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out into Wooster, Ohio, into the central part of the Bible Belt, they still think and would think that the mark of the Red Lady was on him. Among the city people, in St. Louis and Chicago, where they adored Al Smith, because he was a Catholic, they would be weeping salt tears of betrayal. They would feel emotionally and spiritually betrayed.”
I remember that conversation very plainly. I don't know whether the President continued to think of Byrnes or not, but I do know that more than once Roosevelt reminded us that Byrnes wanted to be considered and Walker would say, “That would never do, Mr. President, would never do, for reasons I've told you.” So I don't think the President long considered Jimmy Byrnes or built him up. Whether he was washing him out, I don't know either, of course.
You seem disturbed that both Walker and Farley were talking to the President together, but Farley and Walker were always good friends. Frank Walker didn't become Postmaster until August 1940, but he was a very vigorous adviser before that time. He had been an adviser to some extent in the days of the governorship, but he had been more and more called in for one kind of advice or another. He was, of course, a great contributor to
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