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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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without thinking a little bit in advance about who they are, what their interests are, how they can be blended and how the occasion can be made an occasion that can be heart-warming, agreeable and whatever else you want it to be, depending on who your guests are. If you've got distinguished company, you can make it a distinguished occasion.

This didn't seem to have been thought out at all by anybody. I would have presumed that it would have all thought out. This was the dinner that the President was giving to his Cabinet and former Cabinet officers. Also, as the guest of hinor, seated at Mrs. Truman's right, with his sister at Truman's right, was the recent candidate for President on the Democratic ticket. That in itself made it a very unusual occasion. It should have added lustre, dignity and significance to the event. Obviously, a farewell dinner or gathering of any sort between people who worked on any project together is an occasion for some celebration, some remarks, toasts, good-will and so forth. I took it for granted that it had been all planned.

However, the dinner was over, the candies had been passed, and nothing happened. Then the President stood up, as though he had just thought of it—we were saying good-by to him, yet he was the one who stood up—and he proceeded to





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