Home
Search transcripts:    Advanced Search
Notable New     Yorkers
Select     Notable New Yorker

Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
Photo Gallery
Transcript

Part:         Session:         Page of 915

person when it came to anybody from Illinois. Jim put me onto that. That meant that when a name was sent up of a man who had never been heard of in the Democratic Party, but was all right, Senator Lewis of Illinois would say, “He's a very fine man. I personally would endorse him.” Lewis took the credit although he hadn't been consulted, except to say that that was what we wanted done.

Jim also taught me the little trick of getting the man to go and see the Senator, getting the person to be appointed to call on him, not to ask his endorsement, but just to become acquainted with him. Jim would do the asking of endorsement.

As I say, Jim was perfectly wonderful to me in feeling around in between for the support that was needed. He was also very good indeed on the very intelligent and convinced support he gave me for some of the things I was working for, like public works, relief, wages and hours and Social Security. Jim was convinced of the value of those programs and Jim did a great deal of the political spade work in the Senate and the House to make them popular. That I know. He believed in them. He believed in them because they were good for people, the same reason that I'm for them. One doesn't have to be educated to think that people





© 2006 Columbia University Libraries | Oral History Research Office | Rights and Permissions | Help