at all, a fact 

 which explains some matters otherwise hard to 

 understand. 



A joyous Brought up amid the traditions and conventions 

 nature o f N ew York society, he was nevertheless joyously 

 non-conventional. His sense of humor was not 

 keen, he was never subtle, but his appreciation of a 

 good time was large and unfailing. His own jokes 

 he in a way italicized by change of voice to a sudden 

 falsetto. Thus I once heard him say, at Berkeley, 

 in 1909, "While Congress was debating the 



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