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have a leader and you've got to choose a leader right now. We can't do anything for you unless you do. Then I'll get the employers to appoint a man, but you choose your leaders now. Then we'll choose from them who's to be the member of the board.”

So right there in some large size room in the office wing of the White House they milled around and kind of talked with each other. Johnson and I waited. They kind of gossiped with each other, whispered, and so forth. Finally one man spoke up and said, “We think Byrd's the men to be the head of this outfit.” I remembered him. He was a tall, dark man. He'd spoken more than most of them had. I discovered by inquiring that afternoon that they hardly knew Byrd at all. I also discovered that Byrd had only worked in the automobile industry a few months. He wasn't an old time worker in the automobile industry. He'd only been there a few months. Nobody knew exactly where he came from or what he had done. But he had spoken up bravely during this conference in Washington. That's what influenced them to say, “I guess Byrd is the man we'll have for our chairman.” So they appointed Byrd for their chairman.

The General said, “Well, I guess everybody understands that. You all want Byrd, don't you? Hold up your hands to