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occupation to make extra money when he was in the Army. He had quite a good line of boys' adventure stories that he wrote. I think Street & Smith published them.

The President questioned me about what I saw in him as a temperament, and I said, “Well, of course, it's going to take a queer temperament to do this job. A good, flatfooted administrator would never walk into this job.”

The President said, “That's right.”

I said, “He is excitable, and he has got certain elements of instability. I have been able to get on with him because I recognize that. I know that Wagner's been ready to tear his eyes out several times, because he's gruff and won't talk up. But I don't see anything serious in that.”

“Well,” he said, “I'll have to handle him myself.”

Well, of course, that was always one of FDR's illusions - that he could handle anybody. “Well, I'll have to handle him myself. After all, this is going to be kept very close to the President. I want you to work yourself into this anyhow, Frances. Keep close to it. I'll tell you right now, keep close to it and keep me posted as to what's going on. Get into it and keep your feet right inside of the organization.”