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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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in the Capitol on some project or other, often budget analysis and budget development. They were very difficult matters and they were matters in which Mr. Smith himself took a great interest and a great part. He knew every detail of a department's budget before he allowed it to be presented to the Legislature for approval. He knew it and he knew why. It was his way, and he had learned it by legislative experience, of keeping an executive control over the heads of departments. He knew from their explanations of their budget what they were doing, why they were doing it and whether it was coming out all right and making sense. He took part in these preliminary budget analyses and interviews. He took part himself and worked very hard on it.

I seem to remember staying there late on budget matters, although we often did on legislative matters too. On occasions when we would stay very late and would have to work after supper, as we called it in our simple way in Albany, on budget matters, because I lived in New York he and Mrs. Smith frequently asked me to spend the night at the Executive Mansion. Other people were asked too. There would be a number of others also parked around the big house. There was lots of room and if it was convenient they asked you to stay the night if it was convenient for you.

I keep remembering that after we had these sessions





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