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that she thought something of me, because she entrusted me, when she knew she hadn't long to live, with certain of her children's problems, which were not too difficult, but were carry-over problems until they were grown. I think she had faith in my good friendship for Al Smith.

But she did always want to put you on the spot. She wanted you to draw the line and say you were either for Roosevelt or for Smith. I used to say, “No, I won't say that, Belle. I'm for Roosevelt because I work for him. I like him. I believe in him. I think he's doing the right thing. He's supporting all the things I care about. I think the world of Al Smith for the same reasons.”

I think that at almost any moment in the first year or year and a half the whole breach could have been healed. It was not a serious breach. It could have been healed if either Louis or Mrs. Moskowitz, or both of them, had taken themselves out of the picture completely.

Of course, Bob Moses reinforced Mrs. Moskowitz all the time to Al and had a bitter and clever way of saying things. He spread an awful lot of unfavorable ideas about Roosevelt all over New York and all over the community. They came through Moses because he had a great many acquaintances and friends.

The breach between them was of no consequence actually.