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

Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
Photo Gallery
Transcript

Part:         Session:         Page of 915

They would have had a ring of deep emotional sincerity, because however much he might disagree with people, he could always leap the barriers and defenses and make it a good occasion.

In a sense I'm drawing a distinction between the Roosevelt and Truman administrations. I never knew anything as awkward as this to happen in the Roosevelt administration, but I have known occasions to be missed when something good could have been said. However, nothings as important as this ever was passed by.

Possibly the lack of social experience did this, and possibly social experience broader than Washington on the part of both the Trumans and the Vinsons. With all the entourage the President has, somebody should have thought it out. In Roosevelt's administration, if nobody else had thought about it, Grace Tully would have thought about it. Grace or Missy would have thought, “Now we're having this dinner. I wonder if anybody's thought to tell somebody to present the toast. Who should it be? Of course, the ranking guest is the Chief Justice, but he makes such an awful speech. Wouldn't it be nice to ask him to make a few remarks and then have somebody else offer the toast.” There would have





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