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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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all the Congressmen of the United States were models of sophistication and elegance. Some were a little on the crude side intellectually. They were all right and all that, but not sophisticates. They meant no harm. This man certainly meant no harm. As a matter of fact, he was one of my warmest supporters later - always was, as a matter of fact. He thought I'd done well. There was nothing derogatory in his comment. It was just a frank statement. I thought it was funny at the time and didn't know that it was going to make the basis of a myth that Congressmen didn't like me.

I got Frank Persons to head up the CCC. I had known him and thought of him right away, because he was a man whom I had seen operate during the World War as the head of the Red Cross home service, which was an enormous relief job. It had to be done very well indeed, quickly, with great perspicacity, ingenuity, knowledge of how to sort out the sheep from the goats. He had been very resourceful and had always been aware of problems before they arose. He was very far-sighted. He could see what would result from this, that, or the other action. I thought he was an extraordinarily good planner, as well as an administrator. He had had a lot of Red Cross experience and he knew all about having things in reserve - having actual things, like blankets, foods, and so forth in reserve. He also knew how to handle an





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