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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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to go into the next Congress strong, with real unity among the members of the party.

Well, Bankhead died very suddenly. I think he had a heart attack and died very suddenly in Washington. I was about to say that he died in the House, but it may be that he died in his home. I've forgotten. I almost think he had a heart attack in his office. It was, of course, the time of year when the campaign had begun and everybody that mattered in politics and the government was out in the hustings somewhere or other, making speeches, attending conferences, or special meetings gotten up to promote the candidates, No matter what the general terms of the meetings were the reason for having them was to make it possible to promote the Democratic vote. Everybody was out and busy. It's also the time of year, even in those days, when if anybody was going to snatch a vacation, they snatched it just then. Late August and early September was a naturally quiet period for a vacation.

So there were not many people around the day Bankhead died. The President must have decided this himself, because he took the lead and we got the message from Early that there was to be a State funeral. The president insisted that there be a State funeral





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